NEBRASKA GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN, THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAVE COMPROMISED ON A DISPUTE INVOLVING LINE ITEM VETOES BY THE GOVERNOR ON THE NEW STATE BUDGET.
THEY HAVE DISAGREED ABOUT WHETHER THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING BUDGETARY LINE-ITEM VETOES IN LB 261 AND LB 264 WERE MET LAST WEEK BY THE DEADLINE OF MIDNIGHT ON MAY 21ST.
THE GOVERNOR HAS NOW HOWEVER, GIVEN HOW CLOSELY THE BUDGET BILLS MATCH HIS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED BUDGET, DECIDED TO REFILE THEM WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ACCOMPANIED BY A STATEMENT OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE LINE-ITEM VETOES.
THAT ACTION WILL RENDER THE UNDERLYING CONSTITUTIONAL DISPUTE MOOT AND BRING THE MATTER TO A CLOSE FOR NOW.
SINCE THE MID-BIENNIUM BUDGET ADJUSTMENT PROCESS IS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS AWAY, THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATURE HAVE AGREED BUDGET ADJUSTMENT MEASURES NEXT SESSION WILL BE A PRIORITY.
ALSO, TO AVOID A SIMILAR FUTURE DISPUTE, ALL PARTIES HAVE AGREED TO MEET DURING THE INTERIM TO CLARIFY AND CONFIRM PROCEDURES THAT MEET THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSMITTAL OF BUDGET VETOES, AND ENSURE THEY ARE MAINTAINED IN A CLEAR WRITTEN GUIDANCE FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION BY ALL OFFICES.
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