Deadline approaching for priority bills

This year's Legislative Session is moving along. With a third of the session behind us, there are only a couple of weeks left of public hearings for introduced bills. We are also approaching the deadline for priority bill designations. March 14 and 15 are the deadlines for senator and committee priority designations set by Speaker Adams. At this time I have not made my final decision as to which bill I will choose.

Unfortunately, last week I had to lay over LB52 that would of allowed non-profits to enter into arrangements with the Work Ethic Camp facility to use offender labor for projects with a public purpose. After being filibuster by Senator Chambers for a couple days, it was disappointing that his sexual orientation discrimination amendment was adopted. I was surprised by several senators who voted for it.

The amendment really would have been a tactic to try and coerce non-profits to change their moral views on homosexual behavior, trying to silence any opposition to that lifestyle. The vote on the amendment was 29 for, 5 against, 3 present not voting, and 12 excused. With these numbers, I felt the only responsible thing was to lay the bill over.

Also, LB273, which lowered the time between Keno plays from five minutes to three minutes advanced to Select file with little opposition when the bills before it moved quicker than expected and caught people off guard. I believe this is an unnecessary bill to speed up play. The fiscal note for LB273 estimated that this change would increase gross wagers approximately $34 million. That extra disposable and non-disposable income would be taken out of the productive economy and cost Nebraskans more in social ills than any net income for the State. I will continue to work against the bill.

Another bill of interest heard in committee last week is LB593. It would allow for the creation of charter schools in a city of the metropolitan class. Charter schools would be non-profit entities and would be required to meet the same education standards as public schools set out by the state board of education. I believe this is an interesting concept that many other states have allowed to create more educational choices for parents and their children.

If you have any questions or comments, contact my office. Mark R. Christensen, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509. 402-471-2805 or mchristensen@leg.ne.gov.