Iowa’s Attorney General, Brenna Bird, continues to withhold payments to victims of sexual assault to cover emergency contraception. Under her predecessor, Tom Miller, sexual assault victims could get the partial cost of emergency contraception (retails ~ $50), and rarely*, abortion services, covered.

*Timely emergency contraception prevents conception thus preventing pregnancy and abortions.

Bird has claimed, since taking office over fourteen months ago, the need for an “audit” to evaluate whether it was a good use of public funds. State Auditor Rob Sand said that she is “avoiding responsibility” by pausing payment to sexual assault victims and that no audit is actually being done– not by his office or any other third party. Bird claims she isn’t required to release her review (to show her work), not even through FOIA (freedom of information act). With this in mind, I hope this “audit” payment pause also applies to her salary, so we can make sure it’s a good use of public funds.

As I was preparing this, she announced a grant opportunity to “increase comprehensive sexual assault services in Southeast Iowa”. I imagine the winner of the grant will be more “pregnancy crisis center” than competent qualified social workers, licensed counselors, or medical professionals but we’ll see.

Sources:

AP. 9 April 2023. “Iowa won’t pay for rape victims’ abortions or contraceptives.” Politico.

Fingerhut, Hannah. 27 March 2024. “Iowa attorney general not finished with audit that’s holding up contraception money for rape victims.” AP News.

Iowa’s News Now Staff. 17 April 2024. Iowa Attorney General announces grant for sexual assault services. KTVO.

Opsahl, Robin. 27 March 2024. “Auditor Rob Sand criticizes AG Brenna Bird’s decision to pause emergency contraception payments.” Iowa Capital Dispatch.