Where Iowa Gubernatorial and Congressional Candidates Stand on Choiceby Linda Thieman
Today, Blog for Iowa is joining over 200 other progressive blogs across the nation for Blog for Choice day - the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Our posts today will examine the state of abortion laws in Iowa and where the candidates stand on the issue of choice.
First out of the gate, since this is an election year, I thought I’d take a look at which gubernatorial and congressional candidates are pro-choice, who amongst them thinks he has the right to control MY body, and who is too timid to commit to this politically-charged and yet most fundamental of all issues.
Iowa’s Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates
• Rep. Ed Fallon (D) – Pro-choice
• Sal Mohamed (D) – Pro-choice
• Vernon Weems (D) – Pro-choice
• Chet Culver (D) – Pro-choice
• Patty Judge (D) – unclear; says she is pro-choice in the Planned Parenthood poll, but in 1998, as a member of the Iowa Senate, she voted for a bill banning certain vaguely defined abortion procedures with no exception for the woman’s health.
• Mike Blouin (D) – anti-choice; would not commit to an answer on the PP poll; however, Blouin, as a member of Congress in 1975 and 1977, proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution outlawing abortion. Got to hand it to him, though, for actually addressing the issue on his campaign website - sort of.
All of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates (except Yackle, who did not respond) support: 1) public funding to Planned Parenthood for family planning services and 2) teaching responsible, comprehensive, medically accurate sex education in public schools.
Iowa’s 1st Congressional District
[Rep. Nussle (R) is vacating, leaving this seat open.]
• Bruce Braley (D) – Pro-choice; a solid progressive.
• Bill Gluba (D) – Anti-choice; too bad, an otherwise solid, progressive anti-war candidate.
• Rick Dickinson (D) – This guy is so slippery on the issue of choice, it’s like sleeping on satin sheets. Can’t get any traction.
Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
• David Loebsack (D) – Pro-choice; one of our own, whom, when I asked if he were pro-choice, responded, “Of COURSE I’m pro-choice!” Gotta love that guy!
Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District
• Rep. Leonard Boswell (D) – Mixed bag. From 1999 through 2005, Boswell voted 8 times on the pro-choice side of bills and amendments, according to VoteSmart.org, and 5 times on the anti-choice side. Not a progressive by any stretch of the imagination, yet not quite a Republican. Has the slight advantage of being the (Democratic) incumbent in what is often a close race.
Iowa’s 5th Congressional District
• Joyce Schulte (D) – Pro-choice. Come on! Let’s elect THIS woman to Congress! She's a billion times more qualified to serve the 5th district than our current "representative," whom, from here on in, will be referred to as Big Brother's little buddy.
• Bob Chambers (D) – (no response yet); long-time Democratic activist.
Next up on the docket: Iowa v. Pro-choice Laws – NARAL Pro-choice America gives Iowa a “C.” Arrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!
