Session will be intense 60 days

Details: 10 January 2014

As the second regular session of the 103rd Nebraska Legislature unfolds at the State Capitol in Lincoln over the next 13 weeks, multi-dimensional aspects of the law-making process will be on display. It is an institution that brings together unique personalities and varied motivations. It addresses public-policy issues of varying degrees of significance and impact.
The new session began Jan. 8. This one is a “short session,” scheduled to operate over 60 legislative days, following the 90-day first session in 2013. Adjournment sine die is currently scheduled for April 17.
On that last day, as per custom, ceremonies will be conducted to honor legislators known to not be returning the next year. The number so recognized will be at least 17. That’s the number of current legislators who face the impact of term limits. It is generally the Class of 2006. The number includes the Speaker of the Legislature, the Chairman of the Executive Board and seven chairpersons of standing committees.
Another interesting twist is that five of the 49 legislators already have announced their candidacies for statewide elective office. Senators Beau McCoy, Charlie Janssen and Tom Carlson are announced candidates for Governor (Senator Annette Dubas initially did the same, but has since ended the quest), while Senators Pete Pirsch and Amanda McGill are announced candidates for State Auditor. These legislators will be dedicated to their responsibilities, but cannot help but be somewhat preoccupied by their campaigns
The Legislature also began its new session with one new member. In mid-December, the Governor appointed Tommy Garrett of Bellevue to represent District 3, replacing Scott Price, who resigned during the interim between sessions.
As the second of a Legislature’s two regular sessions, this is the segment when legislators “hit the floor running,” because legislative bills that were not finished last year carried over to this year. Approximately 400 bills are in this category, including a few issue-substantive resolutions, e.g., proposing constitutional amendments. Of the total, approximately 70 measures started the session on General File, the first stage of floor debate for the full body of legislators.
During the first three days of this new session—Wednesday through Friday of the week just ended—the legislators met for short periods in the mornings, for the almost-exclusive purpose of introducing new bills; bills with 2014 dates, which add to the carry-over bills. With limited exceptions, new bills have to be introduced during the first 10 working days of a new session. The last day for bill-introductions is scheduled for Jan. 22.
Full-day meetings focused on floor debate on the carried-over General File bills start Jan. 13. On Jan. 21, the floor sessions will begin to happen only in the mornings, while afternoons will be dedicated to public hearings on new bills in front of committees. This will be the process through the end of February. Full-day floor sessions will resume March 4.
As the session opened, it appeared that the urgency and priority of reforming the overall tax system and of substantively changing the formula for distributing state aid to public school districts had waned some. Committee studies are urging more deliberation. There will be ideas and issues relating to these topics, but probably not anything that will shake foundations and make lobbyists frightful, as it once appeared might happen.
Efforts to address prison overcrowding and to achieve an alternative to mere Medicaid expansion for making health care coverage accessible for Nebraska adults who do not qualify for subsidized coverage in the federal marketplace are likely to be undertaken.
Attention will no doubt be given to legislation relating to agriculture and energy and environment issues. The FY 2013-2015 budget will get a review and some adjustments.
There are those both inside and outside the Legislature who want to “modernize” the definition of family and/or change the definition or recognition of marriage by repealing or modifying Article I, Section 29 of the State Constitution (the Marriage Amendment) and/or add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as categories explicitly mentioned in anti-discrimination statutes. The level of resistance to these ideas will determine the outcomes.
It is important for Catholic Nebraskans to stay informed about the public-policy debates and decisions that will be taking place at the State Capitol. An excellent starter source is the Legislature’s website, www.nebraskalegislature.gov. Also, there’s Unicameral Update, which is available both online and in hard copy.
For the 38th consecutive year, we’ll be using the space graciously provided by the diocesan newspapers to update and comment on issues of interest and concern for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, which is the public-policy office operated jointly and cooperatively by the three dioceses covering the state, under the direction of the diocesan bishops. Information and action alerts will be available on the NCC website: www.nebcathcon.org.
And finally….
Nebraska First District Congressman Jeff Fortenberry distributed a nice Fort Report recently, conveying his thoughts and feelings about attending the Army-Navy football game. It was an interesting, inspiring piece, which can be accessed at the Congressman’s website. It brought to mind a really good book of several years back: “A Civil War: Army Versus Navy” by acclaimed sports author John Feinstein.