Statewide Iowa — Republicans on an Iowa Senate committee have advanced a proposed constitutional amendment designed to override an Iowa Supreme Court ruling that nullified abortion restrictions.
Senator Jake Chapman of Adel made the case for it in committee.
Chapman says the court improperly ruled Iowa women have a fundamental right to an abortion and a 72-hour waiting period was unconstitutional.
The proposed amendment says Iowa’s constitution does not recognize, grant or secure a right to abortion. 2022 is the earliest Iowa voters could decide whether to add that language to the state constitution. The 10 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted for the proposal. The five Democrats on the panel voted no.
That’s Senator Claire Celsi, a Democrat from Des Moines. Another Democrat from Des Moines, Senator Tony Bisignano, predicts there will be what he called “an onslaught” of anti-abortion legislation if the amendment is added to the constitution.
A similar proposal did not come up for a vote in the Republican-led senate last year. Advocates say having Governor Kim Reynolds publicly call on her fellow Republicans to pass the proposal makes it likely the full senate will vote on it this year.
