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| Sen. Tom Carlson District 38 |
On this 83rd day of the 90 day long session, debate continues on senator and committee priority bills now that the $7.8 billion two year budget has been sent to Governor Heineman. The budget is the only thing required of the legislature by the state constitution. Once the appropriation bills are passed and sent to the Governor, he has five calendar days, excluding Sunday, to sign, not sign (but the bill takes effect), veto in total, or line-item veto specific appropriations of the budget.
A bill that created a lot of concern among District 38 communities became an amendment to other bills after the original bill became stuck in committee. LB 266, to strike the authority for cities to allow citizens to vote to raise local sales taxes above the state imposed limit, was originally introduced by Senator Chambers. He failed once to add it to a bill under consideration.
I offered another amendment as a compromise. Mine stated that any community, other than Omaha, could raise the sales tax rate by ½ cent with a super majority vote of the city council of the city after a resolution by the governing body. It also requires a vote of the people of the city. Since the bill passed last year over the Governor’s veto, three communities, including Alma, have increased their sales tax levy by ½ cent for economic development.
While my amendment ran out of time on General File, it was then offered by Senator Chambers on another unrelated bill. Since his focus is on Omaha, he gave up his efforts to preclude the entire state from enacting the possibility of a ½ cent sales tax increase as long as Omaha is excluded from the tax increase. The body agreed and voted to move the bill to Select File.
The rules of the legislature allow bills to be offered as amendments to another bill if the subject matter is considered germane.
Senator Cathy Campbell of Lincoln, chair of the Health & Human Services Committee, introduced LB 305, which is now on Final Reading. LB 305 would allow parents to qualify for child care subsidies at incomes up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The increase from 120 percent would be phased in over two years.
The income limit for child care subsidies has not been changed since 2002, when the state was in the midst of budget problems. Under LB 305, programs receiving at least $250,000 a year in subsidies would be required to participate in a new quality rating system. The state also would provide scholarships for child care staff to improve their education.
Senator Schumacher, in supporting the bill, described it as a business subsidy. Employees would have access to affordable, reliable child care, which in turn would enable them to work, earn, and provide for themselves.
A bill that created a lot of concern among District 38 communities became an amendment to other bills after the original bill became stuck in committee. LB 266, to strike the authority for cities to allow citizens to vote to raise local sales taxes above the state imposed limit, was originally introduced by Senator Chambers. He failed once to add it to a bill under consideration.
I offered another amendment as a compromise. Mine stated that any community, other than Omaha, could raise the sales tax rate by ½ cent with a super majority vote of the city council of the city after a resolution by the governing body. It also requires a vote of the people of the city. Since the bill passed last year over the Governor’s veto, three communities, including Alma, have increased their sales tax levy by ½ cent for economic development.
While my amendment ran out of time on General File, it was then offered by Senator Chambers on another unrelated bill. Since his focus is on Omaha, he gave up his efforts to preclude the entire state from enacting the possibility of a ½ cent sales tax increase as long as Omaha is excluded from the tax increase. The body agreed and voted to move the bill to Select File.
The rules of the legislature allow bills to be offered as amendments to another bill if the subject matter is considered germane.
Senator Cathy Campbell of Lincoln, chair of the Health & Human Services Committee, introduced LB 305, which is now on Final Reading. LB 305 would allow parents to qualify for child care subsidies at incomes up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The increase from 120 percent would be phased in over two years.
The income limit for child care subsidies has not been changed since 2002, when the state was in the midst of budget problems. Under LB 305, programs receiving at least $250,000 a year in subsidies would be required to participate in a new quality rating system. The state also would provide scholarships for child care staff to improve their education.
Senator Schumacher, in supporting the bill, described it as a business subsidy. Employees would have access to affordable, reliable child care, which in turn would enable them to work, earn, and provide for themselves.
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