Lawmakers in Nebraska voted 30-16 on Wednesday to override Gov. Dave Heineman’s (R) veto of legislation that would restore prenatal care with state and federal funds to “an estimated 1,162 unborn babies each year.” Heineman had rejected the bill because he claimed — falsely — that it would fund groups like Planned Parenthood, even though the organization does not provide prenatal services at its Nebraska clinics.
He condemned the lawmakers for providing “preferential treatment to illegals”:
“Today, the majority of the Nebraska Legislature decided their priorities are providing taxpayer funded benefits to illegal immigrants and increasing the sales tax rate on the citizens of Nebraska,” he said.
“Providing preferential treatment to illegals while increasing taxes on legal Nebraska citizens is misguided, misplaced and inappropriate.”
Interestingly, anti-abortion groups broke ranks with Heineman and pushed for the Senate to override the veto. “People from all different backgrounds came together and said this is about protecting the life and health of unborn children, and did not decide which babies deserve care and which babies don’t,” a spokesperson for Nebraska Right to Life said.
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