LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature convened this morning in the midst of yet another winter storm.
But many of the senators actually arrived in town early to beat the weather.
State Sen. Abbie Cornett of Bellevue got a hotel room for herself and her family Tuesday night.
She said they might end up staying tonight as well, depending on the road conditions.
The forecast called for near-blizzard conditions and dangerously cold wind chills by afternoon.
Rural senators typically show up early because of the distance from their homes.
Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton on Monday moved into a furnished studio apartment, where she will spend weekdays during the session.
“All I have to do is bring my clothes and my toothbrush, blanket and pillow, and I'm all set up,” she said.
Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha spent the night in Lincoln so he wouldn't miss the first day of his first regular legislative session. He was appointed in September to replace Sen. Mike Friend, who resigned.
But Sen. Tanya Cook of Omaha was working Tuesday and planned to take her chances on the Interstate after daybreak.
Spring flowers should be peeking out, the snow piles only a memory, if lawmakers stay in session as long as scheduled.
Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood of Norfolk said it's too early to predict whether the session can wrap up early. It is set to end April 14, after 60 working days.
Speculation about cutting the session short has been fueled by the state's budget woes, which are expected to limit the number of bills introduced.
But if lawmakers get a chilly forecast of state tax revenues in February, it could force them to work long hours to finish by April. And other bills could spark days of debate.
“It has the potential to be a very difficult session,” Flood said. “We'll work as efficiently as possible on the bills that we have.”
Lawmakers can consider bills left over from the 2009 session, as well as new bills introduced this year.
Not quite half the bills introduced last year remain alive, including five awaiting a final vote. The price tags on those five, which kept them from passing last year, could be an even bigger obstacle now.
Sen. Galen Hadley of Kearney, who introduced one of the five bills, said he plans to keep trying to work something out. His proposal would provide a sales tax exemption for some nonprofit health care providers.
Among the carryover bills are ones to repeal the death penalty, require the collection of DNA from additional people and allow nurse practitioners to oversee tuberculosis care.
Flood said he plans to start debate on carryover bills Monday. Gov. Dave Heineman will unveil his proposals for the session, including any budget recommendations, in his state of the state address Jan. 14.
Public hearings will start Jan. 19. Senators can introduce new bills through Jan. 21.
Contact the writer:
402-473-9583, martha.stoddard@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
