Fight to Preserve Safe and Legal Abortion in Nebraska Far From Over
By Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska | Feb. 20, 2023, 3:21 p.m.
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Recent Media Coverage Suggests Fate of Proposed Six-Week Ban Will Come Down to a Handful of Nebraska Senators
Note: Please see a recent update in AP style, which avoids the use of “fetal heartbeat” bill since this legislation addresses neither a fetus (it’s still an embryo) nor a heartbeat (it hasn’t yet developed a heart).
OMAHA, NEBRASKA—Nebraska politicians who want to outlaw abortion still lack the votes needed to pass a near total abortion ban, setting up an extremely close fight to keep abortion safe and legal in Nebraska.
Media coverage this week reported the state Senate is two votes shy of what it needs to pass the near total abortion ban, which is expected to be voted out of committee next week. It would then go to the full floor for debate, where 33 votes are needed to pass it onto the next of possibly two more rounds of debate before a final vote is taken.
“I want to make it extremely clear that this fight is far from over, and it will come down to a razor thin margin,” said Andi Curry Grubb, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska. “We are standing side by side with Nebraskans to keep abortion safe and legal in Nebraska. We know it will be close, but we have successfully blocked four abortion bans in the past year and we can do it again. We aren’t backing down or giving up in our fight against this dangerous near total abortion ban that could have lasting impacts for generations to come.”
The near total ban would outlaw abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy, before many people know they are pregnant. The measure would be enforced by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which would create a panel of medical peers to review any allegations leveraged against health care providers.
This legislative session is the first since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, giving state politicians more control over Nebraskans’ bodies than they have.
A growing majority of Nebraskans support safe and legal abortion. Fifty-nine percent of Nebraskans do not want any further restrictions on abortion in Nebraska and oppose abortion bans, which is a 23 percentage point difference compared to those who want abortion banned.
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the advocacy and electoral arm of PPNCS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.
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