IOWA: “Fetal Heartbeat” Abortion Ban Struck Down

Reuters reports:

Iowa’s “fetal heartbeat” law, the most restrictive abortion ban in the United States, was declared unconstitutional Tuesday, as it violates the Iowa state constitution, a state judge ruled.

Iowa’s Republican-controlled legislature passed the restriction in May 2018, outlawing the procedure after a fetal heartbeat is detected, often at six weeks and before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

The legislation is aimed at triggering a challenge to Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 landmark decision which established that women have a constitutional right to an abortion, activists on both sides of the issue previously told Reuters.

The bill’s architect is anti-LGBT activist Janet Porter [photo above], who recently served as spokesperson for Roy Moore’s failed US Senate campaign. Iowa Republicans plan to appeal today’s ruling.