Lone Democrat McDonnell and 32 Republicans narrowly push six week abortion ban ahead
Without a vote to spare Nebraska lawmakers have given the initial go-ahead to a bill that would, in effect, make abortion in the state illegal after six weeks.
Needing 33 votes to break a day-long filibuster backers of the ban got exactly that—33—as all 32 Republicans and one lone Democrat, South Omaha's Mike McDonnell, voted to end the filibuster and then voted to move the bill to a second round of debate.
Following the vote, the Nebraska Republican Party issued a statement applauding McDonnell for his "key vote" adding he was under "heavy pressure by democratic leadership to override his conviction."
As NCN first reported, earlier this year the Douglas County Democratic Party’s Central Committee turned its back on McDonnell refusing to allow him to join their ranks.
As for today's debate, throughout the day backers of the ban insisted a majority of Nebraskans agree with them, the same argument made by opponents of the ban.
State Sen. Merv Riepe, a Ralston Republican, had floated the idea of a 12 week ban but in the end voted for six weeks.
Last week, two of the most outspoken Democrats opposing the ban, State Senators Machaela Cavanaugh (Omaha) and Jen Day (Gretna) filed a 14 page “minority report” objecting to the bill on various grounds.
The two Democrats arguing the bill, unlike what its supporters say, does not allow abortions in cases of rape or incest. According to Cavanaugh and Day, the six-week ban, “would indicate that these crimes must be established or proven to permit the abortion procedure. This would effectively nullify the purported rape exception due to the time it would take to reach a conclusion in a criminal case.”
It's unclear when the six week ban will be back on the floor for the second round of debate which, if successful, would be followed by a third and final round before the legislation could make its way to Gov. Jim Pillen's desk.
Pillen, a Republican, has made it clear he supports the ban.
Currently abortions in Nebraska are prohibited after 20 weeks.