Abortion ban advances in Nebraska Legislature

Cavanaugh joins protesters, says, 'This is bull----!'

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A proposed abortion ban has cleared a major hurdle in the Nebraska Legislature.

Senators voted 33-16 on Wednesday night to advance Legislative Bill 626 to the second round of debate.

Following the vote, Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who led the filibuster against the bill, joined protesters in the rotunda.

“Don’t stop showing up!” Cavanaugh yelled. “Don’t stop putting pressure on them! This is bull—-! We have to keep f—ing fighting!”

The bill, introduced by Sen. Joni Albrecht, would ban abortions after cardiac activity is detected, which is typically around six weeks of gestation.

“All 33 of those folks feel as deeply as I do about the life of an unborn who can’t speak for themselves,” Albrecht said. “I just am very grateful to them, very grateful for Nebraska for being patient these last 50 years. It’s time to move on and to start to grow Nebraska the way we should.”

Sen. Jen Day, who voted against LB 626, plans to join in the filibuster for the next round of debate.

“We will continue to fight every minute of every day for the rest of this legislative session if we have to,” Day said. “And if we have to go beyond that to a ballot measure, we will do that as well. We are here for you, we support you, and we support your right to bodily autonomy. Not the outcome we wanted today, but we’re going to keep fighting forward.”

The proposal must go through two more rounds of debate before it is sent to the governor’s desk.

It’s unknown when the next round of debate will take place.