Just how politically sensitive is the Legislature’s attempt to prohibit abortion after six weeks, one of the country’s toughest potential bans?

So sensitive that the mayor of the state’s largest city refuses to talk about it.

Last week, one day before lawmakers without a vote to spare gave their initial OK to the ban—it has to survive two more rounds of debate and filibuster to make it to Gov. Jim Pillen’s desk for his promised signature—Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, a Republican in a Democrat city, told News Channel Nebraska she, quite simply, had nothing to say about it.

NCN’s Joe Jordan: “Do you favor a 6-week, 12-week, or 20-week ban on abortion?”

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert: “I’m not going to make a comment about that. I’m pro-life, I’ve always been pro-life, I’m very pro-life but I’m not going to comment on that. Other questions today?”

Jordan: “Can I ask why you won’t comment on it. You are the mayor of the largest city in the state.”

Mayor Stothert: “You know I just don’t want to comment on it. That’s it.”

And this from the mayor who at the same news conference had plenty to say about at least two other highly controversial issues: guns on the streets of Omaha and Omaha’s plans for a downtown streetcar that Warren Buffett says is a bad idea. Stothert is all for the $306 million idea.

And this is not the first time Stothert has shut down talk about abortion.

Last year just before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade Stothert refused to say what role Omaha police should have in abortion-related investigations.

Jordan: “Mayor should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade and the Nebraska Legislature outlaw abortion, should the Omaha Police Department investigate abortion cases?” 

Mayor Stothert: “That’s something that I don’t feel I can honestly give you an accurate answer right now. Because I’d have to think about this, a little bit. We just have to wait and see what happens.”

Re-elected to an unprecedented 3rd term in 2021, Stothert, the city’s first woman mayor, has not said if she’ll run again in 2025.