Since a 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn the Constitutional right to abortion, both state and federal legislators are locked in a contest to surpass one another in thwarting attempts by women and families to control their reproductive lives.

61% of Iowa adults favor legal abortion in all or most cases. Nevertheless, last July, Iowa’s GOP legislators passed, and Governor Reynolds signed a fetal heartbeat bill — even going as far as to reject an amendment offered by Democrats to carve out an exception for pregnant pre- teens. Then, they refused to outline how the law would be enforced. That’s not protecting life; that’s “owning the Libs.” The law is now under injunction.

A bill currently in the Iowa Senate would require fetal development videos to be shown in health classes in grades 7-12. Medical professionals say it’s anti-abortion propaganda and misinformation disguised as education. The bill’s floor manager maintains that the videos won’t be required — just suggested. So, the GOP can’t even agree on that! More chaos.

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, all five of our federal GOP legislators have voted against a right to contraception act and 3 of 4 Congressional representatives support the “Life at Conception Act” restricting in vitro fertilization for couples who are desperate for children.

The GOP is “hot doggin’” at every level and cannot drive the car it just caught. It’s endangering more humans than it saves.

Three things you can do: become informed, contact your legislators and remember in November.

– Published in the Storm Lake Times Pilot