In case you didn’t know, this happened last week:
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law on Friday a bill outlawing abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which often occurs at six weeks and before a woman even realizes she is pregnant, and Reynolds acknowledged the likelihood of a court challenge.
The measure, which Iowa’s Republican-controlled state legislature passed on Wednesday, is the most restrictive abortion ban in the United States.
“I understand and I anticipate that this will likely be challenged in court, and that courts may even put a hold on the law until it reaches the Supreme Court,” Reynolds, also a Republican, said at Friday’s bill-signing, surrounded by children.
“However, this is bigger than just a law,” she added. “This is about life. I’m not going to back down from who I am or what I believe in.”
Chants from protesters were audible in the room where Reynolds signed the bill, in a ceremony that was broadcast live.
State senators who backed the measure said earlier this week that they were aiming to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision that established that women have a constitutional right to an abortion.
And of course, the law is being challenged:
Two organizations are expected to announce a lawsuit challenging a new Iowa law that bans most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Iowa affiliates for Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union said Monday they'll make a joint announcement Tuesday afternoon. They declined to provide more information.
The law, set to go into effect on July 1, bans most abortions in Iowa once a fetal heartbeat is detected. That's around six weeks of pregnancy, making it the strictest abortion regulation in the country.
But Governor Kim Reynolds (R. IA) has not only gone too far, she’s also vowing to double down:
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) is not stopping her anti-abortion fight anytime soon.
“We know that our work is not done, that we must continue to work together to change the hearts and minds,” she said on Saturday during an annual event organized by a Christian group, the Faith and Freedom Coalition, The Des Moines Register reported.
Reynolds signed a bill into law this month that would effectively ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The legislation is the strictest abortion ban in the country, quickly leading to legal battles with Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union.
“I’ll tell you what, we’re not slowing down, we’re not going to stop. It’s a fight worth fighting,” she said to about 300 people in attendance.