NE: Governor Wants "Heartbeat Bill" Brought Back to the Legislature
With the failed cloture vote in the legislature, some people are of the opinion that LB (Legislative Bill) 626, the “Adopt the Nebraska Heartbeat Act,” is unlikely to move forward this session. Governor Jim Pillen disagrees.
Jefferson County Commissioner Mark Schoenrock recently spoke with Governor Pillen by phone. According to Schoenrock, “He was very disappointed with the vote in the legislature last Thursday on the abortion issue. He said he intends to still try to get that back. So this legislative session, we’ll reconsider that.”
Schoenrock noted that the Governor said, “I’m 100 percent pro life. And I’m very proud of that.”
Currently, Nebraska law prohibits abortion at 20 weeks post fertilization. According to the bill’s statement of intent, “LB626 provides that a physician may not perform or induce an abortion before testing for a fetal heartbeat, and that a physician may not perform or induce an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected, except in cases of sexual assault, incest, or medical emergency. An unlawful abortion by a physician in violation of LB626 constitutes unprofessional conduct.”
According to Medical News Today, “The heart of an embryo starts beating at about week five of pregnancy.”
Supporters of LB626 were unable to break a filibuster. Cloture failed on a 32-15 vote. Thirty-three votes were needed.
Meanwhile, Senator Ben Hanson (District 16) of Bair, has taken another approach to getting abortion restrictions. On Monday, May 8, he proposed a 12-week ban on abortions as an amendment to a different bill, one that would ban gender-affirming hormone treatments and gender reassignment surgery for minors. It is this bill that led some lawmakers to filibuster every bill before the legislature this year.
https://fairburyjournalnews.com/governor-wants-heartbeat-bill-brought-back-to-the-legislature/
