By Tina Burnside and Shawna Mizelle, CNN
A Republican lawmaker from Nebraska has filed an amendment to ban some abortions almost two weeks later efforts to severely restrict abortion failed in the state.
State Senator Ben Hansen introduced the amendment earlier this week to a bill that would ban all gender alteration procedures for people under the age of 19, also known as the “Let Them Grow Act.”
Hansen’s amendment, which seeks to ban abortions after 12 weeks, includes exceptions in cases of sexual assault, incest and medical emergencies.
Under the state constitutionProposed legislation in Nebraska is required to be limited to a single issue.
But supporters argued that since both issues were related to medical procedures, the proposed legislation did not violate the single issue rule and could pass, CNN affiliate KOLN reported.
Democratic state senator George Dungan disagreed, saying COLON“The only two things I see these bills have in common is that the government stands between a doctor and patients, and I oppose that on almost every count.”
Hansen told CNN the amendment was based on a compromise after previous abortion legislation stalled in the legislature.
“He definitely has a chance to get more support, and so far it has already been indicated. We feel pretty confident in the process that we have the ability to pull this off,” Hansen said.
“A ban is a ban, plain and simple. Either a ban on gender affirming care or a ban on abortion. The goal is to take power away from people over their lives and their futures,” Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska said in a cheep.
Last month, LB626, or “The Heartbeat Act,” which would have banned most abortions after six weeks, stalled in the legislature after a vote to overcome a filibuster failed to achieve a two-thirds majority. Republican state Sen. Merv Riepe, one of the bill’s signers, had proposed an amendment to move the ban to 12 weeks instead of six weeks, but his amendment did not receive a vote.
Nebraska law currently prohibits most abortions after 20 weeks.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the failed vote and called for the bill to be reconsidered.
During a session earlier this week on the House floor, state Sen. Megan Hunt said lawmakers were trying to “remake” the “Heartbeat Act” bill.
“You all had the opportunity to vote for Senator Merv Riepe’s amendment for 12 weeks. If you had, you would have your little abortion ban and miss out on it,” Hunt said.
Ongoing efforts to restrict abortion in Cornhusker State underscore ongoing statewide battles over abortion rights that have taken shape since federal protections were removed with the reversal of Roe v. Wade last summer.
The CNN Wire
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