Seeing the realization of preborn children being protected in Iowa took one baby step yesterday as House File 153 was passed out of it’s subcommittee on a party line vote. This bill reads:
The sovereign state of Iowa recognizes that life is valued and protected from the moment of conception, and each life, from that moment, is accorded the same rights and protections guaranteed to all persons by the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and the laws of this state. The Iowa supreme court shall not have appellate jurisdiction over the provisions of this section.
I especially like the part where they take away the Iowa Supreme Court’s jurisdiction in the matter. If passed it would go immediately into effect, and in effect Iowa would then nullify the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
State Representative Kim Pearson (R-Pleasant Hill), the bill’s sponsor, and State Representative David Heaton (R-Mount Pleasant) voted in favor of the measure. State Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D-Ames) voted against. The next step is the Iowa House Human Resources Committee where Republicans hold a 12-9 majority so the bill stands a good chance of passing out of the committee, and passing in the House.
The Iowa Senate is where I think it’ll get stalled. I am wholeheartedly behind this bill and would encourage you to contact your State Representative and State Senator (might as well apply pressure even though it isn’t in the Senate yet).
While I’m behind this bill I also believe we need to push for HF 5, the late term abortion ban as well. This personhood bill is obviously the holy grail of prolife legislation, but it is not the only bill out there. Contrary what some believe.
I’d like to see all of the prolife bills get passed.
