A round of applause for Pulse Life Advocates and 50 years of Education & Advocacy! Watching this video [below], makes me so incredibly proud to be apart of this organization. What a legacy.
And now I would like you all to raise your glasses for a toast: A toast to answered prayers, a toast to years and years of challenging work by this organization and many others across the country. A toast in celebration of the end of Roe v. Wade!! Goodbye Roe … we will NOT miss you!
My name is Maggie DeWitte, and I am the Executive Director of Pulse Life Advocates. A sincere thank you for being here tonight.
Yes, we do have a lot to celebrate tonight. Many thought they would never see this day. It has been a long-fought battle and it is absolutely right and just that we celebrate the end of abortion law on a national level.
There’s still work to do
But I would not be doing my job if I didn’t give you the reality of where we are today in this assault against life.
The reality is, we still have abortion in our state. When Roe v. Wade was overturned this summer via the Dobbs case, abortion law returned to the individual states to determine how best to regulate, or in some states, completely eliminate abortion from their state. We still have work to do.
Many have heard me talk about a ‘fundamental right’ to abortion in our Iowa Constitution when unelected judges legislated from the bench and created law in 2018.
A mini Roe decision
Well, a week prior to the falling of the Roe decision, we had a mini-Roe decision in Iowa via the PP v Reynolds case. They declared that a 24-hour waiting period before having an abortion IS constitutional AND they corrected the 2018 decision and ruled that there is NO fundamental right to abortion in our constitution! What a victory that was!
As much as I would love to tell you that meant we outlawed abortion, it did not. But it does allow us to now go forward this next legislative session and pass laws to restrict and eventually eliminate abortion in our state… and you can bet that is exactly what we are going to do!
Our pro-life governor in action …
Additionally, our pro-life Governor Reynolds filed a motion to vacate the injunction against our heartbeat law that was passed in 2018 and the hearing took place last month. Possibly by this summer, we could have a ruling that would allow us to enforce our heartbeat law in Iowa.
But we are NOT stopping with the heartbeat law, we are going to keep fighting until all babies are protected from the moment of conception and this next legislative session, we are going to introduce a life at conception bill!
While great strides are taking place in Iowa, we still have a federal government and a president that are doing everything in their power to codify Roe and make abortion rights a protection under the law.
The last line of defense against Big Abortion
That is why groups like Pulse Life Advocates are so vital right now. We are the last line of defense against the endless attempts to destroy life. We are now seeing state and county attorneys across the country stating they will not enforce abortion law; we have city councils like the Des Moines city council, introducing proposals to not enforce abortion law in the city.
We need to be there to defend life. And it is not just in the legislative arena. Our educational efforts are going to be needed now more than ever.
Abortion has been and continues to be an extremely divisive issue. And 50 years of abortion law, won’t suddenly change that divide. Changing hearts and minds are going to be needed in a new way that we have never seen before.
Fear
I think the reason we saw so much anger and violence after the Roe decision is because people are fearful. They have bought the lie that abortion must be a part of our society. That women need abortion to fulfill their dreams and goals. That women can only get ahead and be equal to men if they have the right to kill their young. This brain washing is going to take time to undo. And it doesn’t help when we have the mainstream media and Hollywood elites lauding abortion every chance they get. One such actress recently calling abortion another word for mercy.
What’s next …
So, where do we go from here? Some have said to me after Roe fell, “the real work now begins…” well I take a little offense to that, because I have been working pretty darn hard these last 20 years in the pro-life movement!
But what is right about that statement is that there is work to be done, as I have repeated several times tonight, it is just a new kind of work.
We need to help the Pregnancy Resource Centers and organizations helping women in need as more women seek out help. Pulse is helping in a tangible way in that regard. Less than two months ago, we were offered a new office space by a generous donor, Jim Sinclair. For those who came to our open house last month, you can see it is a beautiful space to do the work of creating a culture of life. Because the space was more than what we needed, we offered to have a group, called Mary’s Helping Hands join us in our space. We have some representatives from that organization here with us tonight- let’s give them a round of applause! They are boots on the ground helping provide material goods to women and families in need. It is a great partnership, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for us in the years to come.
We also need to invest in the future of the pro-life movement – the next generation- especially those on college campus. Pulse decided to put our money where our mouth is, and we are financially helping one such young woman. Serena Hilton has been educated by Pulse throughout high school, into college at Iowa State to now being a FOCUS minister on a campus in Michigan. I have invited Serena to come and share what she is doing and the impact it is having.
Thank you, Serena!
[Serena Hilton talks]
Pulse Life Advocates is an Iowa pro-life leader
Pulse has been the leader in pro-life education. Our three newest projects are an addition to the webinar on The Holy Family we produced last year; we are relaunching it again this Advent and this time with a study guide that you can do within your family or small group setting.
Our second project is a video called, “How to Raise Pro-life Children,” where we have called upon families to give you all practical tips on how to raise your children to be pro-life.
And lastly, we are launching a prayer apostolate in which we will give you weekly updates on things that you can pray for us. We need your constant prayer in this spiritual battle.
But we also need your support. There is so much we want to do; it literally keeps me up at night — thinking of all the ways we can spread the message of life. I humbly ask for your help and sincerely thank you for your continued prayers. God Bless!
[We need your financial support more than ever. Support our projects. Donate now. Thank-you!]
The media is noticing. The Wall Street Journal ran yet another piece touting the case for marriage. They reported on the mystifying tendency of married couples to become wealthier than their non-married counterparts in a November 7th piece (“Moving in Together Doesn’t Match the Financial Benefits of Marriage, but Why?”).
They cited data released by the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank which shows that in 2019, unmarried couples between 25 and 34 had a median net worth of $17,372 compared to $68,210 for married couples.
That’s four times as much wealth! The case for marriage grows.
The WSJ writer explained that married couples are more likely to pool their money than co-habitating couples, which concentrates financial potential.
Cultural commentator, Andrew Klavan, has a unique take on the Journal essay. He says “marriage is conducive to human thriving:”
“Capitalism is a way we manage our greed. Capitalism doesn’t solve our problems. It puts our greed into a ‘machine’ where the greed is forced to serve other people.
In the same way, marriage puts our romantic and erotic impulses into an institution that helps society to thrive, because our romantic and erotic impulses are very, very chaotic. They sweep us away. Marriage puts them in a place where they can be served, just like our greed can be served in capitalism.
On top of that, there is a spiritual factor to marriage where man and woman become one flesh where you develop a truer, fuller, more three dimensional view of the world where you become more of a team.”
Catholic commentator, Scott Hahn, built on Klavan’s thesis:
“Want a bad marriage? Put yourself first.
Want a good marriage? Put your spouse first.
Want a great marriage? Put God first.”
There’s another contrasting element to marriage compared to co-habitation: commitment.
Writing in the Huffington Post, marriage author Debra Macleod notes the difference between the two groups:
“Research also shows that the legal commitment of marriage results in higher levels of happiness and better emotional, mental and physical health for both partners. So not only are married people more likely to stay together and raise their children together, they are also more likely to be happy and healthy in life.”
And prosperous.
Some sneer that marriage is nothing but “a piece of paper.” But Ms. Macleod asserts that there is power in that ‘piece of paper’:
“For many people, there is a difference between “my husband” or “my wife” and “my boyfriend” or “my girlfriend.” That difference is based in the level of commitment that “piece of paper” conveys.”
Macleod says that 95% of her clientele are married. That stat speaks volumes:
“That means that unmarried couples are either largely problem-free, which is highly unlikely, or that they are not as motivated as marrieds to invest the time, money, or energy it takes to move past problems.”
In particular, she noticed that unmarried men are less motivated to do the tough work of maintaining healthy relationships than their married peers.
The irony in all of this is that a growing number of young couples are choosing to cohabit rather than marry in spite of overwhelming evidence that marriage produces better outcomes in every single category, including:
- health
- wealth
- happiness
- parenting
In 1990, 60% of U.S. adults were married compared to less than half by 2019. During the same time, the share of cohabiting adults between 18 to 44 rose to 59%.
Married and family life gets even better when couples strive to live in a ‘holy family’ with God at its center, as our Holy Family series demonstrates.
As our name indicates, Pulse Life Advocates advocates for ‘life’ in all forms, including family life, and holy families are not only happier and healthier, abortion dramatically plummets within these social arrangements.
If you agree, support Pulse financially so we can spread our Holy Family project to a wider audience. After all, the case for marriage is irresistible.
In a major upset, pro-life candidate Brenna Bird has defeated incumbent Tom Miller to become the new attorney general for Iowa.
Mr. Miller has served as Iowa AG since 1978, except for a brief sabbatical in the 1990s when he ran for governor. Ms. Bird challenged Miller in 2010, but lost. With a heightened concern on pro-life issues in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision in June, Bird leveraged the issue to win the rematch.
She won by 20,000 votes, carrying 89 out of Iowa’s 99 counties.
In another upset, pro-life candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Zach Nunn, appears to have defeated pro-abortion incumbent Cindy Axne for the 3rd district’s seat. (The race is close enough that there may be a recount.)
Nationally, the abortion issue redounded well for pro-life candidates. Governors in Florida, Ohio, Texas, and Georgie who signed very pro-life laws won decisive victories, as did Iowa’s Kim Reynolds, while weak Senate candidates in Georgia and Ohio underperformed.
Congratulations to pro-life candidates everywhere who had the courage to stand up for the little guy in the womb who has no other voice.
[Last chance to get a seat at our pro-life Christmas Gala! Don’t wait. Get yours online right now!]
The Catholic vote often swings elections. Historically, the Democratic Party has controlled the Catholic vote. When they lose it, elections tend to swing Republican since one in five voters identify as Catholic.
Catholic polling conducted by EWTN and RealClearPolitics should concern Democratic leadership:
- 59% of all Catholics say the country is on the wrong track.
- 53% of Catholics disapprove of President Biden’s job performance.
- 65% say abortion conflicts with Catholic teaching.
- 68% support laws which require parental consent for an abortion.
- Only 18% of Catholic voters agree with party leadership that insists that women should be allowed to abort their child for a full nine months of their pregnancy.
- Another 32% say abortion should only be permitted in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the woman, again in opposition to party leadership that insists on no regulations on abortion.
Iowa Catholic candidates clash
Catholic votes will play an outsized role in two critical races here in Iowa. Two Catholic candidates running for Attorney General, incumbent Tom Miller, and challenger Brenna Bird hold opposing views on abortion.
Pulse board president, Tom Quiner, talked with Ms. Bird Friday night (above) about her pro-life views. She is proudly pro-life in keeping with her Catholic faith. By contrast, Tom Miller ran as a pro-lifer in 1978, only to flip-flop in the 1990s for political expediency in his failed campaign for governor. As Attorney General, he has refused to defend pro-life laws when they are challenged in court. Ms. Bird promises to uphold all pro-life laws.
In the third district House race, once again two professed Catholics are squaring off. Incumbent Cindy Axne disagrees with every Catholic teaching on life issues, including conscience protections. Catholic voters disagree with Axne by a two to one margin on this issue.
59% support the Trump era conscience protections that allowed Catholic doctors and nurses to opt out of abortions and other procedures that violate their faith. Zach Nunn supports these protections.
At the national level, President Biden is working to remove those conscience protections by redefining what discrimination means in Obamacare.
The outcome of today’s elections will be determined by the Catholic vote. The polling above shows that rank and file Catholic Democrats hold views dramatically different than party leadership on reproductive issues. That’s how you lose the Catholic vote.
[Celebrate life! Be sure to get your tickets for our November 19th Christmas Gala now!]
State attorney generals have become increasingly politicized across the country. In Iowa, we can see the trend continuing in the race between Brenna Bird vs. Tom Miller.
As is often the case, abortion is the flashpoint. The question becomes: will the attorney general defend pro-life laws passed by the state’s legislature. In the case of Tom Miller, the answer is no.
The 78 year old Mr. Miller is the longest serving attorney general in the U.S. Although he originally ran as a pro-life candidate, he changed his views on abortion in the 1990s.
To that end, he refused to defend the state’s 24-hour waiting period for abortion in 2022 and the fetal heartbeat case in 2018. In a statement released on June 28, 2022, Miller defended his position:
“Our office is withdrawing from the case involving the 24-hour waiting period, or House File 594, for ethical reasons. I have made many clear public statements supporting Roe v. Wade and the rationale that underlies it. Those statements would be inconsistent with what the state would argue in court. I support the undue burden standard that the U.S. Supreme Court set forth in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The 24-hour case has now moved to a point in which I doubt that I can zealously assert the state’s position. The question now before the Iowa Supreme Court is whether the rational basis test should apply to abortion regulations. I believe that standard would have a detrimental impact on women’s reproductive rights, health care, and our society. Therefore, I am disqualifying myself pursuant to Iowa Code section 13.3.
“This decision is consistent with my disqualification in the fetal heartbeat case in 2018. In that case, I stated that I could not zealously assert the state’s position because of my core belief that the statute, if upheld, would undermine rights and protections for women. In my nearly 40 years in office, I have declined to represent the state in only one other similar situation. I do not take lightly my responsibility to represent the state.”
Ms. Bird took issue with Miller’s reasoning:
“It’s the attorney general’s job to enforce the laws that represent the state in court. Unlike the current attorney general, I would not let my own political ideology dictate enforcing and standing up for the laws of our state. The attorney general also has the responsibility to work alongside the legislature and governor’s office to ensure that we are supporting our law enforcement, upholding the rule of law and the Constitution, and creating a justice system that protects our communities and stands up for victims of crime.”
In a debate televised by KCCI on October 9th, Miller laid out his pro-abortion position:
“Well, first of all, I think it was a terrible mistake for the Supreme Court to reverse Roe … And I believe that women should essentially make this choice, that they had should have the freedom from government intervention to make this decision with their family if, if necessary. And of course with, with, with, with the doctor. So, you know, I I believe that, that the state should not restrict in any significant way a woman’s right to choose.”
In stark contrast, Brenna Bird’s position is unflinchingly pro-life:
“Well, I am pro life and I will defend the laws that are passed by the legislature. The legislature makes the laws, I would defend them. Unlike the current occupant of the office, who when he first came into office in 1978, was pro life, but then changed his position in 1994 and became pro choice. Then in 2018, he refused to defend the state’s heartbeat law. Fast forward three years later to 2021 and he he decided he would defend an abortion law. The legislature had passed on the waiting period, defended that all the way up through the state Supreme Court where that Supreme Court decided that the Iowa constitution did not have a right to an abortion. And then part way through that case decided he would no longer represent the state in that case. So the current Attorney general, he’s been on both sides of that issue, depending on where he perceives to be his personal political convenience at that time.”
As follow up to the Brenna Bird vs. Tom Miller race for Attorney General, Pulse Life Advocates will speak directly with Ms. Bird later this week on other life issues that will have an impact on Iowa. We will report back before election day, so be sure to subscribe to be notified when new posts are published.
Cindy Axne believes in unregulated abortion rights in contrast to Zach Nunn who believes in heavy restrictions on abortion. Even more, Ms. Axne wants to take away Iowans right to regulate abortion at the state level, while Mr. Nunn believe Iowans know better than Nancy Pelosi on what’s best for Iowa. As you can see, the contrasts between Axne vs. Nunn on abortion are stark.
Cindy Axne sent out a press release in July that states:
“Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted to restore the right to an abortion nationwide, ensuring all Americans can make their own decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures.
The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 establishes a statutory right to abortion, securing health care providers’ right to provide abortion care and patients’ right to receive that care, free from state bans and restrictions.”
Essentially, this bill’s sponsors believe it would codify abortion and override all anti-abortion regulations passed by state legislatures, such as the fetal pain restrictions Iowa’s legislature passed banning abortions after twenty weeks.
This bill was proposed by Democrats in 2013, 2015, and 2017, failing each time. What is interesting is that its latest version, voted on just a few months ago, removed carve-outs for parental-notification laws, such as we have on the books in Iowa.
In other words, Democrats recognized that laws which required parental notification before their child could obtain an abortion resonated with voters across the country. Until this year, the Women’s Health Protection Act allowed for those laws to stand. But since the party has been purged of its last pro-life member, the exemption was dropped.
In a televised debate, Axne said that the mortal fate of the daughter in the womb should be left to the whims of the mother and her doctor:
“This should be left to women. With the help of their doctor and their family and no one else. This shouldn’t be a decision that states get to make. This is a decision that women get to make.”
To set the record straight, states have always passed laws on life and death issues regarding their residents. Why should this one be any different, as Zach Nunn pointed out:
“Congresswoman, this is not your decision. This is not my decision. This is Iowans’ decision. We should give them the opportunity to take a vote, have their voice heard and move forward. Unfortunately you tried to take that away from them with the vote that you took in Washington, D.C., right after the Dobbs case.” [the Women’s Health Protection Act].
Recap
Here is a recap on the differences between Cindy Axne and Zach Nunn on the issue of abortion:
Should we take away the right of Iowans to pass their own laws on abortion?
Axne: yes
Nunn: NO
Should abortion be restricted at the point when the person in the womb can feel the pain of abortion?
Axne: no
NUNN: YES
Should abortion be restricted at the point that a human heartbeat is detected?
Axne: no
Nunn: YES
Should abortion be restricted at all?
Axne: no
Nunn: YES, except in the case of rape, incest, and the mother’s life.
Should taxpayers be compelled to fund abortion even though it violates their religious convictions?
Axne: yes
Nunn: NO
Should people of faith be compelled to participate in performing abortions even though it violates their religious convictions?
Axne: yes
Nunn: NO
As you can see, when it comes to abortion, the choice between Axne vs. Nunn is stark.
Clive, IA – CatholicVote, the leading national grassroots Catholic advocacy organization, plans
to host a protest against self-proclaimed Catholic Cindy Axne ahead of her event with
pro-choice extremist group, EMILY’s List.
“Cindy Axne may claim to be Catholic, but her actions prove she hates Catholic values,” said
Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote. “From abortion to schools, she stands in direct
opposition to everything that Catholics believe,”Burch said.
Axne’s tenure in the House has earned her a F rating on the group’s Catholic Accountability
Project Scorecard, which analyzes the voting records of Catholic members of Congress on key
issues of importance to Catholic voters.
“Anxe has failed to represent Iowans’ traditional values, and It’s time to make a change,” said
Logan Church, Campaign Director for CatholicVote “She has not only consistently voted
against our faith, but she has also refused to condemn the acts of violence against pregnancy
resource centers in her district. ” Church declared.
The protest will be held outside the building where Axne’s event with EMILY’s List is taking place
at 13375 University Avenue in Clive.
The group will be gathering at 3:45 pm and the protest will kick off right at 4pm.
Media Contact: Lchurch@CatholicVote.org
###
President Biden spoke at the Howard Theater yesterday where he vowed to codify Roe v Wade if voters deliver him majorities in both houses of Congress in next month’s midterm elections:
“In these midterm elections, it’s so critical to elect more Democratic senators to the United States Senate and more Democrats to keep control of the House of Representatives. And, folks, if we do that, here is the promise I make to you and the American people: The first bill that I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v. Wade. (Applause.) And when Congress passes it, I’ll sign it in January, 50 years after Roe was first decided the law of the land.”
This is his administration’s top issue. They’ve demonstrated their resolve by unleashing the full power of the Justice Department against pro-life activists at the same time they have left unresolved the 138 attacks on Catholic churches and pro-life groups since May.
Iowa Representative Cindy Axne votes lockstep with President Biden’s pro-abortion legislative wish list. Her opponent in this election cycle, Zach Nunn, opposes each and every single one, as does Charles Grassley on the Senate side.
Many voters don’t realize that abortion isn’t a single issue. It is many:
- It is always immoral to kill an innocent human being. We are human from the instant of fertilization. Therefore, each abortion is a grave evil.
- The party of abortion has pushed for taxpayer-funded abortion via Medicare for All and the Women’s Reproductive Health Act.
- The president’s party continually blocks born-alive legislation.
- They also want to remove conscience-protections and compel Catholic doctors and nurses, and other people of conscience to perform abortions or lose their jobs. Sadly, it happens.
- The president has already revoked the Mexico City policy, which prevents the U.S. government from using taxpayer dollars to export abortion to other countries. Under this president, we’re funding abortion internationally.
- Abortion is racist. Although Blacks represent by 13% of our population, they account for 35% of abortions, reducing their fertility rate below replacement levels. Some in the Black community call it ‘Black Genocide.’
So if President Biden and his party gain sufficient majorities in next month’s midterm elections, the five issues listed above not yet enacted could become a reality.
As you can see, your vote counts.
[Be sure to attend our Open House this Sunday, October 23rd, beginning at 5PM.]
Christ called on His Church to heal the sick. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus, Catholic Benedictines proclaim proclaim that “the care of the sick is to be placed above and before every other duty, as if indeed Christ were being directly served by waiting on them.”
Down through the ages, Catholic Churches have cared for the sick, and it continues unabated to this very day. Catholic doctors advanced the study of the human anatomy, germ theory, and genetics.
The Sisters of Charity, Sisters of Mercy, and the Sisters of St. Francis, rolled up their sleeves to create some of the first modern general hospitals in the world.
Most people reading this background on Catholic hospitals might feel a sense of gratitude towards these faithful followers of Christ for their healing outreach to the infirm. Today, some 654 Catholic hospitals are spread across the U.S., which includes 299 with obstetric services. One out of seven hospital patients in the U.S. are served by a Catholic hospital to the chagrin of Big Abortion, an increase of 22% over the past two decades.
Abortion advocates want to shut down Catholic hospitals
Although they assist in a half a million births a year and provide extensive pre and post natal services, they don’t provide abortions. Which is a problem to abortion activists, like Jill Filipovic. She’d rather see Catholic hospitals shut down if they refuse to provide abortions:
“If Catholic hospitals refuse to offer a basic standard of reproductive care, they should not be in business — and certainly shouldn’t be getting government resources or tax breaks.”
Democratic politicians are getting into the act, too. Connecticut’s Attorney General William Long, is concerned that hospitals that merge with Catholic-run systems will shrink the supply of “full range of care” services:
“We need to ensure that any new ownership can provide a full range of care — including reproductive health care, family planning, gender-affirming care and end-of-life care.”
Lois Utley of Community Catlyst considers the spread of Catholic Hospitals a ‘setback:’
“We are definitely sliding backwards in terms of comprehensive reproductive health. Catholic systems are taking over many physician practices, urgent care centers, ambulatory care centers, and patients seeking contraception won’t be able to get it if their physician is now part of that system.”
California pro-abortion politicians are monitoring the situation. State Senator Scott Wiener is very concerned about the expansion of Catholic hospitals because they …
“… absolutely deny people access to reproductive health care as well as gender-affirming care (for transgender people). It’s the bishop, not professional standards, that are dictating who can receive what health care. That is scary.”
How abortion politicians can hurt Catholic hospitals
So, is there anything pro-abortion politicians can do to stop the spread of pro-life Catholic hospitals? Maybe.
In Washington, Democrats want to empower the attorney general to block hospital mergers if hospitals don’t provide abortions and other destructive reproductive services.
In Oregon, the state already has the authority from the legislature to block mergers involving Catholic hospitals.
The political battle lines are being drawn. Catholic hospitals are willing to go into underserved communities that have been unprofitable for other health institutions, as Charles Camosy of the Creighton University School of Medicine points out:
“These mergers take place because Catholic institutions are willing to take on the really hard places where others have failed to make money. We should focus on what these institutions are doing in a positive way — stepping into the breach where virtually no one else wants to go, especially in rural areas.”
Sadly, political pressure is building to slow or block the spread of life-affirming Catholic hospitals.
Des Moines City Hall
As we wrote we wrote last week, Des Moines City Councilman, Josh Mandelbaum, is trying to slip a pro-abortion proposal onto the City Council’s agenda. Pulse got wind of it and will attend tonight’s meeting in opposition to his proposal. We’ve heard that speakers aren’t going to be allowed. But if the opportunity arises, here is what we will say:
Executive Director, Maggie DeWitte’s remarks:
IFL Executive Director, Maggie DeWitte
“I am speaking in response to the proposal that the Des Moines City Council ignore abortion law. It is a dangerous slippery slope when a city council decides certain laws should be ignored. What other laws would then be considered? We cannot just ignore laws because we don’t agree with them. Police Officers have a sworn duty to uphold the law; how can you possibly propose something that would require policy officers to not enforce the law?
This proposal states that reproductive health care is a fundamental human right. Let’s be clear in that abortion is not healthcare; pregnancy is not a disease and taking a healthy human being from its mother’s womb is never healthcare.
In June of this year, the Iowa Supreme Court corrected the egregious 2018 ruling that had declared a fundamental right to abortion in our Iowa Constitution. Those judges usurped their authority and tried to create law. In a similar way, this council is taking up a proposal that is beyond their scope. This is not an issue for the city council.
We elect legislators to create the law. It is the duty of law enforcement and other bodies of the government to enforce those laws. Currently we have a 20-week abortion law in Iowa, as well as parental notification of a minor obtaining an abortion, and that a woman obtaining an abortion must be provided the opportunity to have and view the ultra-sound of her unborn child. Governor Reynolds has also filed a motion to vacate the injunction of our heartbeat law that was passed in 2018. The voice of Iowans is reflected by their legislators they voted into office. These are the laws in Iowa and we should be enforcing them to the full extent possible.
Roe v. Wade is no longer the law of the land and most Iowans do not support abortion. Abortion hurts women and research has shown the emotional, physical and psychological damaged caused by it.
Further, to propose taxpayers fund city employee’s travel to have abortion is absurd. It is an outrage to consider forcing citizens to fund a procedure that the majority of Iowans find morally reprehensible.”
Pulse Board President, Tom Quiner’s remarks
Tom Quiner, Board President
“I’m a proud, lifelong resident of Des Moines, a graduate of Roosevelt high school and Drake University.
I’m especially appreciative of the Renaissance I’ve witnessed over the past two years in Des Moines under the guidance of our City Council.
This abortion proposal is a great way to stop all of this great progress in its tracks. Talk about a perfect way to divide our city and pit people against each other.
A whole bunch of people in this town oppose abortion of any sort. But even citizens who believe there’s a case to made for some early term abortions agree that no one should be forced to pay for abortion with their taxes.
But I think the worst thing about this proposal is the way it insults our intelligence by basically saying it complies with state and federal law at the same time it demands that the city ignore these laws.
Des Moines deserves better than this. And I think a majority of the council understands this.
I thank each of you for your service to Des Moines and for allowing me to share my views.”
[Got your tickets yet for our pro-life Christmas Gala? Don’t wait! Get details and tickets here.]