Meeting Public Comments

Kim Laube [Lutheran Family Service]

I am Kim Laube, The Director of Life Ministries for Lutheran Family Service. I urge you to support SJR2.SJR2 proposes an amendment to Iowas constitution clarifying that the document does not secure or protect a right to abortion, nor does it require funding for abortion.This amendment became necessary when a handful of unelected members of Iowas Supreme Court overstepped their Constitutionally outlined mandate and chose, in essence, to create law rather than interpret it.In their 5 to 2 ruling on Iowas 72hour waiting period for abortion, the court found a fundamental right to abortion where one did not exist.This inappropriate ruling intentionally tied legislators hands, rendering it virtually impossiblein the absence of a constitutional amendmentto legislatively impose any reasonable restriction on abortion.I urge you to correct the high courts disenfranchisement of Iowas citizens by ensuring they have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote on ratifying any change to the Constitution that governs us.The high courts ruling swung the gates wide open for lateterm abortions. Though the bulk of both prochoice and prolife advocates oppose it, lateterm abortions for any reasoneven up to the point where the mother is literally in the midst of delivering her childcould not be outlawed in Iowa at this point without a constitutional amendment. Without SJR2, Iowas current ban on abortions 20 weeks postfertilization is at imminent risk of giving way to atrocities such as an infant born after surviving a botched abortion could be denied resuscitation at the request of her mother.The collective outcry against lateterm abortions and infanticide is growing exponentially as the populous comes to understand just how heinous these procedures are.To the intrepid sponsors of SJR2, on behalf of Iowas exquisitely vulnerable preborn children, I thank you.Though the road to ratification of this amendment promises to be long and difficult, we are placing our trust in you to stay the course.