Latest news with #BobAndersen
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Conflict arises during debate on bill to extend SNAP eligibility levels
An amendment by State Sen. Bob Andersen of north-central Sarpy County was at the center of debate Wednesday on the legislative floor. April 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — A bill that would extend an expanded eligibility threshold for Nebraska food benefits has advanced to its final lawmaking round, but not before a latecomer amendment that some described as hostile was debated and defeated. Legislative Bill 192, by State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island, calls for the elimination of an October expiration on Nebraska's current eligibility levels for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Right now, a key qualifier for households is if gross income is at or below 165% of the federal poverty level. If the Quick bill fails, the lower pre-pandemic income eligibility level of 130% of gross income is set to return. The SNAP program helps qualified recipients buy groceries. The federal government pays 100% of program benefits, and 50% of administrative costs. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the program, estimated that more than 4,000 families that otherwise might be disqualified because of income could remain on SNAP if the eligibility threshold is maintained. LB 192, which State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha made his priority this session, ultimately advanced Tuesday by a voice vote and now moves on to a third and final reading. The bulk of debate came after State Sen. Bob Andersen of north-central Sarpy County tried to attach an amendment essentially mirroring his LB 656, which would prohibit DHHS from seeking federal waivers that make exceptions to SNAP work requirements, such as living in areas with high unemployment. Andersen said his proposal still would retain certain exceptions, including for caregivers of a child with disabilities, students enrolled at least half-time and teens ages 16 to 18 who are in training programs. But generally, he said, he wants able-bodied SNAP recipients to work. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln led opposition to Andersen's amendment, peppering him with questions about rationale and cost. While a previous fiscal analysis of Andersen's LB 656 came with an estimated price tag of more than $2.2 million next fiscal year, Andersen told colleagues Wednesday that DHHS officials more recently told him expenses could be absorbed into their existing budget. That's because instead of requiring DHHS officials to help find work for impacted SNAP recipients, the agency 'may' help provide assignments. State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha said the Andersen amendment represented an approach she has seen this session of 'demonizing' and 'dehumanizing' the working class. Some Democratic lawmakers took issue with Andersen's late and 'hostile' amendment to someone else's bill, which Quick also opposed. State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha invoked the lyrics of Beyoncé — 'If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it' — to drive home her point that he should have 'prioritized' the effort as his own legislation. While Andersen's LB 656 was advanced out of a legislative committee and onto full debate by the Legislature, it was not prioritized and therefore is unlikely to be debated this session on its own. Some Republicans, however, defended Andersen's tactic as not extraordinary and said they supported his goal. State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, said that if Andersen's amendment would add no state cost, he was supportive. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair said he saw Andersen's effort to ratchet up work requirements for the SNAP program as compatible and a 'good compromise' to Quick's effort to extend current eligibility levels. Hansen has brought similar legislation in the past. Hansen noted he was the only member of the Health and Human Services Committee who voted against pushing Quick's LB 192 out of the committee stage and onto the legislative floor. 'I think that's good governance,' Hansen said of the Andersen amendment, which ultimately failed 22-14, three votes short. 'To say that it's not, maybe I'm missing the point.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska State Sen. Bob Andersen pushes to limit who can receive public assistance
State Sen. Bob Andersen of Omaha, right, shakes hands with Gov. Jim Pillen after the governor's annual State of the State Address to the Legislature. Jan. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Lincoln resident Andrea Evans said public assistance programs were never easy to navigate, but she was able to build a better life for herself and her family. 'People sometimes hear pieces of my life story and assume that I just want to stay on assistance forever,' Evans said. 'But that's not true. I want financial self-sufficiency.' Evans testified against a bill Thursday seeking to reduce how long someone could receive cash assistance under the Welfare Reform Act. State Sen. Bob Andersen of Papillion introduced Legislative Bill 656, which would adjust who is eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, a state and federal government program that provides monthly funds to help people buy groceries at stores. The bill's significant change would no longer let the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services accept or renew federal waivers making exceptions to work requirements for SNAP, such as living in areas with high unemployment rates or studying in school or training programs. Andersen said he aims to send a 'clear message' that Nebraska wants to turn Nebraska's 'welfare system into a workforce system and help more Nebraskans regain their independence.' Andersen also filed LB 379, which would change the maximum length of time someone can receive cash assistance under the public assistance program. 'This bill simply recognizes it does not take five years to learn a skill and get a job,' Andersen said. Several people who testified against the bills said both would only make it harder for low-income Nebraskans to be financially stable. Some argued lawmakers should focus on expanding social programs, not reducing them. Supporters of the bills pointed to states with similar regulations governing welfare programs there. 'Right now, too many individuals remain on cash welfare for too long, creating a cycle of dependency instead of a bridge to self-sufficiency,' said Clay Rhodes, a State Affairs Director for the Foundation for Government Accountability, a Florida-based conservative public policy think tank. As of August 2024, 2,965 families in Nebraska were receiving cash assistance, according to a report from the state Legislative Fiscal Office. The bill would require 'all able-bodied dependents between [ages] 18 and 59 to participate in an employment and training program.' However, LB 656 makes exceptions for 'caregivers of a dependent child or incapacitated individual,' students enrolled at least half-time and individuals ages 16 to 18 who are not heads of households or attending school or training programs half-time. The state's current SNAP requirements are that any household's gross total monthly income be at or below 165% of the federal poverty level, which fluctuates depending on the number of people in one household, and net monthly income must be at or below 100% of the poverty level. The bills won't change the requirements but will limit how long someone can be on the program. According to LB 379's fiscal note, the new limit on cash assistance would save Nebraska roughly $1 million in state funds. The Legislature is currently facing a projected $432 million budget shortfall. The freshman lawmaker said he would be open to amending his bill so that the proposed new guidelines wouldn't affect people already in the program. Andersen is a newly elected lawmaker in suburban Sarpy County's Legislative District 49, after defeating former Democratic lawmaker Jen Day last year. Anderson was one of the two Republicans who flipped Democratic seats and helped the GOP maintain a supermajority in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. His approach to public assistance differs from Day, the previous District 49 senator, who pursued bills aiming to expand social programs, including a summer feeding program eventually embraced by Gov. Jim Pillen. The Health and Human Services Committee took no immediate action on either bill. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
