Friday, March 25, 2016

Ten Days Left!

It was a short week, but probably one of the most productive for issues of importance to NREA.  The Legislature is on recess today and Monday for the Easter Weekend.  When we come back on Tuesday it will be the 50th day.   So much to do with only 11 days left to work.

Consent Calendar Propels NREA Bills

In my last post several bills advanced from General File to Select File on the Consent Calendar.  NREA Bills LB 736 and LB 973 were on that list as well as LB 725, LB 783 and LB 913.  This week the Select file Consent Calendar came up and all of those bills have now advanced to Final Reading.  I expect that next week we will see the Final Reading Consent Calendar and hopefully each will pass easily.

LB 824 Begins its Transformation on the Floor

LB 824, (private wind development) came up on General File yesterday afternoon.  As I discussed in my last post, the Natural Resources Committee advanced the bill after gutting the wind language and replacing it with the language in LB 914, the Power Review Board compensation bill.

The private wind developers were disappointed that their language was stripped out by the Committee and they asked Senator Ken Haar to file an amendment to the bill to bring the compromise private development language back into the bill when the bill was to be discussed on General File.  This is a bit of an unconventional move and was seen by some to circumvent the actions of the Committee that failed to advance the language on a split vote.

NREA remains neutral on the compromise language, but this action did create a bit of a dilemma.  NREA is on record supporting LB 914 and the actions of the Committee transformed LB 824 into that bill. If Senator Haar's amendment could be attached without jeopardizing the new LB 824 we would remain neutral.  If the Haar amendment could cause the bill to be filibustered and potentially create opposition threatening the passage of the bill, we may need to take a different position.

LB 824 came up and following the bill sponsor's  introduction, three of the four senators that opposed advancement of the original language of LB 824, stood up and indicated they would strongly oppose the Haar amendment and would work to kill the entire measure if the amendment were adopted.  This set a tone for a debate that "could have been". The Committee amendment was easily adopted by the legislature and the bill was officially transformed into what was previously LB 914.  The next amendment would have been Senator Ken Haar's, but the Senator pulled the amendment and it was not debated.  LB 824 then advanced to Select File.  If I haven't seriously confused you with all the jockeying on this bill, LB 824 is now in a form that NREA supports!

The wind developers are considering re-filing their amendment when the bill is debated on Select File.

Right to Farm

The right to farm in Nebraska seems like a fundamental issue and one that should easily pass in a state that is primarily an agricultural state. Recent polling in the state showed that a majority of voters in Nebraska would support a Constitutional Amendment preserving the right to farm and ranch if it were on the ballot. These are the same voters who supported a Constitutional Amendment protecting the right to hunt and fish.

On issues as important as agriculture in the state of Nebraska the language and the timing of a proposal are critical.  It is not something you want to get wrong...not even one word.

Senator John Kuehn introduced LR378CA, a Constitutional Amendment to preserve the right to farm in Nebraska. Pressures from groups like the Humane Society of the United States to put an end to animal agriculture motivated Senator Keuhn's laudable efforts.The introduction of LR378CA started an important discussion regarding the value of agriculture and its most significant contribution to the economics to the state.

While there was opposition to the proposed language, most of the opponents stated they supported a Constitutional Amendment, but they wanted to take the time to draft language somewhat differently. Senator Kuehn facilitated productive discussion and then introduced a bracket motion to end the debate for the year so that additional conversations could take place over the interim.

NREA appreciates the efforts of Senator Kuehn to protect agriculture and to support Rural Nebraska. 

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