Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts promised Sunday to take action to protect unborn babies from abortion in the likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade this summer.
“Nebraska is a pro-life state. I believe life begins at conception,” Ricketts told CNN host Dana Bash.
The Republican governor said he plans to call a special legislative session if the court overturns Roe and allows states to protect unborn babies by banning abortions again, according to The Epoch Times.
“If Roe v. Wade, which is a horrible constitutional decision, gets overturned by the Supreme Court, which we’re hopeful of, here in Nebraska we’re going to take further steps to protect those preborn babies,” Ricketts said.
“I will work with our speaker of the legislature to work on a special session and do more to protect preborn babies,” he continued. “We’ll have to wait and see what that decision is before we can take further steps, but that would certainly be my intention.”
SUPPORT LIFENEWS! If you like this pro-life article, please help LifeNews.com with a donation!
When Bash asked if the governor believes there should be exceptions for rape and incest, Ricketts responded that unborn babies conceived in violence are “still babies” who deserve to be protected.
In April, the Nebraska legislature almost passed a trigger bill that would ban abortions once Roe v. Wade is overturned, but pro-abortion Democrats filibustered the legislation and an effort to break the filibuster failed by two votes. State law requires a two-thirds majority to end a filibuster.
An abortion ban would save thousands of babies’ lives every year. In 2021, 2,378 abortions were reported in Nebraska, according to state health statistics.
Currently, because of Roe, states are forced to legalize abortions up to viability. However, the Supreme Court is considering a Mississippi case that challenges that precedent, and a ruling is expected this summer.
Earlier this month, a leaked draft ruling showed a majority of the justices agreeing to overturn Roe. However, the draft is not final and judges can change their minds. It is not clear when the high court will issue its final ruling on the abortion case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, but many believe the court will overturn Roe and allow states to protect unborn babies again.
Polls consistently show that most Americans support stronger legal protections for unborn babies than what Roe allows. LifeNews highlighted 11 recent polls here. A new Rasmussen poll found more Americans want Roe v. Wade overturned (48 percent) than want the ruling to remain in place (45 percent).
Since 1973, more than 63 million unborn babies and hundreds of mothers have died in supposedly “safe, legal” abortions.
