Here We Go Again: Iowa House Sneaks Fetal Personhood Law Back In
by
Linda Thieman
on Sun 20 Mar 2005 04:03 PM CST
Here We Go Again: Iowa House Sneaks Fetal Personhood Law Back In
Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa
Shortly
before last week's deadline, opponents of a woman's right to choose
slipped in a bill that would redefine "person" in the Iowa Criminal
Code as "a member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of
development, when carried in the womb or after birth."
Citing
the Laci Peterson case, proponents of House File 752 (HF 752) claim it
is needed in order to punish perpetrators of crimes against pregnant
women resulting in death or injury to the fetus. Governor Vilsack
observed when he vetoed this measure last year that an Iowa law enacted
several years ago already addresses this issue.
The
dangerous reality of the bill is that it creates tensions with Roe v.
Wade. HF 752 elevates the legal status of the fetus to that of an
adult human being and provides separate legal protection to a
fertilized egg, embryo or fetus.
Iowa Law Already Exists to Punish Violent Crimes against Pregnant Women
Iowa
Code section 707.8(1) deals with terminating a human pregnancy without
the consent of the pregnant woman during the commission of a forcible
felony (murder, kidnapping, robbery, assault or arson). A person
found guilty under this Code section is guilty of a Class B
felony. There is a maximum 25-year penalty for Class B felonies.
HF 752 takes the focus away from the woman who is the victim and instead focuses on the fetus.
When
Governor Vilsack vetoed identical legislation last year, he stated that
greater accountability for people committing crimes against a pregnant
woman and greater protection for pregnant women could be accomplished
by increasing existing penalties.
In 2004,
during consideration of this legislation, amendments to increase
penalties under current law for crimes against pregnant women were
defeated, thus exposing the true intent of proponents to define fetus as a person.
The House could debate HF 752 any time. Urge your State Representative to oppose this measure.
Click here to send a quick letter to your Iowa representative.
This Week’s Town Meetings with Congressman Leach Representing the Second District of Iowa
by
Trish Nelson
on Sun 20 Mar 2005 08:36 AM CST
This Week’s Town Meetings with Congressman Leach Representing the Second District of Iowa
“Social
Security is the most important safety net program ever developed.
Whatever approach is adopted, the goal must be fairness and
equity. Maintenance of commitments to current retirees must be
ironclad.” [Read: Future retirees are going to get screwed].
- Congressman Jim Leach Newsletter, Spring 2005
Share your comments and concerns with Rep. Leach this week at a community meeting near you, where these and other issues may be raised.
Monday, March 21
Linn County
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Afriican-American Historical Museum
Celebration Hall
55 12th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids
Johnson County
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Iowa City Public Library
Meeting Room B
123 South Linn Street, Iowa City
Washington County
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Washington City Hall
215 East Washington, Washington
Tuesday, March 22
Cedar County
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Herbert Hoover Museum
Conference Room
210 Parkside Drive
West Branch
Louisa County
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Louisa County Courthouse
117 South Main
Wapello
Muscatine County
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Muscatine Community College
Large Conference Room, Larson Hall
152 Colorado street
Muscatine
Wednesday, March 23
Henry County
9:00 am – 10:30 am
New London Library
103 East Main Street
New London
Des Moines County
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington Campus, Room 406
1500 West Agency Road
West Burlington
Lee County
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
West Point Public Library
317 5th Street
West Point
Thursday, March 24
Jefferson County
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Fairfield Public Library
104 West Adams
Fairfield
Van Buren County
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Village Cup and Cakes
202 Main Street
Keosauqua
Wapello County
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Indian Hills Community College
Bennett Student Center, Room 104
Ottumwa
Friday, March 25
Davis County
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Davis County Courthouse
100 Courthouse Square
Bloomfield
Appanoose County
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Centerville City Hall
Centerville
Wayne County
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Wayne County Courthouse
Basement Meeting Room
Corydon
