Statewide Iowa — How would a decision from the United States Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade impact Iowa law on abortion?
In 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Iowa women have a fundamental right to an abortion under the STATE constitution. It means THAT ruling would have to be overturned before any IOWA law could be enacted to restrict access to abortion. That’s exactly what Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has asked the Iowa Supreme Court to do in 2022. Reynolds has appointed a majority of the justices on the Iowa Supreme Court. The Iowa court is due to soon rule whether a law can take effect that would ban abortions in Iowa after the sixth week of a pregnancy. Critics say that’s effectively a ban on all abortions, as few women know or have confirmed by week six that they’re pregnant. In a tweet late Tuesday morning, Governor Reynolds said the mission remains as clear as it has ever been — to defend the most important freedom there is: the right to life. Reynolds is among 11 Republican governors who filed a brief calling on the court to overturn Roe v Wade.
Reynolds says states should decide abortion policy and extend legal protection to the unborn.
Reynolds made her comments during a speech a month ago at an Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event. The Republican Party of Iowa released a written statement, saying the party is committed to defending the unborn. Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn says the majority of Iowans believe abortion should be legal and Iowans will have a chance this fall to elect candidates who will write the protection of Roe into law at the state and federal level. Sarah Stoesz is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of North Central States.
If the leaked draft of an opinion to overturn Roe v Wade is close to what’s issued by the Supreme Court next month, Stoesz says it will lead to a hodge podge of state laws on abortion — and state bans will only affect women in those states who can’t afford to travel to a state where abortion remains legal.
Stoesz says elections matter and Planned Parenthood is prepared for the political fight ahead.
