Debate in Nebraska Legislature foreshadows fight over proposed 6-week abortion ban

A two-day debate over a procedural movement within the Nebraska Legislature foreshadowed one of many largest battles of the session.

Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha provided the movement, which might have moved a invoice (LB626) banning abortions after about six weeks from the Well being and Human Companies Committee to the Judiciary Committee.

That movement failed on a virtually party-line vote, as did her movement to rethink the primary vote. The movement represented the primary of a number of techniques that abortion rights supporters are anticipated to make use of in preventing the laws.

Altering committees doubtless would have slowed however not stopped the measure, which was launched by Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston with virtually the entire Republican lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors.

The invoice would prohibit abortions after embryonic cardiac exercise could be detected, with slender exceptions for rape, incest and to avoid wasting the lifetime of the lady. Physicians who violate the ban can be topic to dropping their skilled licenses. 

The HHS Committee has 4 Republicans and three Democrats, whereas the Judiciary Committee has 4 of every, which means the invoice most likely would have stalled there. However abortion rights opponents may have used one other procedural movement to tug the invoice out of committee to the total Legislature.

Hunt accused legislative leaders of referring LB626 to the HHS Committee for political causes. She argued that it belongs within the Judiciary Committee as a result of it impacts legal legislation, legal penalties and constitutional rights. She additionally stated that committee historically hears abortion payments.

“We all know this invoice will end in girls dying. We all know this invoice will end in legal prosecution,” she stated.

Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha argued that, though LB626 doesn’t embrace a legal penalty for docs who violate the ban, it will make them weak to legal expenses below present state legislation. That legislation makes it a Class IV felony to carry out an abortion “through the use of something aside from accepted medical procedures.”

“This invoice, irrespective of what number of gymnastics you undergo, implicates this part of the statute,” he stated.

Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln stated girls getting abortions after six weeks is also weak to legal expenses below the identical legislation.  

However Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar defended the choice to ship LB626 to the HHS Committee. She argued that the invoice belongs there as a result of it offers completely with legal guidelines governing medical follow. She stated there are potential legal penalties implicated in virtually each invoice, if learn in sure methods.

Slama famous that the invoice drafting workplace had really helpful referring the invoice to the HHS Committee, and the Legislature’s Govt Board, sitting because the Referencing Committee, had voted 9-0 to just accept that suggestion. 

Sen. Tom Briese of Albion additionally stated not all abortion-related payments have gone to the Judiciary Committee in earlier years. He pointed to a invoice launched by Hunt final yr that will have allowed extra well being care suppliers to carry out abortions. That measure went to the HHS Committee.