Majority Of Neb. Senators Would Support Law To Ban Abortions If Roe Is Overturned, Poll Finds

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 04 Jan 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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A majority of Nebraska state senators would support an abortion-related "trigger law" to ban the procedure in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to an annual poll conducted by the Associated Press, the AP/NTV reports (AP/NTV, 12/29/07). According to the Associated Press, several states have adopted or proposed trigger laws -- either automatically prohibiting abortion or protecting it.

Asked if they would support a trigger law that would ban the procedure if Roe is overturned, 21 state senators said they would support it; six said they would not. Three senators said they would support a measure that would protect abortion rights if Roe is overturned. In addition, three senators said they were not sure, three gave no selection and 12 did not participate in the survey, the Associated Press reports.

Sen. Phil Erdman (R), a supporter of a law banning abortions, said, "It would be logical to have a law in place to be triggered in the event the current precedent and legal understanding is changed to provide clarity for an uncertain time." Sen. Deb Fischer (R) said, "I am pro-life and oppose abortion. However, passing a law [to prohibit the procedure] now would be premature and could have unintended consequences." She added, "I believe it would be more appropriate to wait and see what the court's decision would be and then pass legislation that specifically addresses that decision" (Beck, Associated Press, 12/29/07).

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