Republican lawmakers in Iowa have filed a petition demanding that the state immediately stop reimbursing low-income rape and incest victims for abortions through Medicaid. If the rule is implemented, it will conflict with federal law and could jeopardize the state's entire $1.8 billion annual Medicaid grant.

The petition for emergency rulemaking, initiated by Rep. Dawn Pettengill (R-Mount Auburn) and signed by 41 Republican representatives, asks the Iowa Department of Human Services to amend its rules and withhold Medicaid money to women who are seeking abortions as a result of rape, incest or severe fetal anomalies. Such abortions are "in conflict with the express language and intent of the laws enacted by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor," the petition claims.

Rep. Lisa Heddens (D-Ames), a ranking member of the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, said she opposes the petition because it "revictimizes" women.

"Look who it's going to affect: low-income women who are seeking medical attention for situations of rape and incest," Heddens told HuffPost. "You are re-victimizing the woman who is a victim of a serious crime and cannot afford that health care because she is poor."