February 4, 2012

Legislature cancels afternoon hearings due to severe winter weather warning

The threat of severe winter weather has prompted the legislature to cancel legislative hearings this afternoon.

Speaker of the Legislature, Mike Flood, announced that hearings scheduled to begin this afternoon at 1:30 will be cancelled so legislators can return home ahead of the storm and the public won’t be caught in it traveling to and from the Capitol in Lincoln.

The hearings scheduled for this afternoon have been rescheduled for Monday, February 13th, beginning at 9:30am.

“Bill hearings are an integral part of the legislative process, and it is important for both senators and citizens to be able to attend public hearings,” Speaker Flood said in a written statement. “This change in schedule will help keep folks off the roads during potentially unsafe conditions.”

For the legislative agenda, click here for the Nebraska Unicameral website.

Assault on doctors, nurses would draw stiffer penalty under bill (AUDIO)

Sen. Steve Lathrop/Unicameral Information Office photo

A bill increasing the penalties against those who assault doctors and nurses has advanced in the Unicameral.

Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop sponsors LB 677 that would crack down on those who attack a health care provider. Lathrop told colleagues Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates health care workers are twice as likely as others to experience violence in the workplace.

“And there are two reasons. One is, as you suggest, they can’t turn people down in the emergency room. They have to take these people in,” Lathrop responded to a question posed during flood debate. “And a lot of these assaults are happening on emergency room physicians, doctors, nurses.”

Some senators expressed sympathy for the situations outlined by Lathrop, but questioned whether the state should designate certain classes of workers for enhanced protection.

Sen. Brenda Council of Omaha opposed the measure, stating she’s concerned about carving out classes of workers for extra protection.

“I think the better public policy approach to dealing with this is to deal with workplace violence and assaults in the workplace,” according to Council.

Despite the reservations, the Unicameral has advanced the bill easily, sending it to the next round of debate.

AUDIO: Unicameral debate on LB 677 [1 hour]

Feds agree to rework rules regulating kids working on farms

Sen. Tom Harkin

Federal officials have agreed to modify a plan that’s designed to protect children from dangerous jobs on family farms.

The U.S. Labor Department has been under fire from farm groups in Nebraska and nationwide because the proposed rules were seen as too restrictive.

U.S. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa says he’s encouraged to see the rules are being reconsidered by labor leaders.

Harkin says, “They need to get additional information in, go back to the drawing table and write a better regulation.”

The original proposal spelled out that children younger than 16 would be banned from using most power equipment, while those under 18 would be barred from working in locations like grain bins and feed lots.

The new version will reportedly contain more exemptions for kids whose parents own or run the farms on which they’re working.

“I hope they’ll reach agreement on a regulation that protects kids but also recognizes family agriculture,” Harkin says. “It’s one thing to say that kids shouldn’t be operating fork lifts or humongous tractors or combines and to say they can’t even drive a garden tractor.”

Harkin, a Democrat, says he agrees with those who’ve spoken out against the proposed regulations which would tear down generations of farm family traditions.

“There has to be some balance, some rational thinking,” Harkin says. “Some of what they’re proposing, fine, but I talked to Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack about this. He says it would go so far to say kids couldn’t even drive a tractor across the road, well, kids have been driving tractors for years.”

Labor department officials say they’ll work with the Ag department and others to make sure the new rules reflect rural communities’ concerns.

If in Washington, you are invited to breakfast with Congressional delegation

Sen. Nelson speaks at the Nebraska Breakfast in Washington. (From Left to Right: Sen. Johanns, Congressmen Smith and Fortenberry. Congressman Terry could not attend.

If you get to Washington, you might want to schedule to have breakfast with your Congressional delegation.

The Nebraska Congressional delegation has announced its schedule for the Nebraska Breakfast, held each Wednesday in Washington, D. C. when Congress is in session.

“We’re pleased to kick off another year of this great tradition and look forward to the give-and-take these breakfasts offer,” The delegation said in a joint-written statement. “Nebraskans have a chance to introduce themselves, tell us why they are in Washington, and what issues are of particular concern to them. All five members of the delegation are able to respond to their issues, tell them what we’re working on that particular week and offer some insight as to what they might expect.”

It is too late for the first breakfast, hosted this morning by Sen. Ben Nelson. Nelson will host all the 2012 Nebraska Breakfasts. They are scheduled for:

February: 1, 8, 15, 29

March: 7, 21, 28

April: 18, 25

May: 9, 16

June: 6, 20, 27

July: 11, 18, 25

August: 1

September: 12

Congressman Smith speaks at Nebraska Breakfast (Photos courtesy of Congressman Smith's office)

Sen. Hugh Butler originated the Nebraska Breakfast in 1943. Butler wanted to meet informally each week to discuss federal legislation with other members of the Nebraska delegation. Members began invited guests. Soon, a tradition was born.

Now in its sixth decade, the Nebraska Breakfast is the oldest and only ongoing state gathering for constituents on Capitol Hill. Every Wednesday when the House and Senate are both in session, Nebraskans can meet and visit with their delegation.

Breakfast begins at 8am, usually held in the Dirksen Senate Buffet on the “B” level of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

To make a reservation, contact one of the members of the delegation, either by phone or through their websites:

Senator Nelson: 202-224-6551; Bennelson.senate.gov

Senator Johanns: 202-224-4224; Johanns.senate.gov

Rep. Terry: 202-225-4155; Leeterry.house.gov

Rep. Fortenberry 202-225-4806; Fortenberry.house.gov

Rep. Smith: 202-225-6435; Adriansmith.house.gov

Schedule of recruiting announcements for Nebraska football

National Signing Day is Feb. 1 and the Husker football team has 14 commitments coming into the day with the potential of four of five more. Bo Pelini is holding a press conference at 2:30 today where he’ll talk about the 2012 signing class. Here is a schedule of when other potential top recruits will make their announcement. Check back here for the latest or follow us on Twitter at Nebraskasports. (All times listed are central time)

[Read more...]