Majority Leader Dictator Mike Gronstalling (D-Council Bluffs) will not allow a vote on the late term abortion ban, HF 657, which was released from the Iowa Senate Government Oversight committee through a discharge petition with 26 signatures. Iowa Senate Democrats are proposing their own bill instead spearheaded by State Senator Joe Bolkcom (R-Iowa City) that they say would prevent Leroy Carhart from setting up shop in the state, but it wouldn’t ban abortions after 20 weeks.
Bolkcom couldn’t explain how his bill would even work… instead complained about the unconstitutionality of the language of a bill which was written in such a way it would likely pass muster and be upheld by the Supreme Court.
Which is exactly what Senate Democrats are afraid of.
Iowa Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) said the bill Bolkcom is offering is a tax bill that he doesn’t believe would ultimately prevent Carhart from entering the state. In a prepared statement, McKinley said:
I am deeply disappointed that Senator Gronstal is continuing to play political games with the vitally important late-term abortion ban by killing the bi-partisan legislation and instead allegedly offering a tax bill in its place that could fail to keep our state from becoming a nationwide haven for late-term abortions.
This debate is not just about keeping one abortionist out of Council Bluffs – it is about protecting the innocent lives of unborn Iowans in every community. We believe it is wrong for Senator Gronstal to continue to obstruct a vote and stand in the way of meaningful Senate debate on this issue and Senate Republicans will continue to demand an up or down vote on a late-term abortion ban this session. We are confident that if Senator Gronstal opts to listen to the citizens of his district and allows a vote on a late-term abortion ban, it will pass the Senate with strong bi-partisan support.
This bill doesn’t get Senate Democrats off the hook. It may possibly keep Carhart out, but I question how a bill focused on one person will be seen as constitutional. It also would allow Planned Parenthood or some other abortion provider to perform these types of abortions.
Does Gronstal and Senate Democrats really believe that people are concerned more about the “who” than the “what”? We don’t want late term abortions in this state (or any abortions for that matter). It really doesn’t matter who is doing them.
Council Bluffs residents remember when you vote in November 2012 that Mike Gronstal has demonstrated he cares more about Planned Parenthood and the pro-death lobby than he does you.