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Lawmakers introduce bills in special session
LINCOLN—The Legislature met in a budget-cutting special session for
three days of bill introductions. A total of 16 bills were introduced covering a range of budget issues:
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LB 1, introduced by Norfolk Senator Mike Flood, would change
appropriations.
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LB 2, introduced by Norfolk Senator Mike Flood, would provide for and
eliminate certain fund transfers.
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LB 3, introduced by Norfolk Senator Mike Flood, would authorize transfers
to the general fund.
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LB 4, introduced by Norfolk Senator Mike Flood, would appropriate funds
for special session expenses.
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LB 5, sponsored by the Education Committee, would change provisions
related to state aid to schools and expenditure limitations.
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LB 6, introduced by Holdrege Senator Tom Carlson, would change
inspection provisions of the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act.
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LB 7, introduced by Holdrege Senator Tom Carlson, which would change
agricultural pesticide registration and renewal fees.
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LB 8, introduced by Omaha Senator Brenda Council, would prohibit transfers from the Job Training Cash Fund to the general fund.
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LB 9, sponsored by Schuyler Senator Chris Langemeier, would change provisions relating to the Water Resources Cash Fund.
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LB 10, introduced by Senator Colby Coash of Lincoln, would reduce funding for surveyors of community-based facilities serving persons with developmental disabilities.
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LB 11, sponsored by Fullerton Senator Annette Dubas, would change provisions relating to commodity funds. Finally,
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LB 12, introduced by Platte Center Senator Arnie Stuthman, would change provisions relating to community-based energy development (C-BED) projects and a sales tax exemption.
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LB 13, introduced by Omaha Senator Rich Pahls, would impose a sales tax on certain transactions in 2010.
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LB 14, sponsored by Senator LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth, would prohibit transfers and lapses from the Nebraska Brand Inspection and Theft Prevention Fund.
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LB 15, introduced by Omaha Senator Tom White, would change provisions relating to property tax relief and change school aid appropriations.
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LB 16, sponsored by Senator Ken Haar of Malcolm, would change provisions relating to funding for certain economic development programs.
Click here
to view the Legislative calendar.
Legislative hearings November 9 and 10
Click here to view hearings on Monday, November 9.
Click here to view hearings on Tuesday, November 10. (HHS hearings on this
day)
Special session to cut Nebraska budget has begun
LINCOLN— Nebraska lawmakers have begun their special session to deal with a projected $334 million shortfall in the state's
two-year budget.
Initially it appears that lawmakers will work with Governor Dave Heineman's proposal instead of drafting their own entirely new budget-cutting plans. But lawmakers have until the end of the week to introduce bills.
State senators have generally been positive about Heineman's plan to spread the cuts throughout state government, but some concerns have been raised about proposals to limit education funding and take some of the money farmers contribute to
check off funds.
Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha says if the Legislature does cut funding for schools, districts may just increase local property taxes to avoid hurting education.
— Action 3 News, November 4, 2009
Lincoln senator recommends furloughs, not layoffs for workers
LINCOLN—Senators introduced five bills in special session Thursday, aimed at saving money for the state or saving money for a particular program.
Lincoln Senator Bill Avery introduced a resolution (LR 4) that would have agencies use furloughs rather than layoffs of state workers if needed to meet across-the-board budget cuts.
Read more.
— Lincoln Journal Star, November 4, 2009
Johanns to hold health care talks
LINCOLN—U.S. Senator Mike Johanns will be holding another round of town hall meetings in Nebraska to address health care reform.
The Nebraska Republican will be back in the state next week to hold meetings in Grand Island, Lexington, Kearney and Lincoln.
The first meeting will be Wednesday in Grand Island.
On Thursday, other public meetings will be held in Lexington and Kearney. On November 13, a town hall will be held in Lincoln.
Johanns opposes the Democrats’ health care reform plan, saying the legislation would mean higher monthly premiums and taxes, as well as cuts to Medicare for older people.
— Omaha World-Herald, November 6, 2009
WASHINGTON—House Democratic leaders worked furiously on Thursday to secure the final votes for weekend approval of a sweeping health care overhaul as President Obama threw his weight behind the lobbying effort and Republicans dug in against the health plan.
Democratic vote counters said they did not yet have the necessary 218 confirmed supporters. But they said they were confident they would exceed that total in time for a landmark vote set for Saturday on the $1.1 trillion, 10-year health plan that many Democrats have sought for years. Readying for the first floor test of legislation months in the making, top Democrats appealed to undecided lawmakers while trying to quell resistance from Hispanic House members worried the measure was too punitive regarding illegal immigrants and anti-abortion lawmakers who fear that public money could be funneled toward abortions.
Read more.
— New York Times, November 6, 2009
WASHINGTON—The three top Republicans in the House of
Representatives released statements Friday morning taking Democrats to task for
the news that the unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent last month. House Minority
Leader John Boehner took the news as an opportunity to slam Democrats' health
care reform proposals.
Read more.
— Politico, November 6, 2009
WASHINGTON—The House is headed toward a rare Saturday evening vote as Democratic leaders scramble to placate party factions threatening to defeat the health care bill over hot button issues such as spending, immigration and abortion.
Read more.
— The Hill, November 4, 2009
For more information about health-related legislative bills or resolutions, contact: Bruce Rieker,
Vice President, Advocacy, at (402) 742-8146 or
brieker@nhanet.org or Cora Micek,
Advocacy Coordinator, at (402) 742-8153 or
cmicek@nhanet.org.
NHA Rotunda Review is published by the Nebraska Hospital Association, 3255 Salt
Creek Circle, Lincoln, NE 68504. Phone (402) 742-8140, Fax (402) 742-8191. Visit our Web site at
http://www.nhanet.org. Kelley Porter, editor, at
(402) 742-8151, or email, kporter@nhanet.org.
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