Iowa could sure use some balance

It's been a wild start to the summer across the country and here in Iowa.

Unexpected developments and uncertainty surrounding the presidential race have meant more frustration to Iowans already fed up with politics. I've heard from so many folks in the last month who are exhausted and overwhelmed by the chaos in our political system today. When you layer in the deep divisions and nonsense on social media, it can make us feel completely helpless.

Honestly, I feel it, too.

When the contentious 2024 legislative session ended back in April, we were all hoping for a reprieve from politics. Unfortunately, the Iowa Supreme Court had other plans.

It's now been nearly a month since the court handed down its ruling in favor of the Iowa GOP's abortion ban. While the law has yet to go into effect as of today, abortion in Iowa will soon be illegal in Iowa at just six weeks, before many even know they are pregnant.

This ruling is devastating for so many of us. Everyone deserves the right to make their own health care decisions, especially when it comes to reproductive care and abortion. Politicians and judges have no place interfering in someone else's decisions about when to start a family.

While some political insiders view the six week ban in strictly partisan terms, it isn't. The governor's abortion ban is way out of step with what Iowans actually want. A clear majority of Iowans believe abortion should be legal in cases of rape or incest. Even more, 89%, support legal abortion if the pregnant person's life is in danger.

The governor and other Republican politicians who voted in support of the abortion ban are still claiming the bill doesn't go too far. However, doctors, stuck in the middle of these gut-wrenching decisions that some families face during pregnancy, disagree. They say the bill is simply too vague to treat their pregnant patients correctly, and the exceptions are far too narrow to make a real difference. With limited options, many women may have to travel outside the state.

While the ban hasn't even taken effect, special interests at the state Capitol have already announced their next bill: banning IVF and some forms of birth control next year. It's hard to fathom it could get much worse or more out of step with what Iowans want, but the special interests have gotten their way with the governor and Republican politicians too many times.

I share the grave concerns I've heard from Iowans of all stripes. The governor and GOP lawmakers have just gone too far. They've stopped listening to Iowans.

There's only one way to stop the relentless attacks on our reproductive rights once and for all in Iowa: protect reproductive freedom in Iowa's Constitution. The process to get it done is not easy or quick, but we've already introduced legislation to get it going. The Iowa Legislature should pass it and let the people of Iowa vote on it.

. Now is the time for Iowans to hold their elected officials accountable and bring some balance back to our state government.

Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights is Democratic leader in the Iowa House.