LINCOLN- Nebraska’s dueling ballot initiatives on abortion had separate hearings Tuesday at the Capitol, with the testimony largely echoing the campaign fight between the sponsors. Advocates for additional abortion restrictions spoke in support of Initiative 434, which would allow no abortions after the first trimester of pregnancy, with some exceptions. Critics of the restrictions amendment said it was designed to leave the Nebraska Legislature the option of limiting abortion more than the amendment calls for, up to and including a total ban.

Abortion-rights advocates supported Initiative 439, which would put a right to abortion in the Nebraska Constitution until fetal viability, as defined by a treating health care practitioner. Critics of the abortion-rights measure argued it would leave too much room for midwives and doulas to decide viability, decisions they said were best left to doctors.

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