Hello, from the State Capitol! First, I would like to let everyone know how much I have enjoyed meeting many of you and your children as they have come to tour the Capitol and or the Governor’s Mansion on fieldtrips. It has been fun to talk to the kids and interact with them about the process down here. I hope they enjoyed it and have learned a little more about their state government.
Last week was busy in the Unicameral with some very important issues debated. One of these issues was the Rural Community-Based Energy Development Act, LB 629 that passed the Legislature, and has gone to the Governor for his signature. This bill would allow for community-based renewable wind energy development.
The budget passed final reading last Tuesday and awaits action from the Governor. There was one more attempt to amend the budget by transferring $19 million from the Cash Reserve Fund for roads to avoid raising the state gas tax in FY2008-09, but the amendment was eventually withdrawn.
Legislative Bill 198, which put restrictions on “robo-calls” (computer-generated calls with a prerecorded message) used in political campaigns, also passed final reading. The new restrictions would allow for only two such calls from a campaign per day, per household. The calls would be confined to the time between 8:00 am to 9:00 pm and, would have to state at the beginning of message who sponsored the call and if it was authorized by candidate. There was concerns about its constitutionality and whether it limited first amendment rights, but in the end, a majority of members passed it feeling it would be able stand against a legal test.
Last Wednesday the tax cut package passed and was signed by the Governor, giving Nebraskans $425 million of tax relief over two years.
LB 516 is a bill that would authorize a study with respect to the federal court decision to strike down Initiative 300 (I-300) in the State Constitution. The study looks to develop recommendations in response to the ruling to find what appropriate policy changes may need to be taken. This bill advanced to Final Reading and will be on the agenda on Monday the 21.
An amendment to LB 299 that prohibits trapping in ditches in the county right-of-way was adopted and advanced with the bill to Final Reading. Though I understand the safety reasons behind this prohibition, I still have misgivings of a blanket prohibition when the incident that brought the issue to light was from an already illegal trap that was unmarked and too big.
A bill that would require a statewide system for assessment in schools was another hot issue that also advanced to Select File. I have concerns that we do not tie the hands of our teachers with more testing that distracts them from being flexible and creative when teaching our kids. I understand the desire to know where students are, but we need to be careful of micromanaging from the state level. I will continue to follow this closely.
Last Friday we began discussing the Judiciary Committee’s second priority bill, LB 475. This bill would add “sexual orientation” to a list of protected classes through out our statutes relating to nondiscrimination in employment. I have many problems with this bill and will vote against it. Debate is scheduled to continue this week as it is on Monday’s agenda.
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
