NTF: ISSUE PAPER: TAXPAYERS WANT PUBLIC VOTES FOR COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

NTF issue paper: legwatch200.doc. 12-20.
NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS FOR FREEDOM ISSUE PAPER:
TAXPAYERS WANT PUBLIC VOTES FOR COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN.

BACKGROUND
. According to current rules established by state senators, the following is current practice: Rule 3 Sec. 8. Chairperson, Vice Chairperson. (a) The chairperson of each standing and select committee shall be selected by secret ballot on the floor of the Legislature biennially. This rule also pertains to votes for Speaker and other officers. It allows senators to make deals with prospective committee chairmen for legislative favors and avoid aggrieved feelings that might witness a committee chairman delaying consideration of a bill from a senator who did not vote for him/her. Vote and influence trading prosper. Currently, the 13-member Rules Committee must vote to advance a proposal to allow public votes for committee chairmen, so that all 49 senators can debate the proposal. Supporters could offer amendments during floor debate. Senators also could introduce a bill to reform the voting. The present situation has allowed liberals to win chairmanships by secret ballot, because RINO state senators vote for them and not for conservatives, thus making it difficult for conservatives to win leadership positions and for conservative bills to advance to the full Legislature.

THE HISTORY
. From 1937 to 1973, the Committee on Committees determined committee chairmen, then a small group, including the Lt. Gov. and Speaker, made chairmanship decisions in secret, after which the Legislature decided to expand who would make those decisions. A secret vote began in the early 1970s.  The following senators still present in the Unicameral voted for public transparency in past sessions: Mike Groene and Brett Lindstrom. Voting against transparency in the past: Curt Friesen, Matt Hansen, Bob Hilkemann, Mark Kolterman, John McCollister, Patty Pansing Brooks, John Stinner, and Matt Williams. The latest reform effort was a recent bill, LB 649, which required all votes public, defeated by a 31-15 vote. A 2019 vote was 22 in favor, 25 opposed. Voting NO were 17 Democrats, 7 Republicans, and 1 Independent. However, several current senators have expressed interest in change: Hilgers, Geist, Lowe, Erdman, and Brewer.

OUR REASONING
. Transparency demands a public vote for committee chairmen and officers. Citizens expect senators to conduct all legislative business in the open. Public votes would allow NE citizens to evaluate their senators on every vote. Recall that George Norris, the creator of our Unicameral, said, “Every act of the legislature and every act of each individual must be transacted in the spotlight of publicity.” Such vote requires public disclosure and proper recording in the Legislative Journal. Committee chairmen have great influence on how a bill progresses in their committees, so this issue is crucial. Opponents argue that public voting on this issue would increase partisanship in the Legislature, but the opposite is true, because RINO senators normally vote with the Socialist Democrats. In several instances, senators running for chairmanships believe they have enough votes from fellow party members to win but lose, left wondering which of their colleagues lied to them.

TAKE ACTION NOW
. Using the information above, lobby your state senator as the Legislature convenes on January 6 to support and vote for a public vote on committee chairmen and officers. Request a definitive reply. Remember, the fate of legislation much depends on the whims of committee chairmen. If your senator agrees with our position, thank him and support his decision on social media and with a guest editorial. If your senator disagrees with our position, express your disappointment on social media and with a guest editorial. Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for a list of state senators and join our NTF Legislature Watch Project.

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