GOP revives abortion ban bills in SC and NE.

GOP Lawmakers Renew Push to Strengthen Abortion Restrictions

Nebraska

Republican lawmakers in Nebraska are making another attempt to restrict abortions, just two weeks after previous bills were defeated. State Sen. Ben Hansen has added a -week abortion ban.”>12-week abortion ban as an amendment to a separate bill that seeks to restrict transgender surgeries for minors. The ban includes exceptions for rape, incest, and medical emergencies.

Opponents have criticized this move, claiming it breaks Nebraska’s single-topic bill rule. However, proponents argue that both issues are related to medical procedures. Hansen’s amendment aims to resurrect a failed legislation that sought to introduce a “heartbeat” bill, which would have decreased Nebraska’s current 20-week abortion cut-off to six weeks. That measure fell just one vote short of breaking a filibuster.

South Carolina

Meanwhile, in South Carolina, where abortion remains legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy, lawmakers are pursuing their own “heartbeat” abortion ban after six weeks. Their legislation includes some exceptions to a ban.

The state’s Supreme Court overturned a previous six-week abortion ban, but lawmakers are determined to try again.

Republican Infighting

These renewed efforts to restrict abortions have caused infighting among Republicans. In Nebraska, Republican state Sen. Merv Riepe abstained from the vote on the six-week ban, concerned that it wasn’t enough time for a woman to know if she is pregnant. He attempted to introduce an amendment to ban abortions after 12 weeks, but it wasn’t given a vote. Riepe was publicly reprimanded by Republicans and Gov. Jim Pillen, who supported the failed measure. The Nebraska Republican Party issued a statement warning that Riepe would be censured.

Riepe noted that abortion was a key issue in his district during the last election, in which his margin of victory was reduced in the face of a Democrat opponent who made abortion a central campaign issue. He believes that Republicans must embrace the future of reproductive rights.

• Nebraska state Sen. Ben Hansen has added a 12-week abortion ban as an amendment to a separate bill that seeks to restrict transgender surgeries for minors.
• South Carolina lawmakers are pursuing their own “heartbeat” abortion ban after six weeks.
• Republican infighting has occurred in Nebraska over the issue of abortion restrictions.

It remains to be seen whether these renewed efforts to restrict abortions will be successful, but they highlight the ongoing debate over reproductive rights in the United States.