DES MOINES, April 21, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Iowa will become the next state to defund Planned Parenthood, if state legislators have their way.
The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday on a bill that would end all direct or indirect funding of Planned Parenthood by a 56-42 margin.
“Iowans support reducing the number of abortions performed in our state,” the legislation says. “Distribution of family planning services program funds shall not be made to any entity that performs abortions or that maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed.”
The bill got a boost earlier in the week from Republican Governor Terry Branstad. “I've made a recommendation that is consistent with what House Republicans have been working on the last couple of years,” Branstad told local media outlets. “The idea is to provide family planning money in a way that doesn't fund abortion providers.”
The bill now moves to the Democrat-controlled Senate, where it faces an uphill battle.
“Thank you to everyone who spoke out! The Iowa House just defunded the abortion industry!” Iowa Right to Life said in an e-mail to supporters yesterday. “Now keep the pressure on your senator!”