Republicans at the statehouse have advanced a bill that would “defund” Planned Parenthood, as a large crowd of Planned Parenthood backers chanted and protested the move. The bill that cleared a senate SUBcommittee early this (Tuesday) afternoon would no longer allow Medicaid patients to get contraception, cancer screenings or reproductive health tests at Planned Parenthood. Medicaid patients would be required to go to OTHER clinics for those services. Republicans at the state and national level have made “defunding” Planned Parenthood a priority. Joan Thompson of the Iowa Catholic Conference urged legislators in Iowa to make that move.

“The conference supports this bill because it redirects government health care funds away from abortion providers,” Thompson said. “We believe that life is sacred and a fundamental right and abortion is a direct assault on the lives and dignity of women and children, and a rejection of our obligations to one another, particularly to the poor and vulnerable.” Suzanna de Baca of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland says if the bill becomes law, teen pregnancy rates will rise.

“Without a trusted provider they can rely on for care, teens will face the dilemma of trying to find birth control in their hometowns,” she says. “They may be afraid to go to clinics which they feel will share information with their parents or who may not respect their decision to be sexually active and may intimidate them from using birth control.” The hearing room for the discussion of this bill was jammed and dozens of people jammed hallways and staircases behind the senate to protest.

Some of today’s (Tuesday’s) protesters — like Ali Babcock of Ames — were wearing pink hats — the same hats they wore at the capitol this past Saturday for the massive women’s march.  “It’s very positive and it’s very important to everyone that’s here,” Babcock said. Jennifer Bowen of Iowa Right to Life praised the legislators who back the bill.

“We recognize that this opportunity provides more women more choices and so we’re very thankful for you,” Bowen says. Governor Branstad has said he’d sign the legislation and Senate Republicans have said this bill is one of their top four priorities. The next stop for debate on this proposal is a senate committee.

(Radio Iowa)