Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts doesn’t want a rape or incest exemption for abortions

Republican Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said Sunday morning that he wanted his state to pass a law banning all abortion with no exceptions for incest or rape, and stated that it was his “intent” to call a special legislative session to to take “further steps” “Protect premature babies.”

Abortion rights have suddenly emerged as one of the key electoral issues on the road to the midterms after a draft Supreme Court Opinion that would overturn was leaked this month Roe v. calf. The opinion, written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, would not only uphold Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, but would also repeal state abortion rights.

Currently, 13 states have so-called “trigger laws” on their books that would immediately and effectively ban abortion Roe v. calf is reversed. Nebraska is not among those states, however, as its trial – which would not have provided exceptions in cases of rape or incest – was blocked by a legislative filibuster last month.

Interview Ricketts on CNN state of the nation On Sunday morning, moderator Dana Bash noted that Nebraska’s efforts to pass a “trigger bill” fell through by just two votes before pressing the governor on his pro-abortion stance.

“The abortion ban that you tried to pass didn’t include exceptions for rape or incest,” she said. “So, can you clarify if you think the state of Nebraska should force a young girl who has been raped to carry that pregnancy to term?”

Ricketts declared Nebraska a “pro-life state” and stated that he believes life begins at conception, before reiterating that he believes rape victims should be forced to carry a child to term.

“These are babies too. If Roe v. calfa terrible constitutional decision, is being overturned by the Supreme Court, which is why we hope we will take further steps here in Nebraska to protect these premature babies,” he said.

“Even rape or incest?” Bash shot back.

“They’re babies, too,” Ricketts replied. “Yes, they are still babies.”

The CNN anchor then wondered if the governor would immediately call a special session of the state legislature to pass an abortion ban if Roe v. Wade is overridden.

“I will work with our Legislative Speaker to hold a special session and do more to protect premature babies,” he replied. “We’ll have to see what the decision is before we can take any further steps, but that would certainly be my intention.”

Ricketts wasn’t the only Republican governor to announce abortion bans Sunday morning with no exceptions for rape and incest. At a performance on Fox News Sunday, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt defended his state’s recently passed law banning abortion after six weeks. The law, which is similar to the neighboring state of Texas’ bill, will allow abortions in medical emergencies.

“The argument is that after six weeks a victim may not know they are pregnant. So what do you say to a woman who is in this situation, living in your state and feeling like she has no choice?” Fox News host Shannon Bream asked Stitt.

“That’s a human in the womb,” he replied. “And we will do everything we can to protect life and love both the mother and the child. And we don’t think killing one to protect the other is the right thing to do either. And our heart is very compassionate.”

These governors’ defense of not making rape and incest exceptions for abortions comes after Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves struggled to justify why his state would force victims of incest to get pregnant last week. Additionally, Reeves hasn’t dismissed the possibility that his state could ban emergency contraception and IUDs.