Measure would expand impeachable offenses

The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony March 4 on a proposed change to the Nebraska constitution regarding impeachment of civil officers.

LR19CA, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery, would place a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2012 general election ballot that would add a misdemeanor related to the election by which a civil officer was elected to office as an impeachable offense.

Currently, the constitution states that a civil officer may be impeached for any misdemeanor committed while in office.

Avery said the change is necessary to cover criminal activity undertaken by a candidate in order to win an office, including election fraud or signing false statements.

“We should hold people accountable for how they behave in pursuit of an office,” he said.

No testimony was offered and the committee took no immediate action on the measure.