DES MOINES, Iowa - Residents and advocates spoke for and against a proposed abortion amendment at the Iowa state capitol Tuesday evening.
An overflow crowd attended the hearing at the historic Supreme Court chamber. The crowd was vocal on both side of the hot button issue. A live stream of the hearing was provided in the capitol rotunda to accommodate the large gathering.
The proposed constitutional amendment, which has passed the state Senate, says there's no fundamental right in the Iowa Constitution to abortion or public funding of the procedure.
The Senate proposal was approved on party lines, 32-18, with every Democrat voting against it. A House committee passed an identical proposal earlier this month, also along party lines 11-9.
The public hearing was requested by House Democrats in advance of the full House considering the proposal.
The amendment would overturn a 2018 state Supreme Court decision. That ruling struck down the legislature's 72-hour waiting period for abortions and declared the state constitution guarantees the right to the procedure.
The amendment still has a long road to be enacted. Constitutional amendments must be approved by the legislature for two consecutive years, and then be voted on in a statewide election.