State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco works to get domestic abuse legislation signed into law

(Left to right): Governor Branstad, Representative Dave Jacoby, Senator Wilhelm and Senator Ragan

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has signed into law legislation promoted by State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco and State Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City that increases the penalty for domestic abuse involving strangulation or choking. 

Choking is a strong predictor of future deadly assaults.  But previous Iowa law often allowed abusers who choked their victims to get off with a slap on the wrist.  

Wilhelm and Ragan worked to get unanimous support for the legislation.