Branstad, Reynolds champion Iowa prolife legislative successes

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry Branstad and legislative majority Republicans aren't done enacting their prolife agenda, the governor told the Rally for Life at the Capitol Thursday.

The rally that packed the rotunda came on the heels of the House Human Resources Committee approving a ban on abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy Wednesday night. A similar ban has been approved in the Senate.

'I've been fighting for life since 1972 when I was elected to the Legislature for the first time and I will not stop now,” Branstad told the prolife activists. He also thanked them for their 'tireless work over so many years advancing the prolife movement.”

Branstad and Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, reminded them that progress, like the legislation being considered by lawmakers, can take time. The Senate-passed legislation would ban abortion after 20 weeks rather than the current 26 weeks, Dix said.

'I know it's not as much as everybody would like,” Branstad said, 'but this is an incremental, ongoing effort.”

He noted that abortions in Iowa have decreased by 26 percent since 2010 and there have been no Medicaid-funded abortions in Iowa in the past four years.

'So long as I have the honor of serving you I will continue to be a strong advocate for the unborn,” said Branstad, who expects to resign as governor this spring to become ambassador to China.

'We have more work to do, he said, but assured the activists his successor, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, is as steadfast in her support for prolife legislation and policy.

Reynolds said it was an honor for her to be part of the 'most prolife administration in the history of the state of Iowa.”

Given the progress lawmakers have made on the 20-week abortion ban and prohibiting taxpayer dollars to be used for abortion and abortion providers, Reynolds said '2017 is looking pretty bright for the prolife movement in Iowa.”

'We're on our way,” she said. This year, as life issues come before our legislators, the power and united voice of individuals like you is undeniable. We must continue to work together to change hearts and minds, to return to a culture once again that respects all human life, not just the planned and the perfect, but all human life.”

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