Hundreds of supporters and opponents of abortion waited anxiously for the chance to speak for a few minutes in front of the Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday. The hearing, which began at 1:30 PM and lasted into the night, was regarding Legislative Bill 626, which is sponsored by Senator Joni Albrecht. The bill would effectively outlaw elective abortions after an ultrasound detects a heartbeat, which is often at about six weeks of pregnancy. There are exceptions in the bill for the health and safety of the mother, however.
The hearing grew testy early. Just 20 minutes in, Senator Albrecht and Senator Machaela Cavanaugh were engaged in a back-and-forth where both became exasperated with one another.
Testimonies featured medical professionals on both sides speaking out on their positions. Proponent Dr. Elena Kraus of Lincoln, who is a board-certified obstetrician, testified that fears of doctors leaving Nebraska with the bill’s passage are unfounded, because they would just be replaced by those who oppose elective abortions. She added that she could not see a high-risk situation where LB626 would prevent doctors from performing a necessary procedure.
“Others may argue (the bill) will hinder life-saving medical care in emergencies,” Kraus said. “This is not true.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Libby Crockett, who is also a board-certified OBGYN, testified in opposition to the legislation. “It is the option of choice that provides humanity, dignity, and compassion for people in crisis,” she said. Dr. Crockett added that she would not want to work in a state where she is unable to have honest conversations with her patients about how to proceed when comprehensive healthcare is not an option. “Abortion is healthcare and needs to remain accessible, legal, and safe in Nebraska,” said Dr. Crockett.
Curiously, there seemed to be no agreed-upon consensus on how Nebraskans really feel about the issue. While Senator Albrecht pointed to a conservative survey that indicates support for her bill, Senator Jen Day cited a Pew poll illustrating that most Nebraskans do not favor restrictions. What is clear, however, is that abortion continues to draw strong feelings from people on both sides of the issue.