The GOP’s proposed constitutional amendment would strip freedoms away from Iowa women and families
For Immediate Release: March 5, 2019
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Iowa Republicans voted to move forward on a constitutional amendment proposal (SJR9) which would infringe on the right to access a safe and legal abortion in Iowa and block funding for women and families. This extreme measure completely disregards the health and safety of Iowans and includes no language about considerations for rape, incest, or the health of the woman. NARAL Pro-Choice Iowa spoke out against the cruel and unnecessary amendment:
“The GOP has proven once again that they will do everything in their power to limit abortion access and blatantly disregard the health care needs of Iowa women and families,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Iowa Lead Organizer Chelsea Chism. “Iowans overwhelmingly support protecting abortion access and believe that politicians have no place interfering in personal health care decisions best left up to a woman and her doctor. The fight doesn’t end here: we know Iowa voters will defeat this extreme measure at the ballot box if it ever makes it through the Legislature.”
SJR 9 proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Iowa that would restrict access to abortion for women based on their zip code or how much money they make. Every Iowan must be able to decide whether and when to become a parent – no matter how much money they make or how they are insured. The GOP in Iowa has made it clear that they see the path to banning Roe running through Iowa. But 7 in 10 Iowans oppose that out-of-touch view, and agree that politicians shouldn’t interfere with decisions best made by a woman and her doctor. Restricting abortion access in Iowa has proven to be controversial and incredibly unpopular across the state. Last month, Polk County District Judge Michael Huppert struck down an unconstitutional law that would ban abortion before most women even know they are pregnant. NARAL members across Iowa are prepared to hold anyone who puts their own political ambition over the best interests of Iowans accountable during the 2019 legislative session and into 2020.
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all. For more than 50 years, NARAL has worked to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. Since 1969, NARAL has made history, grown to over 2 million members, and met the moments that have defined this fight with action, power and freedom. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”