Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says he will not call special session on abortion

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Monday that he would not be calling a special legislative session on abortion.

The decision came after Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers wrote in a letter to Ricketts that 30 senators would support a 12-week abortion ban.

This is short of the 33 votes needed to pass abortion legislation.

“Nebraskans need to have more conversations on the value we place on human life so more meaningful protections can be passed in our state,” Ricketts said in a statement.

Right now in Nebraska, abortion is legal up until the 20th week of pregnancy.

“It is deeply saddening that only 30 Nebraska state senators are willing to come back to Lincoln this fall in order to protect innocent life,” Ricketts wrote.  “The proposal to change Nebraska’s state law that prohibits abortions starting at 20 weeks and reduce that to 12 weeks is a measured, reasonable step to protect more preborn babies in our state.”