Lincoln, Neb., Mar 27, 2018 / 13:00 pm
Nebraska's unicameral legislature is deadlocked over a provision in the state's budget bill that would strip Title X funds from abortion providers.
The provision, supported by Gov. Pete Ricketts, would allow access to federal funding for family planning and health services only to Nebraska providers "objectively independent" - physically and financially separated - from clinics providing abortions.
The state's legislators have twice failed to pass the proposed $8.8 billion budget after debating the provision, which was introduced following reports from the state's auditor that some Title X funds have wrongly gone to abortion-related expenses in health clinics.
Last week, Ricketts told CNA that "What we have seen in Nebraska is that these Title X dollars, according to a couple of our audits, have been used to fund abortions."