ACLU of Iowa critical of Reynolds’ special session on abortion

Gov. Kim Reynolds has called the Iowa Legislature back to Des Moines for a special session tomorrow to focus solely on abortion policy.

The Iowa Supreme Court recently ruled not to declare abortion illegal as early as six weeks of pregnancy.

When the court left Iowa’s current law in place – allowing abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy – Reynolds declared “the fight is not over,” and vowed to continue pressing for a stricter law.

Lawmakers will see another attempt at a six-week, “fetal heartbeat” bill in this special session. Pete McRoberts, policy director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, called the governor’s move “disappointing.”

“Unfortunately, it’s not really surprising,” said McRoberts. “The surprising part is that – in light of huge majorities of people in Iowa opposing ideas like this – Gov. Reynolds is plowing through and really, just kind of assuming that the State Legislature will go along with anything she asks.”

The odds of that are unclear. This is a GOP-controlled legislature, but different than the one that passed Iowa’s current law.

In a statement, Reynolds declared, “I believe the pro-life movement is the most important human rights cause of our time.”

Reynolds added she is “committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, promoting fatherhood and parenting, and continuing policies that encourage strong families.”

While that may be, McRoberts said the ACLU sees Reynolds’ abortion-related efforts as unconstitutional.

“You know, the Constitution doesn’t grant rights – the Constitution limits the power of government,” said McRoberts. “So, when the government turns it on its head and it’s used instead to take away rights that women have had for 50 years, this is anti-freedom and it’s restricting rights. And that is just, frankly, something that people aren’t used to, because it’s not what governments ought to do.”

Reynolds added in her special session proclamation that Iowans deserve to have their elected representatives address the issue of abortion “in a timely manner.”