Views from the Legislature: March 15-16, 2022

Screens in the George W. Norris Legislative Chamber of the Nebraska Legislature welcomes senators to the 42nd of the 60-day session on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. John Stinner of Gering, chair of the Appropriations Committee, introduces a committee amendment to and opens debate into the state’s budget adjustments on March 15, 2022. These bills include LB1011, 1012, 1013 and 1014. Nebraska’s budgets are designed on a two-year basis and are written in odd-numbered years and adjusted in even-numbered years. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. John Stinner of Gering reads prepared notes related to the state’s proposed budget adjustments on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue addresses a floor amendment dealing with appropriations to Offutt Air Force Base in her district on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon defends a proposed budget adjustment item directing funds toward Offutt Air Force Base on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson reads part of the Appropriations Committee proposal for changes to the state budget on March 15, 2022. Friesen introduced multiple floor amendments that raised debate on the bills. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward discusses the state budget, including one of his bills for an investment in pancreatic cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, on the legislative floor on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg addresses on March 15, 2022, items in the Appropriations Committee’s proposed amendments to the state’s budget adjustments for 2022. A proposal from Williams included in the adjustments would go toward an agricultural facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Innovation Campus. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln addresses the state’s proposed budget adjustments as Sens. Lynne Walz of Fremont (center) and Wendy DeBoer of Bennington (right) listen on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh speaks to fellow senators about the proposed state budget adjustments on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha speaks on the state’s proposed budget adjustments and how senators should look at the bills on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Robert Hilkemann of Omaha addresses budget adjustment proposals on the legislative floor on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue addresses the state’s proposed budget adjustments on March 16, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Steve Lathrop, chair of the Judiciary Committee, discusses criminal justice reform proposals and a budget proposal for a new state prison on March 16, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha raised concerns on March 16, 2022, about efforts to fund a new state prison that could contribute to more Nebraskans — particularly Black Nebraskans — to be incarcerated. The prison proposal pushed by Gov. Pete Ricketts is included in the Appropriations Committee’s budget adjustments proposal. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Wendy DeBoer addresses criminal justice reform related to the state’s proposed budget adjustments on March 16, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn debates the state’s proposed budget adjustments on March 16, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. John McCollister of Omaha addresses his fellow senators on the legislative floor on March 16, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Lynne Walz (center), chair of the Education Committee, outlines on March 16, 2022, a legislative resolution aimed to increase the percentage of Nebraskans who have postsecondary education by 2030. (front from left to right) State Sens. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, Dave Murman of Glenvil and Wendy DeBoer or Bennington stand by in support. State Sens. Jen Day of Omaha and Rita Sanders of Bellevue (not pictured) were also in attendance. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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Lt. Gov. Mike Foley embraces Charles Herbster, a Republican primary candidate for governor, at a news conference on March 15, 2022. Foley, who presides over the Legislature in his role, announced his endorsement of Herbster’s campaign while multiple senators watched as floor debate continued. State Sens. Steve Halloran (left), Tom Brewer of Gordon, Tom Briese of Albion and Steve Erdman of Bayard (not pictured) stood behind Herbster and Foley in support through the conference. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State senators welcome students to the North Balcony of the George W. Norris Legislative Chamber. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln (center) waves to guests in the Legislature’s North Balcony on March 15, 2022. Photo by Zach Wendling/NNS.

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