Rep. Steve King (R-IA) doubles down on Akin's 'legitimate rape' comments, saying, "well I personally don't know anyone who's gotten pregnant from rape" →

stfuconservatives:

Folks, I don’t personally know anyone who’s died of starvation, so that’s not really real either, right? That’s how that works?

(Yes, this is the same Steve King who said liberals value dogs more than humans and that it’s legal for a rapist to get a young girl pregnant and then take her across the state line and force her to have an abortion and then ‘drop her back off at the swingset’)

Today’s Headline: Steve King Is An Asshole; Nobody Surprised

(Source: stfuconservatives)

DHS Rejects Iowa GOP Proposal to End Medicaid Funding for Abortions after Rape or Incest →

The Iowa Department of Human Services rejected Dawn Pettengill’s (R-Mount Auburn) petition to stop Medicaid funding of abortions in the case of rape, incest, or severe fetal anomalies.

[Iowa human services director] Chuck Palmer wrote in a letter Friday that banning state payment for such abortions would violate federal requirements. Breaking those rules, he wrote, “would jeopardize all federal Medicaid funding Iowa receives, approximately $2.1 billion annually. This funding is important to the delivery of vital care to vulnerable Iowans.”

There were 22 Medicaid-funded abortions in Iowa in the past fiscal year, most involving severe fetal anomalies.

Democratic House leader Kevin McCarthy praised the decision. “I’m pleased Governor Branstad put the brakes on this latest attempt by House Republicans to deny health care options to women who are victims of rape or incest,” he said in a press release. “From banning birth control such as the pill to reducing cancer screenings, this effort by Republicans was just the latest attempt in their relentless attack on women’s health care. It’s time for Republicans to put aside their divisive social agenda and focus on growing our economy and putting Iowans back to work.”

As always, cis women are not the only ones affected by attacks like these - anyone who can get pregnant would be in danger.

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)

Iowa Governor Nominates Anti-Abortion Catholic Priest to Serve On Board Of Medicine →

The Iowa Senate simply did not have enough time to consider the nomination of a Catholic priest to the state’s Board of Medicine, which is composed of ten seats, including three for non-physicians. Because of that, Monsignor Frank Bognanno is now an active, albeit temporary, board member. The Iowa Senate revisits the nomination in January when the body resumes work, and Bognanno could get a three-year term. But for now, he’ll serve for the rest of 2012.

Bognanno’s nomination to the Board of Medicine, however, could be a problem for women’s health in the state because Bognanno is anti-abortion which means he may also be anti-contraception. Republican Governor Terry Branstad nominated Bognanno after Senate Democrats flatly rejected his previous choice of Colleen Pasnik, a “feverishly” anti-abortion activist. But Bognanno may be just as anti-abortion as Pasnik. Not only did Bognanno join Pasnik as “part of a group that urged the board to reject a Planned Parenthood abortion-pill dispensing system,” he’s already admitted that he would come down on the anti-abortion side if he can find room for interpretation in state law.

[…]

The issue here is that most anti-abortion advocates already believe that state law is wrong and that we should be following Biblical law. As a Catholic priest, Bognanno is required by church law to oppose abortion and contraception. Will he really be able to “fairly apply state law” as he says? Or is that just his way of making himself seem like a nominee the Senate can approve? Once he is approved, Bognanno can vote based on his religious beliefs all he wants, which could put the lives and health of women in Iowa at serious risk.

This also sounds like a violation of the separation of church and state because Branstad has selected a Catholic priest to serve on a state board. He didn’t choose just a Catholic citizen. He chose a priest who takes orders from the bishops, who take their orders from the Pope. Conservative Republicans have been furious about President Obama ordering insurance companies to offer contraception services to female employees of religious institutions. This nomination may be a clear Republican response that they want religion to dictate medical and health policy. I have no doubt that Bognanno is a respected clergy member, I simply doubt that he can objectively protect the health of women. The State Board of Medicine should make decisions based on what is best for people’s health. They should not make decisions based on what someone’s religion says.

FUCK YOU BRANSTAD. One complaint about abortion providers, one complication with a telemedicine abortion, and we know where these assholes are coming down. I don’t care how respected or inspiring Bognanno is to his clergy, he does not have Iowans’ best interests at heart - he only has his, and his church’s. Religion has no place in determining health care policies.

There is so much time for these guys to do their damage by next January. Fucking anti-choicers.

(Source: sarahlee310)

Iowa Republican State Senator Proposes Drug Testing Child Support Recipients →

stfuconservatives:

The War on Women continues. In this installment, an Iowa state senator proposes that women who receive child support from their partner should be drug tested. Because that’s not demeaning or an invasion of privacy or anything.

-Jess

When do we get to drug test senators to see if they should still be receiving our tax dollars?

As a side note, this amendment was openly laughed at when it was introduced, and Sen. Mark Chelgren (R-Ottumwa) ultimately withdrew it. One of his other amendments, requiring drug testing welfare recipients, will be debated today.

These bills and amendments will affect all people receiving child support and welfare - not just cis women.

(Source: stfuconservatives)

The Nation’s Most Radical Abortion Bill? Iowa GOP Proposal Would Ban All Abortions, Sentence Doctors To Life In Prison →

prolongedeyecontact:

In the escalating war on women’s rights in statehouse across the country, Iowa state Rep. Kim Pearson (R) may have just dropped the biggest bomb yet. Pearson, a freshman Tea Party lawmaker so extreme that she’s already drawn scorn from fellow Republicans and decided not to run for re-election, introduced a bill yesterday morning that would completely outlaw all abortions.

Among other things, the bill make it so a doctor that performs and abortion commits “feticide” — a Class A felony, which is punishable by life imprisonment without the chance for parole:

The bill makes “attempted feticide,” where the fetus does not die, a Class B felony,punishable by 25 years in prison. Iowans can even be punished for helping someone else perform an abortion, as, “joint criminal conduct shall apply to persons knowingly participating or concerned in the commission of feticide or attempted feticide under this section.”

Democrats complained the the bill — which would almost certainly violate Roe v. Wade— was a waste of time when there are pressing economic problems facing the state. “House Republicans and their colleagues in the Senate would rather put the lives of women in danger than have a real discussion about how we create jobs and move Iowa forward,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky said in a statement.

While the prospects of Pearson’s bill are unclear, a state House committee is currently debating a separate anti-abortion measure that would make doctors show a woman sonogram of the fetus before terminating a pregnancy. The focus on abortion does seem to violate a pledge made by Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen (R) when he said in November, “we’re also not interested in squandering Iowans’ time” on divisive social issues.

[This is from 2/16. As far as I know there haven’t been any updates since then.]

Oh my god can you guys find another divisive social issue to harp on yet this is getting boring and terrible

gaywrites:

Iowa mothers win shared birth certificate

Melissa and Heather Gartner, a married couple from Iowa, won a lawsuit Wednesday allowing them to list both their names on their two-year-old daughter Mackenzie’s birth certificate. Lambda Legal helped the women in the lawsuit, drawing on Varnum v. Brien, the case establishing marriage equality in Iowa. 

Here’s the Advocate’s rundown of what happened: 

Although the women were married under Iowa law before the child was born in November 2009, the state agency had refused to list both their names on the birth certificate, arguing that Melissa is not Mackenzie’s genetic parent. 

Judge Ovrom stopped short in her ruling of declaring a constitutional right for same-sex couples to be automatically named as parents on birth certificates, but she said that state administrators are bound to interpret law in light of the 2009 marriage equality decision from the high court. 

Unquestionably the right decision. Congratulations to a beautiful, deserving family. 

(via fuckyeahsexeducation)

keepyourboehneroutofmyuterus:

Graphic anti-abortion ads to air in Iowa and surrounding states

Television advertisements featuring graphic images of dead fetuses will soon begin airing in Iowa, according to Mother Jones.

The ads are the brainchild of anti-abortion crusader Randall Terry, who founded Operation Rescue. He mounted a Democratic primary challenge against President Barack Obama to take advantage of a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) loophole that prevents campaign ads from being censored.

FCC-licensed TV stations can reject ads based on graphic content, but they are required by law to run the ads of federal candidates within the 45-day window of any primary election or caucus in a given state.

Great.

(Source: keepyourbsoutofmyuterus)

‘Sex-Positive’ Sex Shop

ouroborosdream:

So if you don’t know about it, two women in my town of Iowa City have decided to open a “sex positive” feminist sex shop downtown called “The Toolbox.” But the landlord is trying to kick them out due to “offensive items” but that is bull since there are sooo many headshops downtown.  

Here’s the link to the story:

http://jezebel.com/5865668/landlords-boot-iowa-sex-store-for-selling-offensive-products

And if you could please please please sign this petition to try to get them to stay that would be great. 

http://www.change.org/petitions/bremer-trust-administered-by-midwest-one-bank-trustee-stop-the-termination-of-ms-schaefers-lease-allow-the-tool-box-to-open

From an article earlier this year:

Iowa City City Councilor Connie Champion said zoning rules are enforced for a reason.

“Sex is always positive, isn’t it? But I don’t think it belongs downtown,” she said, noting Iowa City’s young foot traffic. “It’s not Interstate 80.”

Conniieeeee. That’s the point. We shouldn’t have to drive out to the middle of a cornfield to find a sex store. (That sentence was so quintessentially Iowa. God damn it.)

[Look at this. LOOK AT THIS. Cornfield. RV.]

(Yes, I realize there is another store near-ish downtown but it’s kind of skeevy and come on, this new place would have couches and stickers and be located above Jimmy John’s. IT’S PERFECT)

Iowa City is a college town - everybody’s fucking, and nobody wants to acknowledge it. Sex positivity leads to safer, better sex. What’s not to like?

You know what I’m offended by? Rising STD rates. Sexual assaults involving heavy drinking. Seriously, about 45 places to buy a beer and one place out by the railroad tracks to buy a vibrator? Not cool, dudes.

Also I really want this place to open because it will be hilarious to see how many people confuse it with InBox (a boutique). Pretty dresses? Nope. Dildos.

But seriously. Sex positivity. Retail diversity. Small businesses. Petition. C’mon.

(via ouroborosdream-deactivated20111)

ouroborosdream-deactivated20111 asked: So I just heard Mike Huckabee is showing an anti-choice film in Des Monies next week and has invited some GOP candidates to speak. -_-

Ugh. Ew. It grosses me out to no end how invested these rich old white men are in complete strangers’ uteruses. I feel violated by proxy whenever they’re nearby.

From RH Reality Check:

Of course, this is prime electoral timing and geography: Iowa in December, just a few weeks prior to the first in the nation caucuses on January 3, 2012. Mike Huckabee and Citizens United are political opportunists leveraging a woman’s right to choose in exchange for votes. Abortion is the dog whistle of the religious right, the call to single-issue voters to come out to the polls.

Pundits can shrug off this war on women as electoral showmanship. But what this GOP field and cheerleaders like Huckabee are doing is stirring up right-wing hornets nests all around the country and after the polls close and the political carnival moves on for another few years, the damage will have been done.

Make no mistake: There is a lot of money behind the anti-choice movement - money that, instead of going to health care, education, and support for pregnant people and children, as the pro-choice movement provides, goes into giant, graphic displays and big-name speakers. Oh, and baby booties and free pregnancy tests, I suppose.

While it’s disappointing to hear of yet another expensive, yet meaningless anti-choice to-do, instead of an event devoting energy and raising money to actually support people, it’s not surprising.

Pawlenty Rides The Anti-Choice Bus Through Iowa →

GO AWAY.

(Source: keepyourbsoutofmyuterus)

Abortion Funds by State →

sarcasmisdead:

fuckyeahsexeducation:

My state is not on this list :( My state is horrible. For everyone whose state is NOT horrible, I hope this helps you.

My state isn’t on this list either.  D:

Would really like to see more non-U.S. organizations as well……

You can check out my posts on national and international funds, then, as well as the compiled lists.

Something for everybody! Kind of!

(via whatgodzillasaidtogod)

Abortion Funds by State →

Alaska

• Pauline’s Abortion Loan Fund
  

Arizona

• Abortion Access Network of Arizona
  

California

• Reproductive Rights Network of Santa Cruz County
  
• ACCESS Women’s Health Justice
  
• Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP)
  
• Make a Difference Fund
  

Colorado

• Reproductive Equality Fund of the Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center
  
• Freedom Fund (Colorado)
  

District Of Columbia

• DC Abortion Fund
  
• Justice Fund (DC)

Distrito Federal (Mexico City)

• MARIA Abortion Fund for Social Justice
  

Florida

• W.O.M.E.N.
  
• Roe Fund
  
• North Florida Justice Fund
  
• Emergency Medical Assistance Inc.
  
• Women’s Emergency Network
  
• Broward Women’s Emergency Fund
  
• Central Florida Women’s Emergency Fund
  

Georgia

• Women in Need Fund
  
• Atlanta Pro-Choice Action Committee
  
• Georgia Reproductive Justice Access Network (GRJAN)

Iowa

• deProsse Access Fund of the Emma Goldman Clinic
  
• Iowa Abortion Access Fund
  
• Heartland Justice Fund
  

Illinois

• Illinois Reproductive Justice Fund
  
• Planned Parenthood of Illinois Reproductive Justice Fund
  
• Chicago Abortion Fund
  

Kansas

• Peggy Bowman Second Chance Fund
  
• Women in Need Fund
  

Kentucky

• A Fund, Inc. 

Massachusetts

• Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund
  
• Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts
  
• Jane Fund of Central Massachusetts
  

Maryland

• June Coleman Reproductive Justice Fund
  

Maine

• Safe Abortions For Everyone (SAFE)
  

Michigan

• Fountain Street Church Choice Fund
  
• Jane Doe Loan Fund
  
• Jane Doe Fund
  

Minnesota

• HOTDISH Militia
  
• Hersey Abortion Assistance Fund
  

Montana

• Trust Women Fund
  
• Sarah’s Circle
  
• Blue Mountain Clinic Access Fund
  

North Dakota

• North Dakota Women in Need Fund
  

Nebraska

• Abortion Access Fund
  

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Fund for Choice
  
• Joan Fund
  

New Jersey

• Justice Fund of Passaic County
  

New Mexico

• Abortion Assistance Fund of Planned Parenthood New Mexico
  
• New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
  

Nevada

• Justice Fund
  

New York

• Abortion Fund of Planned Parenthood of NYC
  
• Joan Bechhofer Fund
  
• New York Abortion Access Fund
  
• Access Fund of Aphrodite Medical
  
• Haven Coalition

Ohio

• Preterm Cleveland
  
• Women Have Options
  
• Cleveland Abortion Network
  
• Agnes Reynolds Jackson Fund
  

Oklahoma

• Roe Fund
  

Ontario

• Canadians for Choice Norma Scarborough Emergency Fund
  

Oregon

• Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette Abortion Fund
  
• Network for Reproductive Options
  

Pennsylvania

• Women’s Medical Fund
  
• Vivian Campbell Fund
  
• Margaret C. Rubin Freedom Fund
  
• Planned Parenthood of Northeast and Mid-Penn Fund for Choice
  
• Western Pennsylvania Fund for Choice
  

Rhode Island

• Women’s Health and Education Fund
  
• Hope Fund
  

South Carolina

• South Carolina Women’s Choice Fund
  

South Dakota

• South Dakota Access for Every Woman
  

Tennessee

• J. Paschall Davis Fund
  

Texas

• Stigma Relief Fund
  
• Texas Equal Access Fund
  
• Lilith Fund
  
• Jim Wimberly Fund
  

Virginia

• Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project
  
• Women in Need Fund
  
• Blue Ridge Abortion Assistance Fund
  

Vermont

• Vermont Access to Reproductive Freedom
  

Washington

• North Idaho Fund
  
• Women in Need Fund—Renton
  
• Women in Need Fund—Tacoma
  
• Abortion Access Network
  
• Community Abortion Information and Resources Project (CAIR Project)
  

Wisconsin

• Freedom Fund
  
• Options Fund
  
• Women’s Medical Fund
  

West Virginia

• WV FREE Choice Fund
  

Wyoming

• Women for Women
  

wherethingsbreakdown:

“A woman seeking an abortion via telemedicine has an ultrasound performed by a trained technician, receives information about medical abortion and signs a standard informed consent for the abortion. Once that is complete, a physician steps in via teleconference. The doctor reviews the woman’s medical history and ultrasound images, and once it is determined that she is eligible — up to nine weeks pregnant and not an ectopic pregnancy — she has time to ask questions. Then, the doctor enters a computer passcode to remotely open a drawer at the clinic containing two pills. She then swallows the mifepristone, under the doctor’s supervision, and then is instructed to take four additional tablets of misoprostol within the next 24 to 48 hours. The actual abortion happens at home.”

—

Iowa Study Shows Telemedicine in Abortion Is Safe, Gives More Women Access - ABC News

Abortion has come down to this because of lack of abortion providers and lack of access for women in some states with stringent abortion laws. Some women may prefer this approach, but the fact that it’s basically forced upon as the only choice in places like Iowa is upsetting.

Choice means being able to get an abortion or deciding to keep the baby. Choice also means having a procedure done by a doctor in a clinic or having a medically-induced abortion in the privacy of one’s own home. Women shouldn’t have to feel like pariahs for making their choice.

(via gainfulunemployment)

I wasn’t even aware this was going on. I’ve never heard of Telemedicine before.

(via propaganda-for-life)

This is an interesting alternative for people in underserved areas.

(via stfuconservatives)

WOAH, WHAT THE FUCK.

Abortion pills are some brutal shit. This really, really isn’t something I’d wish on a person without face-to-face comfort and advice. D: If you want the option, go for it! But limiting people in entire states to an especially bloody, painful type of procedure is. eugh.

Hey, whoa, let’s not get all riled up just yet. Iowa is not that hard up for abortion providers, relatively speaking. We had 11 in 2008. There are two in the town where I live. It’s a rural state, though, so a lot of people aren’t living near these providers. That’s the issue with a lot of Midwestern states.

And medication abortions aren’t awesome, but they’re not that bad, either. (For some people.)

"

A woman seeking an abortion via telemedicine has an ultrasound performed by a trained technician, receives information about medical abortion and signs a standard informed consent for the abortion.

Once that is complete, a physician steps in via teleconference. The doctor reviews the woman’s medical history and ultrasound images, and once it is determined that she is eligible — up to nine weeks pregnant and not an ectopic pregnancy — she has time to ask questions.

Then, the doctor enters a computer passcode to remotely open a drawer at the clinic containing two pills. She then swallows the mifepristone, under the doctor’s supervision, and then is instructed to take four additional tablets of misoprostol within the next 24 to 48 hours. The actual abortion happens at home.

"

Iowa Study Shows Telemedicine in Abortion Is Safe, Gives More Women Access - ABC News

Abortion has come down to this because of lack of abortion providers and lack of access for women in some states with stringent abortion laws. Some women may prefer this approach, but the fact that it’s basically forced upon as the only choice in places like Iowa is upsetting.

Choice means being able to get an abortion or deciding to keep the baby. Choice also means having a procedure done by a doctor in a clinic or having a medically-induced abortion in the privacy of one’s own home. Women shouldn’t have to feel like pariahs for making their choice.

(via gainfulunemployment)

I wasn’t even aware this was going on. I’ve never heard of Telemedicine before.

(via propaganda-for-life)

It’s really great for people living far away from any clinic or hospital, especially if they’re in a state with waiting periods, or need to keep it private from others in their lives.

(via propaganda-for-life)