May 2, 2018

Iowa Governor Just Signed the Most Restrictive Abortion Ban in the Country

Immediate legal challenges are expected.

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Update (5/4/2018): Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the “heartbeat” bill on Friday. The bill bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, making it one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country. Immediate legal challenges are expected.

“I believe that all innocent life is precious and sacred, and as governor, I pledged to do everything in my power to protect it,” Reynolds said in a statement, shortly after signing the bill. “That is what I am doing today. I understand that not everyone will agree with this decision. But if death is determined when a heart stops beating, then doesn’t a beating heart indicate life?”

Early Wednesday morning, the Iowa legislature passed a so-called “heartbeat” bill that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually about six weeks into a pregnancy.

Iowa Democratic lawmakers say the bill is “intentionally unconstitutional” and will certainly be challenged in court. For now, Iowa’s current law outlaws abortion after 20 weeks into a pregnancy. 

“Today we will begin this journey as Iowa becomes ground zero nationally for the life movement and the starting line back to the Supreme Court,” said Sen. Rick Bertrand (R-Sioux City) during floor debate. “I believe this bill will be the vehicle that will ultimately provide change and provide the opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade.” 

After hours of debate on Tuesday night and early Wednesday, the Republican-controlled House and Senate approved the measure 51 to 46 and 29 to 17, respectively.

The bill would require anyone seeking an abortion to undergo an abdominal ultrasound, and, if a fetal heartbeat is detected, medical professionals wouldn’t be allowed to perform the procedure, with a few exceptions, including some cases of incest and rape. Critics argue that fetal heartbeat bills effectively outlaw abortions, since many people don’t realize they’re pregnant until after six weeks. 

If signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa would join a growing list of states to pass extremely restrictive abortion policies. For example, in March, Mississippi passed a ban on abortion after 15 weeks, and Kentucky, also in March, banned abortions after 11 weeks. Both laws were challenged immediately and are currently tied up in court. North Dakota passed a similar heartbeat bill in 2013. That law was shut down in a federal appeals court, which also oversees Iowa.

Reynolds hasn’t announced whether she plans to sign the bill. 

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WHO DOESN’T LOVE A POSITIVE STORY—OR TWO?

“Great journalism really does make a difference in this world: it can even save kids.”

That’s what a civil rights lawyer wrote to Julia Lurie, the day after her major investigation into a psychiatric hospital chain that uses foster children as “cash cows” published, letting her know he was using her findings that same day in a hearing to keep a child out of one of the facilities we investigated.

That’s awesome. As is the fact that Julia, who spent a full year reporting this challenging story, promptly heard from a Senate committee that will use her work in their own investigation of Universal Health Services. There’s no doubt her revelations will continue to have a big impact in the months and years to come.

Like another story about Mother Jones’ real-world impact.

This one, a multiyear investigation, published in 2021, exposed conditions in sugar work camps in the Dominican Republic owned by Central Romana—the conglomerate behind brands like C&H and Domino, whose product ends up in our Hershey bars and other sweets. A year ago, the Biden administration banned sugar imports from Central Romana. And just recently, we learned of a previously undisclosed investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, looking into working conditions at Central Romana. How big of a deal is this?

“This could be the first time a corporation would be held criminally liable for forced labor in their own supply chains,” according to a retired special agent we talked to.

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And it is only because Mother Jones is funded primarily by donations from readers that we can mount ambitious, yearlong—or more—investigations like these two stories that are making waves.

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