• ACLU of Iowa
• Legislative Update
• June 30, 2011

ACLU Campaigns

 

Defending targets of discrimination

A new kind of intolerance is creeping into our country—one that shrouds its true identity and uses the law as a means to codify discrimination.

Legislative Update: Done!

Minnesota entered a government shutdown, but not Iowa! Just before 4:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon, the Iowa General Assembly voted on two final bills and resolved to adjourn the 2011 legislative session. There were cheers from both legislators and lobbyists.

Revictimizing Iowa Rape and Incest Victims (HHS Budget Bill HF649)

After all of the other budget bills had been agreed on and even voted on, a single issue blocked any remaining compromise–anti-choice extremists’ refusal to allow women who get health insurance through Medicaid to be covered for abortions in cases of rape and incest.

Not only was this suggestion shockingly callous, it would also result in a violation of federal Medicaid law and risk Iowa’s losing Medicaid funding. (The Des Moines Register had a spot-on editorial on this today.) Lengthy negotiations went on late into the night this week, with leadership and members of the Heath and Human Services conference committee working hard to avoid an Iowa government shutdown.

Eventually a final version of the HHS budget bill went to vote. The language was a significant change, but in the end, Medicaid funding for these women was preserved.

Still, we are disappointed that the General Assembly decided to change more than 30 years of Iowa law in this area. But as Senator Jack Hatch (D-Des Moines) stated in his opening comments on the bill, we hope and many expect that this new legislation has the effect of maintaining the same level of service and care for Iowa’s most vulnerable women.

Please thank House and Senate leadership and the members of the conference committee for all of their work on this bill.

• Senator Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs)
• Speaker Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha)
• Representative Dave Heaton (R-Mt. Pleasant)
• Representative Joel Fry (R-Osceola)
• Representative Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley)
• Senator Jack Hatch (D-Des Moines)
• Senator Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City)
• Senator Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City)

Stop-Gap Budget Bill (HF698)

In case an agreement wasn’t reached on the HHS budget bill and to allow the governor more time to review the budgets, the General Assembly also voted Thursday to pass a stop-gap budget bill.

This one-month budget averts a government shutdown and gives the governor 30 days to review and sign off on the budgets.

Happy Independence Day to everyone! After a legislative session like this one, we’ll be more mindful than ever of the difficulties and challenges our founding fathers had in crafting a democracy.

Anna J. Dey
Lobbyist/Staff Attorney, ACLU of Iowa
anna.dey@aclu-ia.org