Booker’s Burlington visit will include discussion of ‘day one’ executive order

May 25-- May 25--As part of his visit to Burlington Saturday, presidential candidate Cory Booker will meet with elected officials and local residents about his plan to dedicate a White House office to reproductive health policy.

Booker, a U.S. senator from New Jersey, will hold a meet-and-greet 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the IBEW Hall, but he also will tout his position on reproductive freedom and learn how the 2017 closure of Burlington's Planned Parenthood clinic affected the community.

"Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country are mounting a coordinated attack on abortion access and reproductive rights," said Booker, Wednesday in a statement about his proposed policy. "A coordinated attack requires a coordinated response. That's why on day one of my presidency, I will immediately and decisively take executive action to respond to these relentless efforts to erode Americans' rights to control their bodies."

If elected, the Democrat said he would work to "codify Roe v. Wade's protections into federal law."

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack and his wife, Terry, will attend the roundtable discussion, in addition to Iowa state Rep. Amy Nielsen of North Liberty and local residents.

"Dave has previously met with people in the Burlington area about the closure of the Planned Parenthood clinic and the impact it had on the women and men who used their services," said Joe Hand, deputy chief of staff and communications director for Loebsack. "He believes that women must be able to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare and this is an important topic to be discussed."

Loebsack, who will not seek reelection in 2020, has not made a presidential endorsement yet this cycle.

"He has endorsed in previous election cycles and if he does this cycle, it will more than likely come later this year," Hand said.

Booker's visits to southeast Iowa Saturday mark the first of his 2020 campaign for president. He is one of 23 candidates working to win the Democratic nomination and unseat Republican President Donald Trump.

The latest Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll, conducted in March, shows 6 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers selected Booker as their first or second choice for president.

Booker's reproductive rights agenda was unveiled in the wake of a recent Alabama state law to make abortion illegal under all circumstances, expect in cases where the mother's life is at risk. On Friday, the governor of Missouri signed into law legislation prohibiting abortion beyond a woman's eighth week of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest.

During the 2018 session of the Iowa Legislature, lawmakers passed a six-week ban, but it was struck down in court this year and never took effect.

As part of Booker's visit Saturday, he will learn about the local impact of Planned Parenthood's office closures in Burlington and Keokuk.

"I appreciate that Booker wants to facilitate a conversation like this," said Alexandra Rucinski of Burlington, who will attend the discussion. "I'm willing to be personal and put myself out there when it comes to this issue, so I'm going to tell my story and how Planned Parenthood helped me."

Rucinski was a vocal advocate for reproductive rights during the 2018 Iowa governor's race, appearing in a commercial with then-candidate Cathy Glasson to talk about the impact of Planned Parenthood closures. She now is a Planned Parenthood National Speakers Bureau member.

Though she supports Sen. Kamala Harris for president, Rucinski said she was willing to meet with any elected official.

"This issue is always going to be important and it goes beyond who is running for president," she said. "I'll always talk to representatives about reproductive rights because I believe it's a vital issue."

As part of Booker's "day one" executive order, he pledged to create a White House Office of Reproductive Freedom; guarantee access to employer-sponsored contraceptive care; and expand the federal Title X Family Planning Program, among other measures.

"My goal with these actions isn't just to undo the damage the Trump administration and Republican state legislatures and governors have caused, but to affirmatively advance reproductive rights and expand access to reproductive care for all," Booker said.

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