Iowa House shouldn’t 

waste time on pointless debate

It seems there just isn’t enough to do in the Legislature this year, with education and property tax reforms having been settled and the mental health system reworked House Republicans have decided to turn their attention to something really important, abortion.

What better time to take up a pointless, divisive debate, right? Oh wait… those other issues haven’t been settled? Huh.

According to news reports House Speaker Kraig Paulsen (R- Hiawatha) said Republicans want to debate the issue because, “I think it’s important for this caucus and Republicans statewide to fight to protect life anytime we can.” 

Republicans know that this issue is going nowhere in the Senate.  The whole thing is largely symbolic and merely a chance for Republicans to get Democrats on the record about the issue. I wonder if they might then want to use that vote in an upcoming election? Meanwhile real issues, like school reform, languish.

The debate, which could begin within a few days, will be over ending, all public funding of abortions. Which at first sounds like it would be an issue worthy of discussion. Public funding sounds like it can mean lots of things, even paying for elective abortions, which may be objectionable to a lot of people and worthy of debate. But that’s not the case here.

According to the Associated Press, public funding of abortions is already rare in Iowa and only performed under what I would consider extreme circumstances.

The AP reports that public funding of abortions now is allowed only when “a doctor deems it necessary and a woman doesn’t have money or insurance coverage to pay for the procedure. State officials said they’re not sure how much money is spent on such abortions.”

I have my own concerns about abortion in general, but if the policy is as stated above, then it seems to be a legitimate health issue designed to protect the health of women who couldn’t afford to do so on their own.

Republicans object to that? The problem is their own strategy may backfire on them. 

Opponents will rightly ask Republicans what their alternative is in this situation? What are these women supposed to do? I can’t imagine that their answer will do much to foster a reputation of caring for women’s health. 

A woman’s right to have an abortion has been settled law since The Supreme Court ruled on Roe V. Wade in 1973. But since then a philosophical debate has ensued and some states have tried to chip away at the edges of the law with different restrictions including prohibiting “partial-birth” abortions, state-mandated waiting periods, including in some cases requiring parental notification.

As for public funding, 17 states use their own funds to pay for all or most medically necessary abortions for Medicaid enrollees in the state. Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia prohibit the use of state funds except in those cases when federal funds are available: where the woman’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. In defiance of federal requirements, South Dakota limits funding to cases of life endangerment only.

(http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_OAL.pdf)

This is an absolutely pointless waste of time distracting the Legislature from more important business for what is essential a symbolic act. The funny thing is Paulsen himself seemed to agree just a few days ago. According to a blog entry on his website posted on April 9, (printed in full at right), the House Majority Leader writes:

“As we’re nearing the end of the session, one major issue that Iowans have asked us to address is property tax reform and relief, which the Senate still has not taken up. The looming property tax increase that is facing Iowans has yet to be acted upon by the Senate. Before the Legislature adjourns for the year, we must take up a bill that prevents this increase.”

Adding later:

“Now is the time for action, not talk on property tax reform. Iowans expect and deserve action on this legislation.
http://kraigpaulsen.com/

I couldn’t agree more. Drop the silly abortion debate and get back to work on the important issues.