Abortion providers in Iowa say they are preparing to assist people who would lose access to abortion under a bill going before lawmakers in a special session tomorrow. A public hearing on the bill tomorrow is scheduled to start at 9:30 and last until 11:00 a.m.
The legislature will consider a proposal to ban abortions after cardiac activity is detected. That can be as soon as six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant.
If the bill passes, it would take effect immediately.
Sarah Traxler is the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States. She says providers are ready to respond to the ban in court and in their clinics.
We will comply while it is in effect, but we still provide abortion care in the state of Iowa up to what is legal. There are plenty of people who present to us prior to embryonic cardiac activity and we will keep seeing those patients.
Traxler says anyone with an upcoming appointment should stay in contact with their provider. Even if they cannot get an abortion in Iowa, they can be referred to a clinic in another state.
Former Iowa Congressman Steve King is fighting eminent domain efforts by carbon pipeline builders in Iowa. King says he is talking with three law firms about filing a lawsuit to block construction of carbon pipelines. Radio Iowa reports that King filed paperwork this morning with the Iowa Utilities Board to be on record as an opponent of the projects.
King says law firms are already representing landowners and county officials opposed to the pipelines in state court, but King said the focus should be overturning a 2005 U-S Supreme Court decision.
That ruling said private property can be claimed for a private economic development project through the government’s eminent domain process.
Iowa Republican Party leaders have set January 15 as the date for their party’s 2024 Caucuses.
Iowa’s Caucuses have traditionally been the kick off event of the presidential campaign for both parties. The Republican National Committee has agreed on a schedule that keeps the Iowa GOP’s Caucuses first.
National Democratic Party leaders booted Iowa from its early state line up and plan for South Carolina’s Democratic Primary to go first, on February 3 of next year. Iowa Democratic Party leaders have indicated they’ll host caucuses on the same night as Republicans next year, just to conduct party business.
Radio Iowa reports that state Democratic leaders are planning a separate mail-in system for Iowa Democrats to express their preference in the 2024 presidential race, but haven’t said when that voting would start or when results would be available.
