Nebraska state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh (D) promised to filibuster every bill this session until Republicans withdraw two bills seeking to ban both abortion and gender-affirming health care for transgender minors.
“If this legislature collectively decides that legislating hate against children is our priority, then I am going to make it painful; painful for everyone. Because if you want to inflict pain upon our children, I am going to inflict pain upon this body,” Cavanaugh said. “I have nothing, nothing but time and I am going to use all of it.”
According to local CBS News outlet KMTV, Cavanaugh made the comments on Thursday during a debate on legislative bill 147 which has to do with property taxes. She introduced five motions and three amendments to the bill, all of which failed.
But she is not stopping. Her aim is to delay two controversial bills proposed by the GOP-controlled chamber. Legislative Bill 626, or a “heartbeat bill” which bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, and LB 574, or the “Let Them Grow Act,” which would ban gender-affirming health care for transgender teens and children.
“I want to annoy you. I want you to genuinely be frustrated to all get out with me,” she said.
“This body decided they wanted me to go on. I don’t know what we want to call this. My vendetta? On behalf of trans kids? Because this is how the session is gonna be — for every bill,” Cavanaugh added.
