LINCOLN- After Kansas, a resoundingly red state, announced that they would not be amending their state constitution with the intention of banning abortion, pro-choice advocates from all over the country have been ecstatic. The implications of Kansas' vote are loud and clear to abortion-rights advocates, and many believe, especially here in Nebraska, that abortion may be kept legal.

Andi Curry Grubb, director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, stated that although support for abortion rights is likely higher in other states like California and New York, "it's still there in Nebraska and Kansas." Citing a poll released by the ACLU of Nebraska, Curry Grubb also pointed out that 55% of respondents in Nebraska opposed a "trigger" bill to ban abortion, while only 40% of poll-takers said they would support it.

State Sen. John Stinner of Gering stated that he does not believe the issue of abortion will be addressed in a special session later this year, for he believes the issue to be like "peeling back an onion" with lots of layers. Sen. Stinner believes abortion to be a complex mixture of medical, social, political, and legal issues, and therefore thinks it will be dealt with during the regular, 90-day session in January.

State Sen. Carol Blood, herself a survivor of sexual assault, stated that Kansas' vote indicated that "people understand that it's about more than abortion. It's about health care and personal rights, and do you want the government involved in your health care decisions?"

Sen. Blood's gubernatorial opponent, Jim Pillen, believes that Nebraska's current abortion law, which bans abortion after 20 weeks, is too lenient. Pillen states, "As governor, I will do all I can to protect Nebraska's unborn babies, support mothers and ensure the dignity of human life."

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