Abortion amendment in Iowa

It's a highly contentious debate

It is an oftá debated and contentious political issue: abortion.

The iowa senate has passed a proposed amendment to the state constitution that could leave the practice of abortion unprotected.

Kimt news 3's nick kruszalnicki is live in mason city to explain.

Nick?

George and katie á the bill which passed in the republicaná controlled iowa senate yesterday would amend the state's constitution to specifically not protect abortion.

Folks around mason city are speaking out on the bill.

"some people are naughty.

They just have the sex, get pregnant and they just want to get rid of what they did, but they shouldn't have done it unprotectedly.

" angelique shellhart has mixed emotions about the proposed amendment saying the state's constitution does not protect abortion rights.

She wants the unborn defended, but also believes abortion should be an option in extreme cases.

"there's other people that get raped and that happens to them and they should be allowed to have that taken out of their system because if not they carry it for nine months knowing what happened to them time and time again."

The senate bill passed 32 to 18, split along party lines.

An iowa constitutional amendment is a long process.

It needs to be passed by the house next, and then go through the legislature once again before voters can decide.

Ilene brown is in favor of the constitutional amendment and is glad lawmakers took up the issue.

"i think they need to be involved in abortion, seeing that it's not being done.

Yes i feel very i also reached out to state senators amanda ragan and waylon brown for comment and have not heard back from them yet.

Live in mason city, nick kruszalnicki, kimt news 3.

Thanks nick.

A similar bill is making it's way through an iowa house committee.

House speaker pat grassley has requested a public hearing before the bill goes to the floor for a vote./// the iowa caucus chaos will soon