Iowa Legislature Passes Anti-Abortion ‘Heartbeat’ Bill That Could Help Overturn Roe v. Wade
This Tuesday, the Iowa legislature passed a bill that would, if signed into law, ban abortions after a heartbeat is detected. As of Thursday evening, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has not shared whether or not she intends to sign the bill. However, Governor Reynolds has a history of expressing pro-life views and is expected to follow suit on this piece of legislation.
Pro-abortion groups see this legislation as a major setback for the state of Iowa. “Today’s actions to ban abortion are an embarrassment to Iowa and they will remain a blemish on our state for the foreseeable future,” said the group known as the Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa in a statement cited this week at The Washington Post.
Pro-life groups, however, see the bill as a major step for the cause of life. Since a heartbeat is generally detected around the sixth week of pregnancy, this legislation will significantly reduce the number of abortions in the state. The only exemptions included are for cases of rape and incest.
The bill’s influence may just spread beyond the borders of Iowa, however. As The Washington Post reports, Iowa Republicans anticipate the bill to face legal challenges that will send it to the Supreme Court. If the bill makes it to D.C., they hope it will “overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that prevented states from banning abortions outright.”
Republicans are hopeful in light of anticipated changes to the Supreme Court. Some speculate that President Trump will soon get a chance to nominate a conservative judge to the Supreme Court as a replacement for Justice Kennedy, who may be considering retirement.
Leah Hickman is a 2017 graduate of Hillsdale College’s English program. She freelances for BreakPoint.org and has written pieces for multiple Hillsdale College campus publications as well as for ChristianAnswers.net/Spotlight and the Discover Laura Blog. Read more by Leah at aworldofgrasspeople.blogspot.com.
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Publication date: May 4, 2018
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