Iowa Could Lose $1.8 Billion By Stripping Abortion Funding For Rape And Incest Victims | ThinkProgress →

Forty-one GOP legislators in Iowa have filed a motion with the Iowa Department of Human Services attempting to halt all government-funded abortion services in the state — even in cases of rape or incest. If successful, Iowa would join South Dakota, the only state that currently denies Medicaid funding for abortion services and could lose millions in federal funding

From the Des Moines Register:

There have been 22 Medicaid-paid abortions in Iowa so far in the fiscal year that ends this month. Fifteen of the 22 were for severe fetal anomalies, five were to save the life of the mother and two involved instances of rape. There have been no reported Medicaid-paid abortions in cases of incest so far this fiscal year.

Wow! 22 whole abortions! Iowa is being had, I tell you. Of course, Rep. Dawn Pettengill, (R-Mount Auburn) doesn’t care about the money. Anyway, the state would really only lose $4 million, max…at least, she thinks she might have heard that from unnamed House Republicans and staff. She’s not really sure. But whatever, $1,796,000,000 in health care funding isn’t that much of a difference.

Pettengill is the vice chair of the House Administrative Rules Review Committee, which would review the petition if the Iowa Department of Human Services doesn’t outright dismiss it. I’m not sure if there’s any way to contact the latter, but if anyone’s representatives are on the committee, you can contact them through the given link.

(Source: sarahlee310)