The chair of the Nebraska Legislatures Appropriations Committee says at this point, theres really no telling what the new legislative session will look like when lawmakers return to Nebraskas capital city next year.
During Wednesdays virtual Pre-Legislative Breakfast sponsored by the Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Commerce, State Senator John Stinner of Gering said its really going to be a coin-toss.
“Theres people that have talked to me about Lets select the leadership, and then suspend for 30 or 60 days. The problem with that is, we have to turn out a budget by a certain date,” said Stinner, “otherwise the Governors budget gets put into place. And our responsibility, our only true responsibility, is to pass a budget.”
As far as pending issues, Stinner says lawmakers really need to consider changes that would make a positive impact on capacity of the states prison system, and COVID and the impact on public health, including their roll in future vaccine distribution.
Stinner says hes comfortable with the status of state finances with revenues continuing to come in above projections, but he will still push for more money to replenish the states rainy day fund.
