Iowa Defends 72-Hour Waiting Period That Will Save Unborn Babies From Abortion

State   |   Dave Andrusko   |   May 8, 2017   |   8:11PM   |   Des Moines, Iowa

Following a decision by the Iowa Supreme Court Friday morning to halt a new abortion law, the state’s Attorney General is filing a response today, the Des Moines Register reported.

It was a hectic back and forth on Friday. At 8:30 am, pro-life Gov. Terry Branstad signed SF 471 – a law that prohibits at 20-weeks and beyond and requires a 72 hour waiting period; Polk County District Court Judge Jeffrey Farrell denied a request for a temporary restraining order; and less than two hours after Branstad signed the bill into law the state Supreme Court granted Planned Parenthood’s and the ACLU’s request for a TRO.

The emergency order for the TRO was specifically for the 72 hour waiting period, according to William Petroski of the Register. Once the Iowa Supreme Court has read the Attorney General’s response, it will consider whether the injunction should remain in effect.

Planned Parenthood complained that the 72 hour waiting period meant that women would have to visit the abortion clinics twice and charged that the new state law “violates the Iowa Constitution, citing a lack of due process and equal protection rights,” Petroski reported.

SUPPORT PRO-LIFE NEWS! Please help LifeNews.com with a donation

When he signed SF 471, Gov. Branstad said it was one of the most prolife bills passed in years. “I have been fighting for the unborn since I ran for the Legislature in 1972, and I have not stopped. I am really pleased with this General Assembly and the progress that was made,” Branstad said. “I think that this year was really a banner year for the pro-life movement. History was made this session.”

Jenifer Bowen, a spokeswoman for Iowa Right to Life, said it was “amazing, historic day,” according to Petroski.

“We are seeing for the first time, quite possibly in Iowa history, a bill that will actually save lives,” Bowen said. “Babies 20 weeks in the womb will now be protected. We are incredibly excited about this opportunity and we are energized to continue to educate Iowans.”

LifeNews.com Note: Dave Andrusko is the editor of National Right to Life News and an author and editor of several books on abortion topics. This post originally appeared in at National Right to Life News Today —- an online column on pro-life issues.

ultrasound4d21b