UNICAMERAL UPDATE
Senator Dave Bloomfield
February 24, 2012

The final week of committee hearings has ended, and now we move forward with all day session. We were able to discuss several senator priority bills. The first bill discussed was LB 996, which is a bill introduced to address the problem of high school drop outs. This bill would raise the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18. Parents would no longer be allowed to sign and notarize a release allowing students to end their enrollment at school once they turned 16 years of age. In 2009 – 2010, the Nebraska Department of Education reported that 1,911 kids who were 16 or older dropped out of school. (This is 0.006% or about 1 out of 170 students.) While no one wants to see kids drop out of school and face a future that could be negatively impacted by this action, I opposed the bill because some kids who are just not good students are still able to succeed in society. There is also something to be said about kids who disrupt class because they do not want to be there, interfering with the learning of those who do want to be in class. I do not like to see increased government involvement in family decisions. Once again, we are forcing someone to do something they and their family think is not in their best interest. The “State” does not always know what is best. The bill advanced on a 29-17 vote (25 votes were required). I will continue to oppose it.

Increasing the number of terms that State Senators can serve was another issue debated this week. Senator Tom Carlson of Holdrege introduced and prioritized LR 358 CA, a constitutional amendment to increase the number of consecutive legislative terms that can be served by a Senator from two to three terms (or from eight to twelve years). The measure advanced the first round of debate on a 30-12 vote. It would require voter approval this November if it is passed this session. I opposed the resolution because I believe the people have already told us that they want term limits and they want State Senators to serve only two consecutive terms. I believe any changes to term limit laws should come from the people, not from the State Senators. I will also continue to oppose this attempt to overturn the expressed will of the people of Nebraska.

I was pleased to support Senator Lydia Brasch’s priority bill, LB 830. This bill updates and clarifies Nebraska’s tax code to reflect new innovations in the animal production industry. LB 830 clarifies that biochips used for the genetic and/or protein analysis of production livestock, commercially produced plants, companion animals, and research animals are not subject to state or local sales and use tax. There is a company called GeneSeek, that is a Nebraska success story. It began in 1998 with a few employees, and today has an economic impact of $41.2 million and employes 45 people. I believe Nebraska must continue to compete with other states and keep prosperous businesses (especially those that favorably impact agriculture) within our borders.

I would like to acknowledge two more business success stories. Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company of Pender, Nebraska and Thurston Manufacturing Company of Thurston, Nebraska, were both recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development – as successful businesses in rural America. Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company produces products primarily for the recreational vehicle industry under the name of Blue Ox. Thurston Manufacturing Company is a leading manufacturer of farm equipment and side dump semi-trailers. Congratulations to both of these businesses, and their employees, on receiving this honor.

UNICAMERAL UPDATE
Senator Dave Bloomfield
February 17, 2012

Priority bills were the main topic of discussion this week. Senators and committees were given until the end of the week to select their priorities for the rest of the session. Each Senator may choose one priority bill, and committees select two priorities. Speaker Mike Flood will also pick twenty-five bills as speaker priority bills. With thirty-one days left in this legislative session, our focus now will be on these 100 priority bills as well as the budget. This process helps eliminate a lot of bills that are not ready for “prime time” and brings forward the bills that each Senator feels are most important. Unfortunately, some good bills also disappear in the process. Every bill that is introduced has a hearing and is discussed in the committee process. There is simply not enough time to debate “on the floor” all bills that come out of committee, hence the “priority bill.”

LB 907 is my personal priority bill for this session. This bill, introduced by Senator Tom Carlson of Holdrege, through the Agriculture committee, would change provisions relating to agricultural tractor permitting and a sales tax exemption. Currently, under Nebraska law, tractors sold in Nebraska must be tested at any Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development test station and be “permitted.” Nebraska is the only state in the nation with a tractor testing lab affiliation with this organization. With some exception, only permitted tractors may be sold in this state. Currently, tractors under 40 horsepower are not required to be tested. If LB 907 would pass, there would be voluntary permitting on tractors under 100 horsepower. All tractors over 100 horsepower sold in Nebraska would still require a permit. There are still a few adjustments to be made to LB 907, which we will take care of Tuesday during executive session of the Ag Committee.

For years, Nebraska equipment dealers have been at an economic disadvantage, compared to out of state dealers, because of tractor permitting requirements in this state. It is my hope that LB 907 will help to even the playing field for those Nebraska businesses by generating more equipment sales within the borders of our own State of Nebraska. There are a number of laws on the Nebraska books that impose burdens on Nebraska people and businesses and give an advantage to non-Nebraskans. I intend to change that.

I believe this bill will also be one that will not negatively affect the Nebraska Tractor Testing Lab, which is located on the East Campus of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. The Agriculture Committee had the opportunity to tour this lab last October as part of an interim study resolution that I introduced. It is an amazing facility, which is totally self-funded through the testing performed at the lab. I would not want to see a change in statute that would hurt this facility and its ability to continue testing tractors. When we finish with LB 907 in Ag Committee, I will report to you, in this column, in a more detailed fashion, what it does and does not do.

The last full week of February will also be the last week of committee hearings in the afternoons. Two of my three committees (General Affairs and Agriculture) have completed their hearings on bills for this session. Beginning February 27th, the Legislature will begin all day floor debate until our sixty day session ends on April 12th. I think probably there will be a lot of late night sessions. There is a lot that has to be done, particularly with Health and Human Services, and not a lot of time left in the “short” session.

Enjoy President’s Day, and say a prayer for all those who serve us away from home.

UNICAMERAL UPDATE
Senator Dave Bloomfield
February 10, 2012

More money for family planning services was the topic of the day on Monday and Tuesday in the Nebraska Legislature. LB 540 was the bill up for discussion. It would increase the number of women who are eligible for family planning services through Medicaid. LB 540 was written, according to it’s sponsors, to provide more women with preventive health care, which could hopefully result in fewer unintended pregnancies, fewer abortions and cost savings to the State. An amendment, which I supported, was adopted during the first round of debate to hopefully ensure that none of the family planning money would go to organizations that perform or promote elective abortions or affiliates with one that does. Due to the fact that part of this money could find it’s way to those who choose to support taking the life of the unborn, I voted against the bill. I voted against LB540 when it was in the Health Committee, where it survived on a 4 to 3 vote. I voted against its advancement on the legislative floor. I will continue to oppose this bill and any other “back door” attempts to fund abortion with your money! The bill must survive two more rounds of debate before it would pass and move over to the Governor for his signature or veto.

I had two bills up for hearings in the Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday, February 9. LB 1083 would clarify that licensed nurses would be able to stay at home and take care of family members and receive payment for those services instead of hiring a nurse from outside of the home. My office was made aware of a situation concerning a private duty nurse who takes care of her son in her home. She has been receiving compensation for these services for the past five years, then changes in her son’s program, not his needs, took place. She has continued to care for her son, who requires nurse provided care 24 hours a day, for the last five months without pay, and I think that is a disgrace. The State should applaud and assist family members who have the credentials, the ability, and the desire to provide medical care for family members in their homes, especially when it saves the state money.

The second bill of mine before the Health Committee is LB 1122. The bill was drafted in response to the Director of the State’s Medicaid division proposing cuts to home health care services. The bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to make cuts in all other areas of Medicaid before looking for cuts in home health cares services provided by private duty nurses. There was testimony given on both of these bills about two very unique family situations. Both households have children over the age of twenty-one who cannot live around other people for a variety of medical reasons. Home health services are sometimes the only way in which we can keep some of our most vulnerable citizens alive. It is my intent, with this bill, to demonstrate the Legislature’s support for funding home health care and the many dedicated nurses who provide medical care for these very special patients. I will remind you it is cheaper, in most cases, for the state to keep these folks in their homes than it would be to put them in institutions.

We are quickly approaching the half-way point of this year’s legislative session. State Senators and legislative committees must choose priority bills prior to adjournment (around noon) on Thursday, February 16th. I have several possibilities in mind, and will let you know of my final decision in the next newsletter.

UNICAMERAL UPDATE
Senator Dave Bloomfield
February 3, 2012

The threat of a major snowstorm caused the leaders of the Nebraska Legislature to change the schedule for legislative hearings this week. Hearings for Friday afternoon (2/03/12) were canceled, and the morning session began an hour early so state senators could go home early for the week. Speaker Mike Flood and several committee chairs rescheduled the February 3rd afternoon hearings on Monday, February 13th, 2012, at 9:30 am. I missed my first legislative day Friday because I attended a Department of Health and Human Services hearing in Dakota County. The change in the committee schedule really worked to my advantage in this case, and I only missed two hours of floor debate in the morning. Sometimes, Senators must choose between issues in the district versus legislative business. I feel the hearing in Dakota City was important enough to justify my absence from the floor debate.

The first priority bill of the year, selected by the Education Committee, was debated twice this week. (It advanced from both round one and two, and currently awaits a vote on the third round, or Final Reading.) LB 946 would settle a three-year funding fight between Nebraska’s six community colleges. Metro Community College had asked for a larger portion of the state aid provided because they have a higher enrollment growth rate compared to the other five community colleges. LB 946 would distribute the first $87.9 million in state aid to the six colleges under the existing funding formula. Any funding above the $87.9 million would be distributed based on a new formula that factors in enrollment numbers, faculty growth, and course selection The bill also allows the colleges to use tax dollars for revenue bonds to construct campus buildings.

A constitutional resolution was also debated for several hours this week. LR 40 CA would change Nebraska’s Constitution to include protection of the right to hunt and fish. The purpose of this resolution, according to State Senator Pete Pirsch of Omaha, is to protect hunting, fishing, and trapping from attacks by outside animal welfare groups. Opponents offered questions about the state’s ability to require permits from Game and Parks if a person’s rights to hunt, trap and fish are guaranteed by the constitution. Questions were also raised about the ability to limit people from using one’s property to participate in these activities if they are constitutionally guaranteed. I have been assured that the rights of landowners to prohibit hunting on private property are secure. After several hours of debate, LR 40 CA advanced to Final Reading. Supporters of the bill must have thirty votes in support of this resolution in order for it to pass and be placed on the ballot for voter approval.

On Saturday, January 28th, I had the pleasure of joining Congressman Lee Terry, Governor Dave Heineman, Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy and other constitutional officers, as well as legislative colleagues, in speaking at the Walk for Life in Lincoln. Over 5,000 pro-life supporters were in attendance at this event. This was my first Walk for Life since my appointment as a state senator. The issue of life is one of the most important subjects debated in the Nebraska Legislature. I am proud of the pro-life stance that so many leaders in our great State hold, and felt truly honored to participate in this event.