Lawmakers look to end state funded abortions - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Lawmakers look to end state funded abortions

By: CBS4 News, newsroom@cbs4qc.com

(AP) _ Republican lawmakers said they're going to try again to ban the rare use of public money to finance abortions for low-income women.  Missouri Valley Rep. Matt Windschitl said he and other House Republicans are holding preliminary talks on a proposal to prevent Medicaid reimbursement for any abortions.

Last fiscal year, the state reimbursed 22 abortions at a cost of $19,402.  State and federal laws now limit abortion funding to low-income women who are rape or incest victims, whose lives will be in danger if they don't get an abortion, or whose fetuses face severe deformities. 

A similar effort delayed Iowa lawmakers during the end of last legislative session, as Republicans tried to push a rule banning government-funded abortions. Republicans finally gave up the effort under pressure to end the session.