First Budget Bill Fails to Advance at Legislature

LB1071, the deficit budget bill failed to advance at the Legislature on Thursday. Several senators filibustered the bill after 3.5 million dollars in private school scholarship funding was removed from the bill after the first round. The vote was 19-10, 14 votes short of advancement.  Nineteen were present, not voting. A compromise will be needed as the Unicameral is constitutionally required to have a balanced budget.  Dan Lonowski, Stan Clouse, and Dave Murman all spoke on the floor during the four hours of debate.

Gov. Pillen Statement on Legislature Failure to Advance Budget Bill
 
LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement after the legislature failed to invoke cloture on LB1071. 
 
“The legislature has a job to do – and Nebraskans expect them to get it done,” said Gov. Pillen. “My message right now is simple: It’s time for them to stop playing political games and pass a balanced budget. The people of our state deserve better.”