U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and her Republican challenger, former state attorney general Adam Laxalt, are accusing each other of distorting their respective positions on abortion.

This week, a group of pro-choice Latinas slammed Laxalt and his surrogates for claiming that Cortez Masto supports abortion "up until the moment of birth." They said she, in fact, supports Nevada's current law that allows the procedure up through 24 weeks.

Geoconda Hughes, an Intensive-Care Unit nurse practitioner in Las Vegas, spoke at the news conference organized by the Cortez Masto campaign.

"It is extremely frustrating when politicians spread lies," she said, "deliberately ignoring that some women's lives are at risk or when women are victims of sexual violence."

In a recent op-ed, Laxalt praised the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and said he would support restricting abortion to the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. He has called that decision a "historic victory for the sanctity of life," but said he respects Nevada voters' decision to keep abortion legal and does not support a national ban. He is endorsed by anti-abortion groups in the state.

Susie Martinez, secretary-treasurer of the Nevada AFL-CIO, said Laxalt is trying to have things both ways.

"If you care so much for children," she said, "how about you go visit foster homes? How about you go empty the orphanages? And just remember: stay out of my reproductive rights."

Cortez Masto supports unfettered access to contraception. As attorney general, Laxalt defended the right of a Catholic charity to refuse to cover contraception for its employees and signed an amicus brief supporting pharmacists in Washington state who did not want to dispense the so-called "morning after" pill.

Abortion restrictions have been a hot topic in the Nebraska Legislature for the second year in a row, and now the issue has heated up even more.

Sen. Merv Riepe, R-Omaha, introduced an amendment to the abortion bill sponsored by Sen. Joni Albrecht, R-Thurston, Legislative Bill 626, which would extend the ban from the point at which a heartbeat can be detected on ultrasound -- typically 6 weeks from conception -- to 12 weeks.

Calling himself a "compassionate conservative," Riepe said he added the amendment because the issue is serious, controversial and merits more debate.

"I have some concern regarding a heartbeat," Riepe explained. "Because it's so vague that I'm not sure it's defensible."

Andi Curry Grubb, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, said in an email "a ban is a ban, plain and simple. Any abortion ban at any stage of pregnancy denies a person the fundamental right to control their own body and health care decisions." Currently, Nebraska law bans abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Grubb wrote Riepe's amendment "illustrates that even conservative senators recognize the unworkability of LB 626 and the harm it could do to Nebraskans and physicians."

Sandy Danek, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, said her group was caught off guard and "very disappointed and surprised" with Riepe's announcement. She stated he had not spoken with anyone about concerns with Albrecht's bill -- including Albrecht herself -- prior to submitting the amendment, and added Right to Life members are trying to get Riepe to change his mind.

"This is certainly disturbing for us. Problematic," Danek asserted. "His amendment falls short of protecting preborn babies."

Riepe stressed he is not trying to be disruptive or "grandstand." He acknowledged he has constituents and friends on both sides of the issue.

"There's some people who think we need a 12-week limit as opposed to a heartbeat limit," Riepe pointed out. "And it's very emotional. I have friends that are praying for me, and I've had other people say it's still too restrictive; it's not enough."

On the opening day of Florida's legislative session, Republican lawmakers filed bills in the House and Senate to ban abortions after six weeks. In a move which would tighten the 15-week ban they approved last year, Republicans are pushing an even tougher ban, despite knowing most people aren't aware they're pregnant before six weeks.

Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, the Senate Minority Leader, said the bills were introduced as she and others were making their way to the chamber to hear the State of the State address by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"That is tantamount to an all-out abortion ban," Book stressed. "This is scary. These are scary times, and none of the bills that have been introduced by the Republicans will improve the lives of Floridians."

The legislation offers exemptions for victims of rape and incest, if they can provide official proof of the crime. Pro-choice advocates predict the measures will be a major barrier to critical services for Floridians, and others in the Southeast who seek care in Florida because their states have banned abortion. The bills carry the support of legislative leadership as well as the governor.

Groups like Florida Alliance for Planned Parenthood have already launched campaigns calling on alliance members and the public to contact Sen. Kathleen Pasidomo, R-Naples, the Senate president, who has already announced her support for the bill.

Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, the House Minority Leader, voiced concerns.

"They plan to strip privacy protections enshrined in the Florida Constitution," Driskell pointed out. "They will restrict access to medical abortion medicine, yet you can get Viagra mailed to you. What world are we living in? It's a world that's unfair to women."

The bills are spearheaded by Republican women, Sen. Erin Grall, R-Lake Placid, and Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers. The proposals also include an exception for the life of a pregnant person if two physicians certify in writing that carrying the pregnancy to term would be fatal.


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Nebraska would have one of the strictest abortion laws in the country should Legislative Bill 626 become law. It recently passed out of committee.

The bill calls for banning abortions after a "fetal heartbeat" can be detected by ultrasound, usually around six weeks of pregnancy. However, some medical experts don't consider it a "fetal heartbeat" before at least the tenth week of gestation, the point at which an embryo becomes a fetus.

Scout Richters, senior legal and policy counsel for the ACLU of Nebraska, said time is running short for Nebraskans to let their state senators know how they feel about the bill.

"Because it has that emergency clause, if it does pass, it will become law here in Nebraska, and it could be in just a few short weeks," Richters pointed out.

Richters noted in a November survey, 59% of Nebraskans from all backgrounds and across party lines said they oppose a more restrictive abortion law, with 36% supporting one.

Sen. Joni Albrecht, R-Thurston, introduced the measure, which includes exceptions for sexual assault, incest or medical emergency. A stricter abortion bill she co-sponsored last year did not pass.

Abortion bans have been hot-button issues in many states. In seven of the eight states with a ban at 12 weeks or earlier a judge has blocked it at least temporarily, including four six-week bans.

Richters emphasized medical providers from across the state were among the many who spoke during the committee hearings on the bill.

"The negative effects of this ban reverberate across the medical field, as we've seen from the number and variety of medical professionals that have spoken out in opposition to the ban," Richters observed.

She predicted there will be several rounds of floor debate and expects a number of Nebraskans will attend. She added for those who wish to speak directly with their state senators on those days, the ACLU of Nebraska will be there to help. Once the debates are on the agenda, they'll be posted on the Nebraska Legislature's website, and no doubt on the websites and social media channels of groups on all sides of the debate.