LINCOLN- Several proposals to further restrict abortion in Nebraska are expected to be put forward after the State Legislature reconvenes in just over a week, but the specific details and parameters of the legislation are unclear thus far. Last session, Republicans tried and failed several times to strengthen Nebraska's abortion restrictions, but failed each time.
This year, the Legislature's political landscape has changed, and aggressive abortion restriction legislation and its likelihood of success may have increased, but it remains unclear. Scout Richtersm senior legal and policy council for the ACLU of Nebraska said that "anything is on the table" when it comes to abortion legislation this year, and believes that such proposals will be determined by a "razor-thin margin."
"It's not clear that we have the votes we need to oppose abortion restrictions," continued Richters. Past abortion restriction proposals ranged from trigger bills that would ban all abortions in the state, to banning abortion past 12 weeks from fertilization. Although Republicans are just short of the 33 legislators necessary to end the filibuster, some have noted that there are anti-abortion Democrats in the body this upcoming session.
Over the weekend, two polls were released that suggest Nebraskans aren't quite ready to ban abortion in the state after the overturning of Roe V. Wade, and a majority might even oppose it. One poll, from the ACLU of Nebraska, found that 59% of 604 registered voters polled last month either "somewhat opposed" or "strongly opposed" more restrictive abortion bans in Nebraska.
Furthermore, the ACLU poll found that those who "strongly opposed" abortion bans outnumbered those that "strongly supported" them by a margin of 48% to 24%. "months since the end of Roe, we are seeing the horrifying impact of extreme abortion bans in other states, and Nebraskans do not want that here," said Scout Richters, the ACLU's senior legal and policy counsel.
Similarly, the Holland Children's Movement released a poll indicating that 67% of 600 registered voters polled in mid-October opposed a total ban on abortion in Nebraska. Both polls were released just weeks before the start of the next Legislative session, and it remains unclear whether or not an abortion ban will pass this year.
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