Planned Parenthood and pregnancy information centers plan near-total ban on abortion

DES MOINES, IOWA — Nearly three weeks ago, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Kim Reynolds’ fetal heartbeat bill could become law.

The ruling means that a district judge’s ban on the law must be lifted, making it enforceable. Reynolds’ six-year battle is expected to reach its conclusion on Friday.

“It’s really hard to put into words all the emotion, you know, something that you’ve worked so hard and so long on and it’s going to help women,” said Maggie DeWitte, the executive director of Pulse Life Advocates, a pro-life group. Pulse Life Advocates oversees 55 pregnancy resource centers across the state. “And they’ve been doing the hard work of taking care of women in crisis pregnancies for years and years.”

During the previous session, Iowa lawmakers passed a bill that would allow state funding to be provided to these pregnancy care centers.

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Meanwhile, the ACLU of Iowa and Planned Parenthood of North Central States are seeking a review by the Iowa Supreme Court. The timeline for the challenge is unknown, but a press conference on Wednesday reiterated that all legal avenues will be exhausted.

The president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of North Central States said it has been emotional and difficult since the ruling three weeks ago. She gave an estimate of how many abortions currently performed in the state will be banned under the new state law.

“The vast majority of abortions will be banned in Iowa. We estimate that about 97-98 percent of abortions will be banned as a result of the repeal of the ban,” said Ruth Richardson.

Richardson confirmed that there will be no layoffs or closures of Planned Parenthood clinics as a result. The clinics will still provide essential services up to the extent allowed by law, such as contraceptives, family planning and women’s health care.

Planned Parenthood of North Central States provides and continues to provide resources to clinics in Minnesota and Illinois for people traveling out of state for an abortion.

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