Session comes to an end on major issues, only housekeeping matters remain
NFIB/Nebraska State Director Bob Hallstrom reports from Lincoln on the small-business agenda for the legislative week ending May 19.
Lawmakers have completed their business for the year and adjourned May 18 for a long, four-day weekend. When they return May 23, they will complete final housekeeping duties and adjourn sine die, four days earlier than anticipated.
Governor’s Budget Vetoes Sustained
Gov. Pete Ricketts announced combined budget vetoes of $55.6 million May 15, which will result in state spending rising by an average of 0.6 percent over the next two years. Lawmakers spent nearly eight hours May 17 debating various override motions and when the smoke had cleared, all of the governor’s vetoes were sustained.
Among the vetoes by Governor Ricketts, were:
- An additional half percent, across-the-board reduction in spending by most state agencies
- Reduction in funds to pay providers serving abused and neglected children, people with behavioral health problems and developmental disabilities in Medicaid patients
- A $15 million reduction in the amount transferred from the highway trust fund, $11 million from the new heating and air conditioning project for the State Capitol.
In response, the Appropriations Committee May 16 recommended overrides of $32.7 million in gubernatorial vetoes, including the following:
- Restoring reductions in provider rates for behavioral health aid, medical assistance and developmental disability aid ($32.4 million);
- Restoring funds for the Supreme Court’s probation services ($300,000).
In addition to motions to override gubernatorial vetoes recommended by the Appropriations Committee, individual senators filed the following override motions:
- Sen. John McCollister (Omaha), specialized court operations ($26,828)
- Sen. Bob Krist (Omaha), for juvenile justice services ($716,682)
- Sen. Adam Morfeld (Lincoln), the University of Nebraska ($5.8 million)
- Sen. Sue Crawford (Bellevue), Child welfare funding for providers ($1.3 million).
Previous Reports and Related News Releases
May 12 Report—Adjournment of Nebraska Legislature Set For May 23
May 5 Report—Nebraska Tax Reform Looking Dead for the Year
April 28 Report—Revised State Revenue Projections Force Budget Re-think
April 21 Report—Tax-Relief Measure Likely to Face Filibuster
April 14 Report—Gov. Ricketts, Top Senators Meet With NFIB Members
April 7—Tax Relief Bill Advances to Floor of Nebraska Senate
March 31 Report—Governor Signs NFIB-Backed UI Bill Into Law
March 30 News Release—State Small Business Owners to Convene in Lincoln
March 24 Report—NFIB-Backed UI Reform Bill Passes Nebraska Legislature
March 17 Report—Bill Targeting Unemployment Insurance Abusers Advances
March 10 Report—NFIB Members Rally to Kill Bad Workers’ Comp. Bill
March 3 Report—Senators Given Grim Revenue Forecast
February 24 Report—Nebraska Legislature Designates its Priority Bills
February 17 Report—Legislators Propose Expanding Sales Tax to Sales
February 10 Report—NFIB-Backed Unemployment Bill Advances
February 3 Report—Governor’s Tax Relief Bill Coming Up For First Hearing
January 30 News Release—Comment on Governor’s Press Conference, Today
January 27 Report—NFIB Fighting Habitual Abusers of Unemployment Insurance
January 20 Report—Bill Introduction Period Expires in Nebraska Legislature
January 13 Report—Bill Introductions Less Than Normal in Nebraska Legislature
January 12 News Release—Comment on Today’s State-of-the-State Address
January 6 Report—Nebraska Legislature Opens for Business
[Tile photo of Sen. John Stinner courtesy of the Nebraska Unicameral Information Office.]
