Protecting the Fees

Legislature will hear two bills that block part of Gov's budget plan

A bill protecting agricultural check-off fees from being used to address the $334 million shortfall was passed through committee to the Nebraska Legislature Monday, even though Attorney Gen. Jon Bruning's contention is that the bill is unconstitutional.

LB11, introduced by Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton, would prohibit the transfer of inspection fees from ag boards such as the Corn Board or Ethanol Board to the general fund. Such a transfer was part of Gov. Dave Heineman's budget plan unveiled last week. Bruning has said that such a long-standing prohibition was probably outside Heineman's call for the special session. Dubas disagrees.

The fee transfers could theoretically be written out of Heineman's budget bill, introduced by Speaker Mike Flood of Norfolk, even if LB11 doesn't pass.

LB14 prevents a similar transfer of fees from the Nebraska Brand Inspection and Theft Prevention Fund, which cracks down on livestock thieves and herd-mixing. That'll be heard by the full Legislature as well.

Two tax bills: LB13 - which put certain exempted items back on the sales tax list; and LB 15, which would have cut out-of-state landowners out of the state's property tax credit program, were killed. So was LB6, which would have nixed mandatory biennial inspections on puppy/kitten breeder joints.

Dining Guide

• Lincoln
• Omaha
• Greater NE

Calendar

• Lincoln
• Omaha
• Greater NE