Iowa Republicans are now seeking a new restrictive set of abortion limits after the state Supreme Court made a previous proposal unenforceable.
On Tuesday, state GOP lawmakers returned to the State Capitol to consider a nearly identical set of restrictions on abortion. Republicans hold large majorities in both legislative chambers, and they are supported by a right-wing governor who has called out the supposed inhumanity of the procedure.
Iowa's Special Session for New Abortion Restrictions
These factors suggest that the new proposal would pass. The legislation had already cleared the House and Senate committees on Tuesday afternoon, and the final votes were possible later that night.
In a statement last week, Gov. Kim Reynolds said that he believes that the pro-life movement is this generation's most important human rights cause. Her remarks came at the time that she called the special session on abortion.
Reynolds also lamented the court's deadlock, noting that the lack of action completely disregards the will of voters in the state and lawmakers who will not rest until the law protects the unborn, as per the New York Times.
Many expected the special session to cement further the state's sharp political shift to the Republican Party and end its rare status as a GOP-led state where abortions are allowed up until 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The new restrictions would also add Iowa to a list of conservative states that have passed abortion limits since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The list includes Indiana, North Dakota, and South Carolina.
On Tuesday, Iowa residents on both sides of the abortion issue gathered at the Capitol in Des Moines while holding signs with messages such as "My Body, My Choice." Others wore T-shirts that had slogans such as "Unborn Lives Matter."
Amy Sinclair, the state Senate's Republican president, said that the debate over the new bill had gone on for too long. According to Reuters, she added that it does not violate either the state or federal Constitutions.
Quickly Passing the New Law
On the other hand, Democratic state Sen. Janice Weiner commented that making the bill law immediately would only show "incredible disrespect" to doctors in Iowa because it would not give them sufficient time to understand the new rules imposed by Republican lawmakers.
The three judges who opposed reinstating the 2018 law in June said they decided to avoid legislating from the bench. This gave Republican lawmakers hope to beat future challenges by passing a new law.
Several GOP presidential candidates, including former Vice President Mike Pence, could view the special session as an opening to draw a contrast with rivals. Last month, Pence said that the sanctity of life must be restored to be the center of American law in every state.
However, some have all been less committed when asked about a federal role in restricting abortion rights. In April, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban into law in his state, but he has been unclear about his stance on a national abortion restriction, said CNN.
