Iowa Gov. Chet Culver last week voiced his displeasure with President George W. Bush’s proposed rule change that would redefine birth control as abortion.
“Redefining certain forms of birth control as abortion is an unreasonable interpretation of basic contraception and family planning,” Culver said. “Over 98 percent of all American women will use contraceptives at some point in their lives. Assuring access to safe, affordable and reliable forms of family planning is sound public policy.”
In a letter sent Aug. 6 to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt Culver called for a block of the proposed Bush Administration rule change.
… Thirty-four states, including Iowa, have enacted laws and policies that would be jeopardized due to the proposed definitional change. These state-based legal protections ensure women’s access to: birth control, including contraceptive equity in insurance, emergency contraception for sexual assault victims in the emergency room, and birth control at the pharmacy.
As Governor of the State of Iowa, I am very concerned with the federal government’s efforts to impose upon our state’s rights. This attempt at overturning legitimately-enacted laws focused on increasing access to basic health care and family planning is wrong. I strongly urge you not to proceed with this rule change and to prevent its formal introduction.
Iowa is among 27 states that have laws or policies that require insurance providers that cover prescriptions to provide coverage of the full range of FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and devices.
The proposed regulation change defines abortion as “any of the various procedures — including prescription, dispensing, and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action — that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation.” The definition could be interpreted to sweep in birth control, including emergency contraception, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and other forms of hormonal contraceptives. This expanded definition is to be applied based on the providers’ beliefs and could allow any provider who wants to deny women birth control pills to claim protection based on a personal belief that such pills fit the regulatory definition of abortion. Up to 34 states, including Iowa, would be subject to changes in existing law.
Culver joins a growing coalition of Iowa elected officials who are opposed to this new rule. Federal office holders Tom Harkin, Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack, all Democrats, have all voiced their opposition to the proposed rule change based on the impact it could create for women in Iowa and across the nation.
“Without consulting doctors or relying on sound science, the Bush Administration is deciding to change the definition of birth control for all Americans,” said Jill June, chief executive officer and president of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. “It’s ludicrous, and people in Iowa and across the country will not buy it.”
