A left-leaning political group filed a lawsuit to block the new law signed by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen to protect babies from abortions.
Nebraska State Senators have voted to protect unborn babies from abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy by enacting the “Preborn Child Protection Act,” previously added as an amendment to LB 574, law to ban gender reassignments in children.
Nebraska lawmakers voted 33-15 to pass the Let Them Grow Act that eliminates elective painful, late-term abortions in the state and saves babies at the point their hearts beat more than 10 million times. times.
But the ACLU filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Nebraska over the new law on behalf of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (PPH) and abortionist Sarah Traxler, saying the law violates a state provision. constitution which states, “No bill shall contain more than one subject.”
The case asking the court to declare the law “unconstitutional and void in its entirety” under the Nebraska Constitution. LB 574 with the its 12-week abortion ban, the Preborn Child Protection Act, in sections 1-6 of the bill, while banning “sex-change operations” and limiting puberty blockers for minors in section 14 -20, the Let Them Grow Act.
“Although both parts of LB 574 take away the liberties of Nebraskans, ultimately we are talking about two completely unrelated topics: gender-specific care for trans youth and access to abortion,” ACLU of Nebraska interim executive director Mindy Rush Chipman said in a statement. “We believe that combination of those prohibitions violates the clear text of our state constitution.
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“And the end result of senators’ failure to comply with the single subject requirement is a rushed process that avoids critical legislative guardrails,” Rush Chipman continued.
The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office told the Daily Caller News Foundation that they “will defend the law.”
Pillen, who pushed for the bill and met with various lawmakers to support it, said he was pleased to sign the bill.
“It’s a rare privilege to be a part of answering prayers that have been going on for 50 years,” he said. “We stand to protect our children so that our state and our children can have a brighter future.”
“This bill is part of what will surely be a historic legislative session. This is about protecting our children,” he added.
Pillen said, “The bill does two things. It’s about protecting our children and saving babies. It bans abortion after 12 weeks. It’s the first piece of legislation to save babies in Nebraska. for decades.”
“The abortion ban is law this second,” he said after signing.
Also includes an emergency clause that allows the law to take effect when he signs the bill.
SBA Pro-Life America’s Western Regional Director Adam Schwend told LifeNews he was thrilled with the news.
“Nebraska has taken a significant step forward for life. Three hundred lives will be protected each year through the Let Them Grow Act. Each of these children will bless countless others by being a son. or daughter, grandchild, friend, classmate and colleague, and Nebraska will be better for the lives they are allowed to live,” he said.
“Gov. Pillen is a courageous pro-life leader who does not flinch in the face of adversity or vocal minority opposition. We thank the governor and the 33 legislators who showed determination to get this legislation to the finish line, with special thanks to Sen. Albrecht, Sen. Hansen and Sen. Kauth. This legislation marks progress in Nebraska where we will continue the fight for life,” he added.
“Our hope was to pass protection for beating hearts in the womb, which can be detected at about six weeks, using the Nebraska Heartbeat Act, but that failed to advance despite a filibuster put in place by opponents. ,” said Sandy Danek, Executive Director of Nebraska Right to Life . “Although this law allows for unlimited abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, it is still more limited than the law that has been in place since 2010, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.”
Based on the Nebraska 2021 Statistical Report of Abortions, 2,360 abortions were performed, 2,195 of which occurred before 12 weeks of pregnancy.
“Unfortunately, because about 90% of abortions happen before 12 weeks, so many lives are still being lost,” Danek said. “We will continue to work, as we have for more than 50 years, to
protect all Nebraska preborn babies.”
