From Rep. Sharon Steckman of Mason City –
Despite multiple anecdotal stories showing that many horribly sad fetal birth defects show up in ultrasounds around the twentieth week of a pregnancy, the House majority party passed a bill this week that would ban abortions after the twentieth week. Many of these fetal anomalies mean that the child would die immediately upon or soon after birth. The bill also does not have exceptions for rape or incest and only narrow exceptions for the life or health of the mother.
The vast majority of abortions after twenty weeks are from wanted pregnancies that have gone horribly wrong. Inserting political views into this terribly difficult decision for doctors and parents is an unwanted and unnecessary intrusion.
I had the opportunity to speak recently with tree specialists and advocates about the importance of keeping Iowa’s forests and trees healthy. April has been designated as Invasive Species Awareness Month. Many communities are paying a hefty price to remove infected ash trees, while another potential threat is the Asian longhorned beetle which has a particular appetite for maple trees.
It has recently been confirmed that I have been appointed to the Commercial Air Service Retention and Expansion Committee. I look forward to my duties serving a two-year term on this state board.
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit in on a seminar conducted at the Statehouse by Tom Swegle, CEO of of MedCara Pharmaceuticals, Conrad IA, and Dr. Frank Calighiri, professor at Drake University, concerning cannabinoid therapy. Iowa has a law on the books that allows people to access cannabis for medical reasons. However, it cannot currently be grown, produced or distributed in Iowa. In other words, you can use it…but you can’t get it. This law is set to expire at the end of June and a bill is currently making its way through the legislature that will renew the law, but will do nothing to make the product available. While 90% of Americans support the idea of medical cannabis, 28 states and the District of Columbia have legalized having access.
Here is a quote from the literature that was passed out at the meeting: All truths pass through three phases: ridicule, violent opposition and acceptance as self-evident. The speakers felt that nationally the medical cannabis industry is entering the third phase now. It will be interesting to see if Iowa is ready to join this phase.
