A disagreement over whether abortion procedures should be available to Medicaid recipients is keeping Iowa lawmakers at the Statehouse.
The next-to-last piece of the state budget passed the Senate on Wednesday morning, leaving only the health and human services budget. It contains language that allows government-provided Medicaid money to be used for abortions in cases of rape or incest or when the life of the mother is at risk.
Republican House members want to further restrict the use of Medicaid money for abortions. Sen. Jack Hatch, a Democrat, says he believes the House-backed restrictions would violate federal law.
A joint House-Senate committee continued to meet Wednesday afternoon to find a compromise and move the bill forward for debate, clearing the way for an end to the 2012 session.
