Gov. Ricketts says he will push for total abortion ban if Roe V. Wade is overturned

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Governor Ricketts told CNN Sunday that he plans to call a special session to pass a total abortion ban if Roe V. Wade is overturned.

“I believe life begins at conception and those are babies too. So if Roe v. Wade, which was a horrible, constitutional decision, gets overturned by the Supreme Court, which we’re hopeful of, here in Nebraska, we’re gonna take further steps to protect those pre-born babies,” Ricketts said. “If we do get that, Roe versus Wade overturned, we will take, I will work with our speaker of the legislature to work on a special session and, do more to protect pre-born babies. We’ll have to wait and see what that decision is before we can take further steps, but that would certainly be my intention.”

More than a dozen states now have so-called trigger laws on their books.

Nebraska nearly passed its own such law last month.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska released a statement Monday responding to Ricketts’ comments on CNN.

“Abortion remains safe and legal in Nebraska, because we as a state took a stand this legislative session against state senators who have been trying to outlaw abortion for years,” said Andi Curry Grubb, State Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska. “We successfully protected the fundamental right to abortion in a solidly red state through the pure grit and determination of Nebraskans, who strongly value the reproductive freedom to decide what’s best for them, their family and future. We as Nebraskans may differ in our personal beliefs, but we can all agree that people deserve the right to make private health care decisions—not politicians who lack any sort of medical expertise.”