Iowa, Ga. Legislatures Consider Anti-Abortion Bills
Iowa lawmakers consider banning all abortions while Georgia is weighing banning health insurers from covering the procedure.
Des Moines Register: Responding To Abortion Bill, Iowa Dems Accuse Republicans Of Losing Jobs, Economy Focus
Citing abortion legislation introduced this morning, Iowa Democrats accused House Republicans of pursuing divisive social issues rather than policies to boost job growth and the economy. The bill, House File 2298, introduced by Rep. Kim Pearson, R-Pleasant Hill, is an outright ban on abortion, and includes criminal penalties of up to life in prison for those who perform abortions. Republicans hold a 60-to-40 majority in the House, and largely set and direct the agenda for consideration of legislation (Noble, 2/15).
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Anti-Abortion Bills Filed In Senate
Health insurance plans would be banned from providing abortion coverage under two bills filed Wednesday in the state Senate. Senate Bill 434 would block qualified health plans from providing abortion coverage as allowed by federal law, except when the life of the mother is endangered. Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, sponsored the bill and proposed calling it the "Federal Abortion Mandate Opt-Out Act." The second bill, Senate Bill 438, would ban state employee health insurance plans from offering coverage for abortion services. Sen. Mike Crane, R-Newnan, is the bill's sponsor (Torres, 2/15).