Thread by @ChrisDunkerLJS

It's Day Fif-fif-fif-fif-fif-fiddy of your Nebraska Legislature, and the final work day before a long weekend for state lawmakers. Like the warrior poet Curtis Jackson III once said: "Gotta love it!"

Judiciary Chairman Steve Lathrop and Dept of Corrections head Scott Frakes are engaged in a battle of wills over how to reduce Nebraska's overcrowded prison system, @LJSLegislature writes: journalstar.com/legislature/fr…

One of the policy proposals to lower the recidivism rate, through providing released drug convicts some food assistance until they can get up and going on their own, suffered death by filibuster yesterday: journalstar.com/legislature/le…

Senators also questioned the qualifications of the newest executive director of the Nebraska Crime Commission, who doesn't come from a law enforcement background: journalstar.com/legislature/ne…

The Revenue Committee got an update on how state's roads are faring after the #NebraskaFlood. Some 231 miles are in need of repair, or to even be dried out at this point: journalstar.com/legislature/ro…

Speaker Jim Scheer on the mic, telling the Legislature to rest and reflect as we move into all-day debate:

He said senators need to oppose bills for the content, not the person who brought the proposal. (We edged into this territory this week)

"That's my scolding for the week."

The construction on K Street is part of the ongoing HVAC project at the Capitol, Scheer says. They are running pipes between the Capitol and the geothermal wellfield a block or two away. Construction there is expected to last for more than a month.

Scheer: Don't take objection to your bills personally.

Senators:

Sen. Ernie Chambers responds to Scheer: "That was nice. If everyone were white, it works." Now telling the story of how Preston Brooks attacked Charles Sumner on the floor of the U.S. Senate, saying the incivility of the Nebraska Legislature pales in comparison to history.

"When your little feelings get hurt in here, go back to elementary school," Chambers said. "If Sen. Halloran says something I don't like, I'm going to say Sen. Halloran said it. If Sen. Groene says something I don't like, I'm going to say Sen. Groene said it..."

Chambers looks around, sees Sen. Erdman, who hasn't said anything recently, so Chambers cracks a smile and tells him he'll call him out for looking at him.

Sen. Justin Wayne says he believes Scheer's comments were partially directed toward him. He said after senators held up his TIF bill a few days ago, he waited 24 hours to see if his feelings abated. After a holdover, his feelings did not change, he said.

Wayne says he was told multiple times his proposed constitutional amendment would get a vote on the floor on Tuesday, but senators ensured the debate went over 3 hours, necessitating he get 33 votes. (He needs 30 to get it on the ballot).

"This is going to be a long session," Wayne says. He promises to filibuster or delay every Scheer bill, priorities of four senators "and other bills I don't like." By his count, that leaves 4 days for budget and property tax reform.

Chambers tells Wayne he's proud of him for standing up against the rest of the Legislature.

Pax Nebraskana is finished, it seems. THE ERA OF GOOD FEELINGS IS OVER.

Chambers said President Trump got a draft deferment by getting a doctor to say he had bone spurs even though Trump "ran the 100 meter dash faster than anyone on the Olympic team." Not sure I've heard the president say that, but OK!

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said she's "heartsick, sad and disappointed" at senators who pledged their support to a bill and then reneged their vote without telling the sponsor of a bill. She then tosses the ball to Wayne, who is continuing a dissertation on race relations.

Mind you, we are just on confirmation reports right now. The first one. And nearly an hour has expired so far.

Wayne, talking about a Groene bill that allowed felons to own "swords and crossbows," says the Legislature didn't put any definitions of felonies into its state constitution.

"We're giving away swords and crossbows, free, free, free, like Oprah, free, free."

Sen. John Lowe says he thought there would plenty of time left on Wayne's TIF bill after he gave his time to Groene earlier this week. That didn't happen.

Lowe then gives his time to...Wayne? Not sure that smooths over the situation.

Sen. Megan Hunt says this week's debate over SNAP taught her valuable lessons "about who can be trusted and who cannot." She said it's become evident who works on behalf of the executive branch, and who has integrity and who doesn't.

Uh oh. Sen. Mike Groene is on the mic, says Wayne was made Urban Affairs chairman because conservatives put him there. Wayne yells to someone in the chamber: “Yield me time!”

Still haven’t moved from the first item.

Sen. Julie Slama criticizes colleagues who are opining on their feelings, telling them they are letting their constituents down by not acting like adults.

Sen. Ben Hansen says lawmakers should say what they’ve got to say and then sit down. He says that goes for people on both sides of the aisle. Senators shouldn’t discuss their feelings on the floor. If they want to do that, they should go home and talk to their dog, he says.

Wayne says he would have been OK if his proposed amendment or any bill would have been voted down. He takes issue with *how* the debate proceeded, ultimately requiring a higher vote count than he otherwise would have needed.

He also coins “mountain lion moment,” referring to Chambers fighting to end the practice of hunting the animals in the state. Chambers’ bill passed last year but was vetoed.

Wayne points out Groene opposed a bill adding early childhood centers to projects targeted for economic development funds because it included a definition of what those centers are, but opposed a TIF bill because it didn’t have definitions included.

Groene responds, says he worked with that bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Quick, “to make it work.” Adds he will work with Sen. Rick Kolowski on a Bill too. “That’s collegiality,” Groene says.

“Wayne is still a friend, he’ll calm down.”

Groene: “In Nebraska, there is no divide unless a senator wants to make a divide.”

He says the Legislature is not a support group for everyone to get their bills passed. Said the Unicameral allows that to happen.

"I guess I'll start thanking everyone for that in-depth discussion," says Sen. Tom Brewer, after nearly 2.5 hours of debate.

The confirmation report is adopted.

Chambers, riffing on term limits: "I'm not going to live forever...well let me make a correction. If I am made up of the same stuff as others borne of a man and woman, I’m not going to live forever, so why gut your government to get rid of one man because you hate him?"

Telling the parable of the Scorpion and the Frog, Chambers cautions Wayne against believing the senators he was speaking out against on the floor today.

"I know what these people are and what these people do. They look you in the eye and lie."

Sen. Steve Erdman says Chambers "provoked some thoughts."

"Term limits were put in place to eliminate Ernie Chambers from this Legislature," he says. "It was a bad decision...people voted for because they thought they were going to get rid of the representation Omaha had."

Erdman striking a conciliatory tone.

"I have faith we will get some things done regardless of what was said here this morning," Erdman said.

Wayne said he would oppose Erdman's ag land valuation bill, "he's gotta do what he's gotta do."

Wayne up again, looks at the clock. It's 11:53. He promised Brewer a vote on the confirmation vote. He also promised Chambers he would yield time. Says he'll give Chambers time and still allow a vote before noon, keeping his word to both.

The second appointment to the state emergency management commission passes handily. The Legislature -- mercifully -- puts Day 50 out of its misery.

Next week, the Legislature begins all-day debate. Is today a harbinger of the next 40 days?