Session goes down to wire

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Today is a day that Sen. Dan Hughes has been looking forward to for quite awhile. It is the last day of extended legislative session, which had to be postponed due to COVID-19. But unlike the last day of school or the last day at a workplace, the Legislature has some serious work to do today, and as of press time, still has some important decisions to make that will affect Nebraskan in the years to come.

“We’ve got a few bills that we need to get across the finish line,” Sen. Hughes said via telephone to a gathering of constituents this morning, facilitated by McCook Chamber of Commerce.

LB1107, which Sen. Hughes referred to as the “grand compromise” is one. The bill provides statewide property tax relief, economic development incentive funding, and financial support for a potential federal medical facility to be located Omaha, all wrapped into one bill.

Hughes was disappointed that Nebraska School Education Association voiced opposition to the bill last night. Sen. Hughes supports the bill, stating “I guess I’m pretty sympathetic to the taxpayers, the people who pay the bills, whether it is income, sales or property.” He said that Nebraska is a very high tax state and that spending per capital is in the top five in the nation.

He said that the “beauty” of the grand compromise was that it appeals to many senators. The urban senators are in favor of the economic incentive portion. Omaha lawmakers are interested in the potential the bill allows to attract a multi-billion dollar medical facility and the ripple effect that facility would have on both the Omaha economy and the state’s economy. Rural lawmakers want the property tax relief. “You have to weigh those decisions. Is what I’m getting worth more than what I’m potentially giving up?” Hughes said that passage “is not a slam dunk in my opinion, but it is certainly the best we can do today.”

Sen. Hughes also expects there to be extended debate on LB814, which is the dismemberment abortion bill. Sen. Hughes explained that the bill bans the procedure of dismemberment during the second trimester. He said that it is a procedure that is not widely used in Nebraska. “The question has been will the Nebraska law stand up constitutionally.” He expects the bill to go to cloture to end debate, and then to pass. He expects there to be a court challenge.

Sen. Hughes said that the Legislature has “a couple dozen” bills that are on final reading today. Should the governor decide to veto any of the bills, the Legislature would not be able to override the veto. Hughes wasn’t aware of anything that the Governor would veto at this point.

Sen. Hughes said that as the result of conversations with a landowner in Stratton, he was able to get a “deer bill” passed by the Legislature. The bill allows a landowner to hunt three days prior to the regular rifle season. “It gives a little bit of recognition to the landowner for their expense of raising the state’s wildlife.” Sen. Hughes said that he has worked with the landowner over several years to get a resolution in place, and he is pleased that they were successful this year. “One individual can make a difference. If you’re in the right place at the right time, you can change state law and you can make a difference.”