Photo: Keegan Turnbough
(Des Moines, IA) -- The Des Moines City Council denied a measure to discuss abortion restrictions.
"The items that are included in this address specific things that we can do as a council," said Councilmember Josh Mandelbaum. "It addresses employee benefits if access to healthcare and reproductive care changes. It addresses how we use our city resources to enforce state law if that changes."
Mandelbaum proposed the City of Des Moines agree to not use funds for the following:
- Storing or cataloging any report of an abortion, miscarriage, or other reproductive healthcare act
- Providing information to any other governmental body or agency about any abortion, miscarriage, or other reproductive healthcare act, unless such information is provided to defend the patient's right to abortion care or the healthcare provider's right to provide that care
- Conducting surveillance or collecting information related to an individual or organization for the purpose of determining whether an abortion has occurred, except for aggregated data without personally identifying information or personal health information which is collected for purposes unrelated to criminal investigation, enforcement, or prosecution
The proposed resolution to limit the city's ability to investigate abortions led to debate among the council.
"This is not our purview. This is a political stunt being done by one councilmember sitting at this table. There is nothing we can do," said Councilmember Joe Gatto. "The fight is a federal and a state [fight]. It's right up there at the Capitol. It's not right here at City Hall."
Councilmember Indira Sheumaker joined Mandelbaum, voting in favor of the measure.
"This is in our purview. It 100% is. Every piece of it is," said Sheumaker. "It is not a political stunt to try to protect our residents. However, it is a political statement to deny this. Every single one of you here are taking a stance when you vote on this today."
The council voted 5-2 against the measure.