The just-concluded Iowa legislature enacted one of the most expansive laws in the country when it comes to gun rights. The Republican-led legislature also passed one of the country’s toughest abortion laws. It will require women seeking an abortion to wait three days and it forbids nearly all abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. Chuck Hurley of the Family Leader had lobbied for a “personhood” bill that would have banned abortion altogether. “This is the best session that I’ve experienced in 27 sessions that I’ve been in or around the capitol,” Hurley says. “Still a long ways to go, but I give very, very high marks for the efforts that were expended by our friends.”

Another abortion-related proposal was inserted in a budget bill. It will no longer allow Medicaid patients to get exams and contraceptives from Planned Parenthood or other facilities where elective abortions are performed. Erin Davison-Rippey is with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. She says the organization is “reviewing all options.” That includes filing a lawsuit to block the legislature’s new abortion-related laws. “This fight is far from over,” Davison-Rippey says. “We have seen attempt after attempt to intrude on a woman’s right to a constitutionally protected medical service.”

Earlier this year Republicans in the legislature dramatically changed Iowa’s collective bargaining law, to restrict union contract negotiations to the single subject of pay. In addition, the G-O-P-led legislature changed the system for compensating injured workers. Iowa Chamber Alliance president John Steinman says the 2017 legislative session has “definitely” been good for business.

“Whether you’re looking at a uniform minimum wage across the state, whether you’re looking at adjustments to the regulatory posture or necessary reforms to the workers comp system,” Steinman says, “there are some big, fundamental pieces that were put in place this year that are going to be around for a long time.”

Leaders in the labor movement hold the opposing view, calling this the worst year ever for working Iowans. Charlie Wishman, secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Federation of Labor, says  “People are awake and they are ready to fight back against this kind of thing.”

(Radio Iowa)