2015 Nebraska Legislative Update - Planned Parenthood Voters of

LB77
LB472 AM676
NEBRASKA LEGISLATORS
IMPORTANT VOTE IN THE 2015 NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE
+
+
District Senator, Home City
30
Baker, Roy (Lincoln)
17
Bloomfield, Dave (Hoskins)
29
Bolz, Kate (Lincoln)
16
-
-
PNV
+
Brasch, Lydia (Bancroft)
-
-
25
Campbell, Kathy (Lincoln)
+
+
11
Chambers, Ernie (Omaha)
+
+
27
Coash, Colby (Lincoln)
-
-
13
Cook, Tanya (Omaha)
+
+
6
Craighead, Joni (Omaha)
+
-
45
Crawford, Sue (Bellevue)
+
+
43
Davis, Al (Hyannis)
+
+
32
Ebke, Laura (Crete)
-
-
34
Friesen, Curt (Henderson)
-
-
3
Garrett, Tommy (Bellevue)
-
-
35
Gloor, Mike (Grand Island)
+
+
42
Groene, Mike (North Platte)
-
-
21
Haar, Ken (Malcolm)
+
+
37
Hadley, Galen (Kearney)
+
+
26
Hansen, Matt, (Lincoln)
+
+
8
Harr, Burke (Omaha)
+
E
4
Hilkemann, Robert (Omaha)
-
-
9
Howard, Sara (Omaha)
+
+
44
Hughes, Dan (Venango)
-
-
23
Johnson, Jerry (Wahoo)
-
-
2
Kintner, Bill (Papillion)
-
-
31
Kolowski, Rick (Omaha)
+
+
24
Kolterman, Mark (Seward)
-
-
10
Krist, Bob (Omaha)
-
+
38
Kuehn, John (Heartwell)
-
-
40
Larson, Tyson (O'Neill)
E
-
18
Lindstrom, Brett (Omaha)
-
-
20
McCollister, John (Omaha)
+
+
39
McCoy, Beau (Omaha)
E
-
5
Mello, Heath (Omaha)
+
+
46
Morfeld, Adam (Lincoln)
+
+
49
Murante, John (Gretna)
-
-
7
Nordquist, Jeremy (Omaha)
+
+
28
Pansing Brooks, Patty (Lincoln)
+
+
12
Riepe, Merv (Ralston)
-
-
19
Scheer, Jim (Norfolk)
PNV
+
47
Schilz, Ken (Ogallala)
PNV
-
15
Schnoor, David (Scribner)
-
-
22
Schumacher, Paul (Columbus)
+
+
33
Seiler, Les (Hastings)
-
E
14
Smith, Jim (Papillion)
-
-
48
Stinner, John (Gering)
-
PNV
41
Sullivan, Kate (Cedar Rapids)
+
+
1
Watermeier, Dan (Syracuse)
-
-
36
Williams, Matt (Gothenburg)
-
-
LEGEND
+ = Supported the
Planned
Parenthood
position
- = Opposed the
Planned
Parenthood
position
PNV = Present and
not voting
E = Excused and
not voting
LB77 – Funding for Family Planning and
Every Woman Matters
Projected to save the state $11 million in the first year and $13 million
each following year, this bill would have enabled Medicaid to cover family
planning services to persons whose family income is at or below 185% of
the federal poverty level and would have funded the Every Woman Matters
program that provides well-woman exams, breast cancer screenings
and other preventive health measures to low-income women. Failed to
advance 21 - 23; 2/26/15. Planned Parenthood supported.
AM676 to LB472 – Medicaid Redesign Act
LB472 would have extended Medicaid to 54,000 Nebraskans making
between 100% and 133% of the federal poverty level and was projected
to save 500 lives a year. Passage of Amendment 676 was necessary
to proceed with the discussion. AM676 failed 22 - 24; 4/8/15. Planned
Parenthood supported.
Sen. Adam Morfeld talks issues with Susan
Napolitano, Joe Pachunka and Liam McChristian
during Planned Parenthood’s Lobby Day on Feb. 3.
Sydney Halonen, Rob Moore, Jacob Lambert and
Sarah O’Neill head out to knock on doors for a
Healthy Neighborhoods canvass in south Lincoln.
Session adjourns without enacting abortion restrictions
For the fourth straight year, the Unicameral adjourned without enacting any new abortion restrictions in
Nebraska, thanks largely to committed women’s health advocates engaged in the legislative process.
Planned Parenthood Voters of Nebraska fought two attacks that would restrict and potentially end access
to safe and legal abortion in Nebraska. LB114 would have required abortion providers to implement
unnecessary clinic upgrades that could threaten a health center’s ability to remain open. LB187 would have
forced health centers to post signage containing biased information intended to shame and coerce a woman
seeking information about her options regarding pregnancy.
Leading a coalition that included the state chapters of the American Association of University Women, American
Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters, National Association of Social Workers, and National Council
of Jewish Women, PPVN packed the legislative hearing room with women’s health advocates. Neither bill
advanced from committee.
Additionally, progress was made on a bill that could dramatically improve the health of women across
Nebraska while saving the state significant dollars. LB77 would have expanded access to essential reproductive
health care services and would have funded the Every Woman Matters Program, which provides well-woman
exams, breast cancer screenings and other preventive health measures to women with limited financial
resources. The bill easily advanced from committee and gained bipartisan support on the floor before falling just
four votes short of advancing past general file.
Work to improve sex education in Nebraska will advance, thanks to LR334, an interim study on reproductive
health promotion in the state’s school system. Sponsored by Senators Adam Morfeld, Tanya Cook, Rick Kolowski
and Patty Pansing Brooks, it will be the Legislature’s most serious look at comprehensive sex education in
recent memory. At the same time, PPVN is working as a leader in the newly formed Nebraska Sexual Health
Alliance (NESHA) to ensure that medically accurate, age-appropriate, comprehensive sex education is promoted
throughout the state.
Throughout the session, PPVN’s dedicated volunteers championed reproductive justice by contacting
legislators in person, and via phone and email; they also helped connect others with the opportunity to impact
policy through conversations over the phone and at doors through Healthy Neighborhoods canvasses.
“The reproductive justice movement in Nebraska gets stronger every year, demonstrated by the fact that
women’s health advocates outnumbered the opposition at the LB114/LB187 hearing,” said PPVN’s Regional
Organizer Rob Moore. “It really feels like the tide is turning, and it’s turning in favor of the women and
families of Nebraska.”
Walker Fellow builds public affairs capacity
to fight or support, played an integral role in a successful Lobby Day
and a rally against two dangerous anti-women’s health bills, built
PPVN’s social media capacity and ran PPVN field organizing operations
in Lincoln. This summer, he will assume the role of PPVN’s regional
organizer, leading organizing and coalition-building work.
“It is tremendously gratifying to work with so many passionate
defenders of reproductive justice – both legislative champions and
committed activists,” Gottschalk said. “I look forward to digging
in deep with our activists and helping them decide how they can
work together to ensure reproductive health care is affordable and
accessible throughout the state of Nebraska.”
Dave Gottschalk will assume the role of PPVN’s
regional organizer this summer.
Walker Fellow Dave Gottschalk has been a key member of PPVN’s
public affairs and communications teams this legislative session.
Funded by a generous grant by Planned Parenthood supporter and
nationally renowned criminal justice scholar Sam Walker, Gottschalk
left his role as a labor union consultant in Washington, D.C., last
December to return to his home state of Nebraska and join the fight
for reproductive justice.
Between the opening day of the 104th Legislature’s First Session on
January 7 and the final gavel out for the body on May 29, Gottschalk
sifted through 663 proposed bills to identify those that PPVN needed
YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL!
Volunteer to help build our advocacy power.
Email David.Gottschalk@ppheartland.org
To financially support PPVN’s work, click on
the donate button at www.ppvotersofnebraska.org
3105 N. 93rd Street
Omaha, NE 68134
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