Iowa Republicans seek to halt Medicaid funded abortions for rape victims

[Swede]

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and other groups have condemned a petition requesting the state deny Medicaid reimbursements for abortions resulting from rape, incest, or a devastating fetal health diagnosis.

Forty-one Republican state lawmakers filed the petition last month with the Iowa Department of Human Services. The lawmakers said that government funding for abortions was “in conflict with the express language and intent of the laws enacted by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor.” The agency has until August 10 to dismiss the petition or initiate the rulemaking process.

“The petitioners ask the department to withhold medical coverage from women who have been raped or whose pregnancy has taken a catastrophic turn,” Ben Stone, ACLU of Iowa Executive Director, said on Monday. “It doesn’t get more mean-spirited than that.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/03/iowa-republicans-seek-to-halt-medicaid-funded-abortions-for-rape-victims/

[Swede Atlanta]

1. They don't want taxpayer dollars paying for this....

I say well, I don't want any of my taxpayer dollars going to capital punishment, extraordinary renditions, Guantanamo, any military expenditures on new weapons systems, no expenditures on foreign bases and absolutely no money for any military outside of the 50 states.

I should have just as much right to demand that as they do for this.

[Ship of Fools]

2. *Mean-spirited* is too nice a term.

Not sure what to replace it with. Draconian, maybe, but it's
overused and not understood by people who need to understand.

Not in much of a hand-wringing mood today, as the president
did what he needs to do...YELL and POUND on the podium!
If theatrics win elections, we should have no worries. On the
other hand, if money wins elections... Just sayin.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. At the same time they are working like crazy to ensure the child will

not be on Medicaid nor have access to free school lunches, etc.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. kick