2009 Nebraska State Legislature

Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:50 pm

OWH wrote:- Speaker of the Legislature: Mike Flood of Norfolk
- Executive Board chairman: John Wightman of Lexington
- Agriculture committee chairman: Tom Carlson of Holdrege
- Appropriations committee chairman: Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek
- Banking, Commerce and Insurance committee chairman: Rich Pahls of Omaha
- Business and Labor committee chairman: Steve Lathrop of Omaha
- Education committee chairman: Greg Adams of York
- General Affairs committee chairman: Russ Karpisek of Wilber
- Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee chairman: Bill Avery of Lincoln
- Health and Human Services committee chairman: Tim Gay of Papillion
- Judiciary committee chairman: Brad Ashford of Omaha
- Natural Resources committee chairman: Chris Langemeier of Schuyler
- Retirement Systems committee chairman: Dave Pankonin of Louisville
- Revenue committee chairman: Abbie Cornett of Bellevue
- Transportation and Telecommunications committee chairman: Deb Fischer of Valentine
- Urban Affairs committee chairman: Mike Friend of Omaha

Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:59 pm

5 issues facing the Legislature in 2009

Lincoln Journal Star wrote:Immigration
With the federal government avoiding solutions to illegal immigration, what is the best way for the state to tackle the issue in Nebraska? Should it be up to employers to verify the legal status of foreign-born applicants? How should Nebraska deal with the effects on communities, businesses and families? Senators will have 90 days to find the answers.

Children in crisis
The goal is delivering the right behavioral health care for children and adolescents at the right time in the right location. The Legislature will address the issue -- exposed this fall by the state’s first safe haven law -- bit by bit, beginning with a bill that will focus on a single access point for families into the mental health system.

Budget
Restraint will be the key word as senators put together a more than $7 billion, two-year budget during the session. The debate over spending will be guided by how quickly and how much the national recession affects Nebraska’s economy. Senators will eventually face decisions about what to cut and how quickly to use the state’s $590 million cash reserve.

Taxes
Senators will have to decide whether the state can afford to continue a property tax credit -- $86.13 per $100,000 in valuation this year, or $129.20 for a home valued at $150,000. The property tax credit program cost the state $115 million in state tax revenue this year. The recession, and potential cuts in state services, will likely curb senator’s interest in big tax cuts.

Lethal injection
The state Supreme Court last year declared the electric chair unconstitutional, leaving Nebraska with no legal way to execute convicted murderers. With the departure of Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, an ardent death penalty opponent, senators are expected to pass a lethal injection bill this year.

Post by **Coyote** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:06 pm

Gangs, taxes, immigrants topics of first bills

PAUL HAMMEL WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:Lawmakers targeted gang violence, property tax relief and illegal immigration in measures filed today -- the first day that bills could be introduced in the 2009 session of the Nebraska Legislature. Ninety-six bills were introduced this morning. Eight days remain to introduce bills. As many as 880 have been introduced in past years.

Some of Thursday's introduced bills:
LB13 (White) Change and rename the Property Tax Credit Act
LB34 Â (Ashford) Require employment verification of employees by employers and by contractors who want to be awarded a public contract Â
LB36 (Flood) Change method and procedure for inflicting the death penalty
LB69 (Cornett) Exclude military retirement benefits from income taxation as prescribed
LB93 (Howard) Prohibit smoking in a motor vehicle with an occupant under sixteen years of age
LB95 (Howard) Prohibit violators of immigration laws from receiving certain tax incentives

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:06 am

Senators push for shorter sessions

Senator Mike Friend is proposing shortening legislative sessions from 90 to 60 days in odd numbers years and 60 to 40 days in even numbered years... using states like South Dakota/Wyoming as examples (which I personally think we share very little in common with). Â Slacker. Â Let's be sure to cut that token salary by 1/3rd as well.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10533537

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:41 am

Did anyone propose cutting state office work weeks from five eight hour days to four ten hour days? Â I think that is a small step that is WAY overdue.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:28 am

Senators' laptops the Apple of their ayes

Issues of size versus extra cost have been raised about the purchase of new laptop computers for Nebraska state senators — although the purchase has plenty of defenders within the Capitol.

About 70 new Apple MacBook Air computers were purchased this session for state legislators at a cost of $1,524 each.

http://omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10534817

Post by **Coyote** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:12 am

Bills introduced on Friday:

LB104 (Cornett) Change annexation requirements for cities of the first class
LB106 Â (Harms) Eliminate the requirement that occupant protection system laws be enforced as a secondary action Â
LB107 (Haar) Require an employer to provide an employee a reason for termination
LB123 Â (Karpisek) Change the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to include Salvia divinorum or Salvinorin A Â
LB125 (Avery) Provide for voter registration on election day
LB127 (Avery) Exempt college textbooks and school expenses from sales tax as prescribed

LR1CA (Friend) Constitutional amendment to reduce the maximum number of legislative days in a regular legislative session

Post by **Coyote** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:22 am

Bills Introduced on Monday - January 12:

LB156 Â (Lautenbaugh) Eliminate the strict liability requirement for pursuits by law enforcement officers Â
LB161 Â (Pahls) Adopt the Business Provided Sales Tax Holiday Act Â
LB177 Â (Lathrop) Change security freeze provisions relating to credit reports Â
LB198 Â (Stuthman) Adopt the Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity Act Â
LB200 Â (Janssen) Change motorcycle and moped helmet requirements

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:32 am

Coyote wrote:LB198 Â (Stuthman) Adopt the Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity Act

Bravo. Â Although I'm sure someone will say it is their right to burn down my condo building when they pass out with a lit heater, and if I don't like it I should live somewhere else.

Post by **Coyote** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:37 am

Didn't that happen to you a few years back?

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:52 am

Coyote wrote:Didn't that happen to you a few years back?

LOL... Â yes, but I didn't even think of that when I typed that.

(FYI: I was living in Old Market Lofts when some girlydouchebag set the roof on fire with a cigarette in a trash can.)

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:17 am

I'll never forget that night. It was the night I met Big E.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:17 am

Â :lol:

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:35 am

Big E wrote:(FYI: I was living in Old Market Lofts when some girlydouchebag set the roof on fire with a cigarette in a trash can.)

The roof,
The roof,
The roof is on fire ...

We don't need no water let the mother.....

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:24 am

Omababe wrote:We don't need no water let the mother.....

And it did. Â Best part was the alarm didn't go off until about 4 AM, a couple of hours AFTER the fire was out.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:33 pm

I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN! They get Ernie out and then turn around and change the law to let senators serve more than 2 terms.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10536967

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:45 pm

What a waste of money..... Raise the fines and make money, don't spend it!

Go fast and go to jail, lawmaker says

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10539764

LINCOLN (AP) on http://www.omaha.com wrote:Putting the pedal to the metal could give Nebraska drivers more than thrills and speeding tickets.

It could land them in jail.

State Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha today introduced a bill (LB368) that would force drivers convicted of speeding between 100 miles per hour and 120 miles per hour to spend at least a day in jail.

Driving faster than 120 miles per hour and up to 150 miles per hour would result in a jail sentence of at least three days, and over 150 miles per hour would put drivers behind bars for at least five days.

A second conviction would put drivers in the clink for longer: Driving over 120 miles per hour and up to 150 miles per hour, for example, would result in a sentence of at least 10 days.

Who's my rep? Â NW Omaha?

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:48 pm

call a spade a spade...clearly targeted towards motorcycles. Â Let me know when Suzy Soccermom is arrested for going a buck-twenty in her Yukon. Â

just raise the fine and be done with it if you feel this is really a necessary law right now.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:00 pm

No |expletive|.

Thankfully I don't drive anymore. My record was going 110 in a 55. I miss my Buick Riviera.

The states miss all the income I brought in.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:54 pm

Sen. Karpisek of Wilbur introduces legislation to allow municipalities to opt out of the statewide smoking ban:

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/200 ... ogcomments

A city council or county board could vote to put the issue on the ballot, or voters could get it on the ballot by petition.

Actually, I don't have any problem with a petition to get it on the ballot.

Don't think for a second, though, that there aren't going to be city councils in small towns that go right in to the pockets of bar owners and the tobacco lobby. Â This is just begging for the good ol' boy network.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:58 pm

You call it a good ol' boy network, I call it freedom.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:23 pm

We're all socialist Muslims now.

We know not of this thing you call "freedom".

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:35 pm

I hope like heck this gets shot done. Apparently the state feels the need to interfere with hetero marriages to by requiring marriage education before getting married. This has got to even be illegal somehow. How the |expletive| do you quantify (even if they're straight) who is eligable to get married? Everyone's marriage isn't based on the same things.

http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/38224874.html

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:20 pm

Every Catholic I knew who went to 'marriage school' is now divorced.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:23 pm

As much as I want to get married here (if it ever happens), I would honestly consider Vegas if the state put that law in to effect! Â That can not be leagal can it?

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:26 pm

I don't see how it could be. People that were married in other states and moved here wouldn't have the same "standards" of marriage that NE has making them unequal in the eyes of the law which is very illegal. Maybe they should pass it and then that will get a foot in for gay marriage.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:49 pm

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1 ... d=10551991

A note to the betrothed of Ashland, Neb. — if you want a hometown church wedding, you'll have some homework to do before you can say "I do."

Nearly all the Ashland-area preachers have made a pact to require couples to undergo about four months of premarital preparation before they can have a church wedding.

You mean churches can do what they want when it comes to marriage without having the government interfere every step of the way? Â Whodathunkit?

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:55 pm

Big E wrote:http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1 ... d=10551991

A note to the betrothed of Ashland, Neb. — if you want a hometown church wedding, you'll have some homework to do before you can say "I do."

Nearly all the Ashland-area preachers have made a pact to require couples to undergo about four months of premarital preparation before they can have a church wedding.
You mean churches can do what they want when it comes to marriage without having the government interfere every step of the way? Whodathunkit?

If only the government could do what it wanted to without the church's interference, now THAT would be a real surprise!