Press Release

Lou Ann Linehan
State Senator, District #39
1117 State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
402 – 471 – 2885

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lincoln, NE – May 17th, 2017 -Senator Lou Ann Linehan announced today that she will be voting to support Governor Pete Ricketts’ line-item vetoes. Linehan said, “We are here today because the Appropriations Committee lowered the amount of money in the cash reserve from 3% to 2.5%. The Committee is gambling that the economy will improve during the next twelve months. I hope they are right, but hope is not a plan. Nebraskans are prudent. The Legislature’s decisions should reflect that prudence.”

“I don’t make these veto override decisions lightly. We should have made cuts in other areas, such as the $44 million to teacher’s retirement. The retirement account is sound, and it is unfortunate that we appropriated money to it versus the cuts we are making today. In addition, TEEOSA funding for K-12 education received a 2.3% increase this year, while most everyone else has been asked to make cuts.”

“We are not broke yet, but the possibility exists that we will be back this fall for a special session to deal with budget shortfalls. We need to act responsibly today, as painful as it is, so that we have a balanced budget, as required.”

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