Iowa Unborn Victims of Violence Bill Heads to Governor for Approval

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 7, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Iowa Unborn Victims of Violence Bill Heads to Governor for Approval

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 7, 2004

Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) — A bill that would offer further protection for pregnant women and their unborn children is closer to becoming law thanks to an Iowa state House vote on Tuesday in favor of the legislation.

Lawmakers voted 63-36 in favor of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, a state bill that is similar to the federal legislation recently signed by President George. W. Bush.

The bill now heads to pro-abortion Gov. Tom Vilsack to be signed or vetoed. Matt Paul, a Vilsack spokesman, said the governor had not made up his mind what he will do and told the Quad City Times he will look at similar laws in other states.

Vilsack is one of a handful of leading political figures pro-abortion Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is considering as his running mate.

Supporters of the bill say it places true value on the lives of both mother and child when a pregnant woman is attacked and her unborn baby is killed or injured. But abortion advocates contend the bill would make abortion illegal, even though that hasn’t been the case in more than two dozen states that have similar laws.

“This bill is primarily about justice for the second victim,” Rep. Dan Boddicker, R-Tipton, said during the debate.

Iowa Right to Life commended Boddicker for his passion and hard work in advancing the legislation.

"Throughout the many amendments that were defeated, Representative Boddicker maintained that current code only recognized one victim and the bill would rectify that by defining person to include the unborn child, which would then permit the state to prosecute for two victims in the commission of a crime against the woman and the child," the group said in a statement.

Pro-abortion lawmakers put forward an amendment that would say there is only one victim when a pregnant woman is attacked and her baby is killed or injured. Pro-life lawmakers defeated it.

The state Senate passed the bill (HF 2558) with a 33-19 vote.

ACTION: Contact Governor Vilsack with your comments about the unborn victims bill: Office of the Governor, State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319, (515) 281-5211 (Voice), (515) 281-6611 (FAX). To send an email, go to
https://www.governor.state.ia.us/comments/capitol_correspond/index.html

Related web sites:
Iowa Right to Life – https://www.irlc.org