20 Week Abortion Ban Passes Iowa House Panel

Iowa's so-called "fetal pain" bill finally makes it out of committee after weeks of wrangling.

After weeks of back and forth, claims of junk science, and a stalemate over whether the law would be restrictive enough, an Iowa House panel finally passed a 20 week “fetal pain” abortion ban out of committee

Via NECN.com:

Iowa’s House Government Oversight Committee has approved a ban on abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.

The panel voted 5-4 Wednesday evening in favor of the bill. Rep. Kim Pearson, a Pleasant Hill Republican, joined Democrats in opposing the bill. She favors a ban on all abortions.

Iowa, unlike many of the other states passing the ban, feels it has a vested interest in banning later term procedures due to the presence of Dr. Leroy Carhart, who will be performing later abortions from a clinic in Council Bluffs now that he is no longer able to do them in Nebraska.

It is unsure whether the bill will pass the Iowa senate, where Democrats still hold a majority.  If the bill does, however, many expect Republican Governor Terry Branstad, himself anti-abortion, to sign it into law.