“Nebraska is a pro-life state. I imagine existence starts at conception,” Ricketts advised CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.” “If Roe v. Wade, which is a terrible constitutional choice, will get overturned by way of the Superb Courtroom, which we are hopeful of, right here in Nebraska, we are going to take additional steps to offer protection to the ones unborn small children.”
“Together with in terms of rape or incest?” Bash requested. To which the governor spoke back: “They are nonetheless small children, too. Sure.”
Ricketts stated that during case Roe falls, “I can paintings with our speaker of the legislature to paintings on a unique consultation and do extra to offer protection to preborn small children. We will have to attend and notice what that call is prior to we will take additional steps, however that may unquestionably be my aim.”
The governor’s feedback come because the Superb Courtroom’s conservative majority turns out more likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that legalized abortion national. Previous this month, a leaked draft opinion authored by way of conservative Justice Samuel Alito indicated that the courtroom was once poised to opposite Roe’s preserving in a case relating to a Mississippi abortion regulation that may ban abortion at 15 weeks of being pregnant.
The state’s unicameral legislature didn’t advance a invoice entitled the Nebraska Human Lifestyles Coverage Act, which might have banned abortions with out exceptions for rape and incest and would have created legal consequences for physicians who violate the regulation. The measure would’ve long past into impact if the Superb Courtroom overruled Roe or if Congress have been to enact a regulation giving states the authority to keep an eye on abortion or if the Charter have been to be amended.
Republican state Sen. Joni Albrecht’s movement to finish debate at the invoice she offered failed by way of a vote of 31-15, falling in need of two votes wanted. Lawmakers had debated the invoice for approximately 8 hours.
‘Nebraskans glance to their very own’
“On the finish of the day, I feel citizens in person states, and it is unquestionably true right here in Nebraska, they make their very own selections,” Ricketts advised Bash. “You realize, folks out of doors the state may have a power, however on the finish of the day, Nebraskans glance to their very own and Nebraskans decided they sought after for his or her state.”
“As co-chair of the Republican Governors Affiliation, now we have been very transparent that we fortify our incumbents. Brian Kemp is a smart incumbent, he is carried out an improbable task in Georgia,” Ricketts stated.
CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi and Chandelis Duster contributed to this file.