A Nebraska Republican lawmaker is defending killing an abortion ban that would protect babies with beating hearts. Nebraska could have been the next state to protect babies from abortions if not for a recalcitrant Republicans who sold out unborn children. Republican Sen. Merv Riepe had cosponsored the measure to protect babies from abortion when their heartbeat can be detected, but yesterday he abstained from voting on the measure. That allowed a Democrat filibuster of the bill to prevail – making it so thousands of babies will continue to be killed in abortions until the legislature can try again next year....