The Rules Committee heard testimony Jan. 16 on nearly two dozen proposed changes to the Legislature\u2019s permanent rules.<\/p>\n
The permanent rules govern the legislative process and are adopted at the beginning of each biennium. The 22 proposals offered a variety of changes, including one to elect chairpersons of the 14 standing committees by roll-call vote. Those votes currently are cast by secret ballot.<\/p>\n
Central City Sen. Loren Lippinicott, chairperson of the Rules Committee, offered the proposal. He said both the public and members of the Legislature have a right to know how senators vote when electing chairpersons.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis rule change creates a culture of transparency and accountability in all we do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Allie Bush, founder of Nebraskans Against Government Overreach, testified in support the proposed change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should get to know who you guys are voting for every single step of the way,\u201d Bush said. \u201cThere shouldn\u2019t be secret votes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking in opposition was Timothy Melcher. Testifying on his own behalf, Melcher said public ballots for leadership positions might put pressure on senators to vote for members of their own party even if they aren\u2019t the most qualified candidate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would compromise the nonpartisan spirit in our body,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Several of the proposals revived or expanded on attempts from the 2024 session to address how the required number of votes for cloture \u2014 a motion that ceases debate and forces a vote on a bill \u2014 is calculated.<\/p>\n
Currently, a cloture motion requires approval by a two-thirds majority of the 49 members of the Legislature, or 33 votes. <\/p>\n
A proposal from Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth would retain the two-thirds threshold but would change the requirement to two-thirds of the members present who are voting yes or no on the question of invoking cloture.<\/p>\n
The change would mean that members who are present in the legislative chamber but do not cast a yes or no vote would not be included in the calculus for reaching the required two-thirds majority.<\/p>\n
Kauth said she understands that there may be strategic reasons for a senator to refrain from voting, but that doing so should not be without consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s our responsibility as senators to make our constituents\u2019 voices heard through us and if we choose to sit aside and not vote on something, there needs to be some understanding that there [is] a price to pay for that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Bush testified in favor of the proposal. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe elected you guys to come down here and vote yes or no,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Lippincott brought two proposals to alter the existing cloture rule. One option would retain the current two-thirds majority requirement, but would exclude members who are present but not voting. It also would require a minimum of 25 affirmative votes for a successful cloture motion.<\/p>\n
The second Lippincott proposal simply would require a three-fifths majority, or 30 votes, for a successful cloture motion.<\/p>\n
Lippincott said the Legislature needs to evolve in light of recent sessions when those in the political minority made extensive use of the current rules to try and control the pace of debate.<\/p>\n
\u201cFilibustering really slowed down the whole legislative process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
No one testified in favor of either Lippincott proposal. Opposed to both was Heidi Uhing, director of public policy at Civic Nebraska.<\/p>\n
While impatience with the current process is understandable, Uhing said, the current 33 vote threshold provides for a thorough vetting of bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cLegislating is intended to be a deliberative process, with the goal of producing better quality legislation through debate,\u201d she said. \u201cAsking questions and allowing time for analysis should not necessarily be seen as counterproductive or a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also considered was a Lippincott proposal to allow committee chairpersons to vote to exclude the press from executive sessions \u2014 in which the committee considers and votes on measures they have heard.<\/p>\n
Under the current rules, media members are allowed to attend executive sessions and report on the proceedings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want transparency and accountability for our voting while maintaining the freedom to brainstorm and have a protected, creative process, which often happens in executive sessions,\u201d Lippincott said.<\/p>\n
No one testified in favor of the proposed rule change.<\/p>\n
Korby Gilbertson, representing Media Nebraska, spoke in opposition. Journalists are the conduit that brings information from the Capitol to the citizenry, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cImportant public business should be conducted in public,\u201d Gilbertson said.<\/p>\n
Among other rule changes offered at the hearing were proposals to:
\n\u2022\tremove the current 20 bill maximum for individual bill introduction each session that was adopted last year, offered by Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney;
\n\u2022\tadopt a method of calling a member to order for engaging in speech not directly related to the bill or motion under consideration, offered by Hastings Sen. Dan Lonowski;
\n\u2022\tremove party affiliation stipulations for membership on the legislative Redistricting Committee, offered by Lippincott;
\n\u2022\tcombine the Agriculture and Natural Resources committees and create a Technology Committee, offered by Kauth;
\n\u2022\teliminate the ability to offer a reconsideration motion on an amendment or motion that failed if at least four-fifths, or 40 senators, voted against the motion or amendment, offered by Bellevue Sen. Rick Holdcroft;
\n\u2022\trequire submission of a bill\u2019s statement of intent within one calendar day after its introduction, offered by Sumner Sen. Teresa Ibach; and
\n\u2022\tallow for collective consideration of certain gubernatorial appointees, offered by Blair Sen. Ben Hansen.<\/p>\n
The committee took no immediate action on any of the proposed rule changes. Debate on any changes forwarded to the floor by the committee is expected to begin Jan. 22. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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