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Nebraska Lawmakers Fail to Override Governor Pete Ricketts Vetoes

Legislators attempts to override vetoes 051817

Nebraska lawmakers spent yesterday trying to override Governor Pete Ricketts vetoes of several line items in the budget.  But majority Republicans stopped every attempt. Senators voted down efforts to override vetoes of $2.37 million in funding for developmental disabilities and $1.3 million for child welfare aid

Proponents gave heartfelt arguments on the necessity of ensuring that the pay rates for caretakers of developmentally disabled clients, foster children and those with mental illness are at least held even. Democratic state senator Sue Crawford of Bellevue laid out some statistics that showed the need for steady funding for child welfare in Western Nebraska.

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“Between June 2013 and June 2015, eleven Nebraska children who had recently been the subject of child abuse and neglect investigation died or were seriously injured.  In all of these cases the injuries were caused by abuse and neglect.”

Ricketts' line-item vetoes brought the minimum reserve in the state's $8.9 billion, two-year budget back up to three percent. The Legislature will end its work early this year, on May 23rd, because it’s done with all the priority bills up for debate.

 

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