Budget has been focus of Legislature
Over the past few weeks the budget has been debated several times. I hope by the time you read this we have been able to pass all the budget bills through final reading and have them on the governor’s desk.
The budget can be a confusing topic to which a lot of questions can arise. One of the budget bills, LB 944, has been the focal point of a lot of controversy, debate and deadlock.
This week I would like to explain some of the issues with this year’s budget.
LB 944 is the mainline budget adjustment bill for this session. The bill was introduced by Speaker Jim Scheer at the request of the governor. Recommendations for state operations and state aid to schools and agencies are included in the bill.
Once the Appropriations Committee finished making the Legislature’s adjustments, the full body engaged in the first round of discussion that lasted long into the night.
Many of my colleagues had issues with the language included in the bill that refers to Title X funding. There were a handful of senators that led the charge to filibuster and take this bill to cloture on multiple occasions.
Twice we voted to invoke cloture on LB 944 (which takes 33 votes to stop debate) and failed.
The reason this bill has caused so much headache for the Legislature is that Title X deals with funding disbursement to health clinics that can also provide abortions.
In the past, state audits have indicated that Title X funds may have been used for abortions. The current language in LB 944 would ensure that health clinics separate the funds used for abortions from Title X funds so no tax dollars are used for abortions.
This is a subject that people have strong opinions on and therefore it caused some extended debate on the floor.
Senators on the left and right side of the aisle have been trying to compromise on language that will make both sides happy.
As a result, it has been a difficult and long few weeks trying to pass this budget bill. Last week, both sides came together and for the most part we were able to craft a bill that most of us can live with. The bill passed on a 44-4 vote late Wednesday night, March 28.
I am confident that we will pass this bill and the rest of the budget bills.
I anticipate we will hear from a few of my colleagues on final reading, but in the end we will have the votes to get LB 944 to Governor Ricketts.
I think there may be a couple of areas within the budget that the governor may consider line item vetoes on, but we will have to wait and see.
It was my pleasure to host Rev. Becky Saddler of the 1st United Methodist church of Arapahoe to give the opening prayer to the Legislature on March 27.
I extend an invitation to all of the ministers in the 44th District to do this and several have accepted. Thanks to Rev. Saddler.
I always enjoy hearing from the Nebraskans I represent. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns that you might have.
Read more about bills and other work of the Legislature at www.nebraskalegislature.gov. Click on the Live Video Streaming NET logo to watch sessions, hearings, and other Capitol events.
Tuesday teleconference
On Tuesday, Hughes said the body is concentrating on getting the budget bills passed.
Once that’s done, Hughes said the focus will switch to LB 947, the governor’s proposal for tax cuts and property tax relief.
Hughes said the governor’s office has been working the bill hard, which indicates they don’t have the votes to get it to Select File.
A move was made to kill the bill Tuesday during floor debate. The bill will provide a cut in corporate income tax rate, in an effort to grow the state.
The bill also provides property tax relief for ag and residential property tax relief.
Hughes has said he doesn’t believe the bill does not do enough to bring meaningful property tax relief to the ag sector. The bill would spread that relief out over 10 years.
Hughes said another bill LB 1084, would raise sales taxes and cigarette taxes to help fund state aid to schools and reduce the need for property taxes.
The bill remains stuck in committee but Hughes said there’s a chance it could get amended onto another bill, but that remains to be seen.
And if it’s going to happen, it has to happen soon because
after Wednesday, only five working days are left.
Hughes said they will work late into the evening each night this week to get things done.
He said several of his bills are on final reading and expects the body won’t get to them until next week. So far, each bill has passed with wide support but he said there could still be some opposition on final reading.