Local pastor offers opening prayer; budget bill passes

This is the last week for this year’s legislative session as we will adjourn Sine Die on April 18th. My colleagues and I have worked hard these past few months on trying pass legislation that helps Nebraskans all across the state. I appreciate all the words of support you have given me during this session. I am proud to represent to people of the 44th district. This week I would like to update you all on the passage of the budget, as well as, an interesting bill that could replace the statues that represent Nebraska at the Capitol in Washington D.C.

In my article last week I laid out some of the reasons why LB944, the mainline budget bill, was having trouble getting passed. This week I am pleased to report that a compromise was found and we were able to send all the budget bills to Governor Ricketts’ desk. The amended version continues to prohibit the referral of a patient to an abortion service. A referral is limited to recommending a pregnant woman to doctors, clinics or other persons or entities for the purpose of obtaining an abortion. The governor signed all the budget bills into law on April 4th without any line-item vetoes.

LB807 introduced by Omaha Senator Burke Harr would replace the two statues in National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. In 1864, Congress established this hall and allowed each state to have two statues to represent their story. Currently, J. Sterling Morton and William Jennings Bryan are the two statues for Nebraska and were installed in 1937. This bill would replace those with Willa Cather and Chief Standing Bear. I believe it is an appropriate time replace these statues with two of Nebraska’s notable people. There is no cost to the state to replace the statues and the current statues will be returned to Nebraska.

I had the pleasure of having Reverend Johnny Walker give the prayer of the day of April 3rd. Reverend Walker is the pastor from West 1st Chapel in McCook. It was an honor to have another great minister representing our district give the morning prayer.

I would like to give another reminder to any high school students that would be interested in participating in the Unicameral Youth Legislature program that is held every summer. This is a wonderful opportunity for young students to get to see the behind the scenes of how the nation’s only unicameral works. Students participate in all the activities of a state senator and discuss issues important to the state. To learn more visit: nebraskalegislature.gov/education/unicamyouth.php

I always enjoy hearing from the Nebraskans I represent. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns that you might have. My email address is dhughes@leg.ne.gov and my phone number is (402) 471-2805.You can read more about bills and other work of the Legislature at www.nebraskalegislature.gov, and you can click on the Live Video Streaming NET logo to watch sessions, hearings, and other Capitol events.