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Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska passes $11 billion two-year budget, closes major projected deficit for now
A budget book for Nebraska's fiscal years between 2025 and 2027 sits on a lawmaker's desk. April 29, 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Lawmakers approved Nebraska's $11 billion mainline budget for the next two years Thursday, leaving themselves with $1.1 million in wiggle room while controlling spending and moving enough money to cover the first two years of a projected deficit. That figure includes $1.5 million in spending from LB 513, to give all state judges 1.5% salary increases in each of the next two years, which State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, anticipates passing. On Thursday, no senators spoke during debate in favor of or to defend the budget bills — Legislative Bills 260, 261, 262, 263 and 265, as well as LB 534 to fund legal claims against the state — while multiple opponents said the budget was 'supposedly' but not really balanced. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, for example, predicted the bills wouldn't stop the deficit and that a special session would be needed. 'This budget is based on a number of sleight of hands,' said State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha. 'It is not actually balanced. We're just making it look like it's balanced.' Clements said 'there's nothing' to indicate a special session would be needed unless there are 'drastic actions' federally, hinting at possible congressional budget cuts. He said he was pleased with the result of the budget bills that funded salary increases and health insurance benefits for state employees and that state agencies were not 'slashed.' Clements said his committee's work put the state in 'good financial shape' for the next two years in a budget-writing year that required extra work and he described as stressful. He said he was proud to protect funding for the Perkins County Canal and a new state prison. 'It seemed like an insurmountable mountain to climb, but we did it, and we also did not cut essential services,' Clements said. LB 261, passed 37-11, and LB 264, passed 35-13, were the main budget bills. Because legislative rules required the budget to pass by the end-of-day Thursday, lawmakers made no last-minute changes, despite criticizing the bills for more than two hours. The bills now head to Gov. Jim Pillen, who can line-item veto any items. Overrides require at least 30 votes. Clements said he had not been in communication with the Governor's Office on whether to expect vetoes, or how many. General fund estimates for the current fiscal year and the following two are: Fiscal year 2024-25: $4.56 billion in net receipts, $5.48 billion in expenses. Fiscal year 2025-26: $5.36 billion in net receipts, $5.48 billion in expenses. Fiscal year 2026-27: $5.42 billion in net receipts, $5.52 billion in expenses. Net receipts for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years include $57.6 million in interest, $216 million in cash fund transfers and $147 million from the state's 'rainy day' cash reserve fund, which were used to help close the projected deficit. DeBoer compared the budget bills to the fairy tale 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' where the ruler is naked but his subjects pretend he has extravagant clothing. 'They talked about how great it is because they don't want to be seen as unworthy,' DeBoer said, noting a young boy in the story called out the facade. DeBoer and Cavanaugh argued the budget bills were littered with mistakes and unconstitutional provisions that were largely strewn together with sweeps of various cash funds in a budget that offered a two-year average spending growth of 0.9%. The two said some of the sweeps included funds from increased fees on Nebraskans. Cavanaugh criticized moves to take about $2 million in interest from the administrative account for the Board of Educational Lands and Funds and $15 million in transfers from the Environmental Trust Fund. She proposed taking the amounts from the state's 'rainy day' cash reserve fund to avoid lawsuits for transfers she called unconstitutional. She said officials overseeing the educational lands have said they might need to sue, and a former state official has suggested a lawsuit to protect the Environmental Trust. At least $24 million of the budget gap is expected to be filled by seizing unspent agency funds after June 30, the end of the fiscal year. State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha said at least $7 million of that is contractually obligated in the Nebraska Department of Education. Some senators have also said the budget doesn't fully consider federal changes, such as in efforts to take away state-dedicated dollars for broadband expansion, because similar dollars came from the federal government. Some of those federal dollars are now at risk. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, who supported the budget, suggested lawmakers should have been looking at more cuts to prepare for major federal spending cuts, such as to Medicaid. 'It's not about tightening our belt, as it is, we might be having to lop off limbs in order to help pay for our budget,' Hansen said. Spivey, a freshman member of the Appropriations Committee with Cavanaugh, said it would be 'interesting' to see the budget implications, including for the years farther out, when lawmakers are projected to face a hole of at least $110 million under current projections. 'I hope, as we continue to work on our financial status and sustainability, that folks are more open to discourse and challenging ourselves around our decisions and our approach to how we create a responsible and responsive budget to our constituents,' Spivey said. DeBoer said cash funds don't sit around for no reason and expects a number of deficit requests next year that the Legislature might need to grapple with. Of the budget's passing, DeBoer, a senior member of the body, said: 'I guess we need to learn this lesson to do better next time.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska students might get religious release from school time, as package advances
St. Mary Catholic Church's Ten Commandments monument across the street from the Nebraska State Capitol on Feb. 28. 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — God and religion 'may' have a new path into Nebraska's public schools after the Education Committee on Friday sent a package to the legislative floor that includes a revamped 'release time' proposal. The package's most controversial part was its inclusion of State Sen. Loren Lippincott's Legislative Bill 550, which would let students be excused during the school day for off-site religious instruction and coursework. Christian education organization Lifewise Academy, with ties to the populist right, is lobbying for similar bills in conservative-led states nationally. Lippincott has acknowledged the group's influence on the issue. He was pleased that the bill made it out of committee Friday with 'a few minor changes' and said he hoped lawmakers would give it a chance. Amendments adopted Friday essentially watered it down to existing law. 'We'll see what happens once it gets on the floor,' said Lippincott, of Central City. Committee members had battled back and forth for weeks on whether to include Lippincott's proposal in a bill largely built around Omaha State Sen. Ashlei Spivey's former LB 440 to boost paid leave for teachers. The Spivey bill would give teachers up to three weeks of paid leave to deal with significant life events and pay for it using a new payroll fee on teacher salaries to cover the costs of paying long-term substitutes. The fee also would help pay for special education teacher recruitment and retention. The importance of that underlying bill to teachers, now in LB 306, made unusual allies of the Nebraska State Education Association and some of the Legislature's members who want more Christianity in schools. Also part of the deal was the Legislature's Retirement Systems Committee. Tim Royers, president of the NSEA, had no immediate comment on the bill's advancement. He had said earlier Friday that his union was only willing to accept Lippincott's 'release time' bill if allowing students to leave school for religious instruction was optional, not required. As such, the committee amended Lippincott's part of the package to change its 'shall' language to a 'may' on the requirement that schools let students leave. Other changes clarified that they had to leave for at least 42 minutes and that they couldn't miss core classes. The three amendments to Lippincott's proposal are a big reason why the bill secured at least six votes to get out of committee — and might get a seventh. It needed five to advance to the legislative floor. Republican State Sens. Dave Murman of Glenvil, the chair, Jana Hughes of Seward, the vice chair, Dan Lonowski of Hastings, Glen Meyer of Pender and Rita Sanders of Bellevue all voted to advance the package. Democratic State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha voted yes as well. The lone no vote came from progressive nonpartisan State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, who warned about the door to more religious bills in schools. Hunt acknowledged that Lippincott's bill does not change the process for students leaving under current law but endorses what she called 'missionary work.' She said the organization behind the bill, Lifewise, brings a bus for students and entices them with a popcorn party or other incentives to grow membership. Students left behind feel pressured, she said. Lonowski said he didn't see Lifewise getting involved in Nebraska, but that he might be wrong. Hunt said he was wrong. Jesse Vohwinkel, LifeWise Academy's Vice President of Growth, testified in favor of Lippincott's bill during its public hearing in February. Lonowski said the bill was pragmatic, as public schools are losing students when families want religion. Murman said it gives parents and school boards 'a little bit of cover' to get the programs off the ground. Juarez said if other religions were not allowed, she would oppose the bill. She noted Satanists have already said they would use provisions of Lippincott's original bill if it required schools to open doors to groups. Given the time constraints of budget bills and the likelihood of the education bill facing a filibuster, Speaker John Arch will have to decide whether scheduling the bill is worth the floor time. Arch said late Friday that he would need to wait until the bill is officially reported out of committee and he has a chance to review it to determine whether to schedule it. The committee was holding open its vote until Monday to let State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln weigh in. Examiner reporters Zach Wendling and Juan Salinas II contributed to this report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to expect as debate on Nebraska's 2025-27 budget begins
A budget book for Nebraska's fiscal years between 2025 and 2027 sits on a lawmaker's desk. April 29, 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — It's crunch time for state lawmakers to rightsize Nebraska's budget, by no later than May 15. Senators since November are considering a nearly $850 million combined in new revenue streams, less state spending and loose funding in the state's couch cushions. Those figures appear to represent senators' goals to close the state's budget gap, with about $710 million of that coming from the Appropriations Committee's decisions on spending and cash transfers, the final scope of which remains a moving target with future amendments planned. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, center, and State Sen. Rob Clements speak about investing $1 billion in an Education Future Fund. July 2023. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) Lawmakers will head to the floor Tuesday saying they still need to close a $262 million projected budget deficit for the next two years. But the real figure is likely much larger. In January, when the state faced an initial $433 million projected budget deficit, Speaker John Arch of La Vista said solving the state's budget woes would 'without a doubt' be the defining issue of 2025. Lawmakers must maintain a minimum reserve based on the beginning cash balance for the biennium and estimated net receipts for the two-year period, which is accounted for in the budget bills. Getting to zero A significant portion of the projected deficit is a result of Nebraska taking on more of the Medicaid costs that the federal government previously picked up — the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, or FMAP — which is based on a state's average per capita income compared to the national average. Proposed budget bills, other proposals to help fill the budget hole Mainline budget advanced to the floor (LBs 260-264): Net spending decreased versus the amount projected in November: $193.6 million. Cash fund sweeps to general fund: $160.4 million. Investment earnings: $50.3 million. Fewer transfers to cash funds: $39.6 million. Other bills already passed this session: LB 645 (Sen. Beau Ballard) to change school retirement plan contributions: $84 million. LB 650 (Sen. Brad von Gillern) to reduce or defund various tax incentives: $52 million. LB 208 (von Gillern) to change sales tax collection fees and confidentiality: $1.2 million. LB 478 (General Affairs Committee) to change the Nebraska Liquor Control Act: $20,000. Proposed second-round debate amendment: New cash fund sweeps or decreased state spending: $135 million. Cash Reserve Fund transfer: $132 million. The changes left Nebraska on the hook for nearly $300 million more over the next two years, and $55 million for the remaining part of the current fiscal year. The reductions would have been worse if not for a federal 'disaster-recovery adjustment' following a string of Arbor Day tornadoes last year. The state's increased burden is unrelated to budget talks in Congress, including potential cuts to Medicaid. It is also only part of the story of Nebraska's budget deficit. The other part comes as the state faced two revised economic forecasts since the deficit was identified in November. In that time, the state now projects to collect a net $215 million in less revenue than anticipated from this fiscal year through June 30, 2027. Members of the Appropriations Committee and legislative fiscal staff have largely declined to say what the starting point for the current deficit is before the proposed budget bills or other bills that have already passed this session. If the budget bills — Legislative Bills 260-264 — are passed with an expected amendment during second-round debate to fill the remaining hole, lawmakers would have about $5 million left to spend. About $2 million of the wiggle room is eyed to raise judges' salaries by 1.5% each of the next two years, as provided in LB 513, and roughly $2 million is being eyed to cover approved state claims in LB 534. The Appropriations Committee State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Appropriations Committee, said he overall felt good about the budget and praised his committee for what he said was a 'fair job' of not 'lashing anybody severely.' He said instead of cuts, many state agencies were left flat. However, state employees still got negotiated salary and health insurance increases. 'I'm a little bit amazed at how well they did,' Clements said, noting the increased Medicaid costs. 'I'm pleased with what we were able to get done without doing anything drastic.' However, not all members of the committee were impressed. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, a first-time Appropriations Committee member, said she had trouble finding the right words to describe the process. She said instead of finding creative solutions, the committee stuck close to proposals from the governor. Cavanaugh has suggested looking at what the state spends on property tax relief or is losing via income rate reductions for top earners to close the deficit. 'It has been a much more limiting process than I thought, not very flexible,' Cavanaugh said. 'I thought that we would do more work as a committee to create a budget that we felt represented Nebraska values.' The budget as advanced by the Appropriations Committee two weeks ago has the following contours compared to November: $193.6 million less spending than originally projected. $160.4 million in sweeps of various cash funds or other transfers to the state's main pocketbook (such as $27.7 million from the Water Recreation Enhancement Fund, $20.5 million from the Economic Development Cash Fund, $15 million from the Economic Recovery Contingency Fund, $13.5 million from the Site and Building Development Fund, $12 million from the Intern Nebraska Cash Fund, $10.2 million from the Youth Outdoor Recreation Fund, $8.6 million from the Health and Human Services Cash Fund, $7 million from the Vehicle Title & Registration System Replacement Fund, $4.4 million from the Jobs and Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) Fund and $4 million from the Lead Service Line Fund). $50.3 million in investment earnings (such as from the Perkins County Canal Fund, Inland Port Authority Fund, 911 Service System Fund, Economic Recovery Contingency Fund and the Nebraska Capital Construction Fund). $39.6 million in fewer transfers to existing cash funds ($22 million less to the Water Sustainability Fund, $16 million less to the Education Future Fund and $5 million less to the Property Tax Credit Fund, but $2 million more to the Public Advocacy Cash Fund). Speaker John Arch of La Vista and State Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha and Ben Hansen of Blair, from left, meet on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. Jan. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Other bills and a future amendment Four additional bills passed this session have already helped shrink the deficit. The two main ones are Legislative Bill 645 from State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and LB 650 from State Sen. Brad von Gillern, which together save the state an additional $136 million. Ballard, chair of the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee, brought LB 645 to lower annual state contributions to the school retirement plan for most school employees when the plan nears full funding. It is expected to lead to about $84 million in savings over the next two years, if the pension plan remains at more than 98% funded for the first year and is 100% funded in the second, as currently anticipated. Von Gillern, chair of the Revenue Committee, brought LB 650 to reduce or defund recently passed tax incentives, including some supported by Gov. Jim Pillen, to the tune of about $52 million in savings. Taken together, that left lawmakers grappling with a gap of $262 million more to close, which the Appropriations Committee met last Thursday to brainstorm closing. Those final deliberations will be discussed during the second round of debate on the budget. The largest change from Thursday is $135 million in more cash fund sweeps or reduced spending, notably $3 million less to the Nebraska Supreme Court and $4.4 million less to the University of Nebraska than the committee previously approved. State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn, center, flanked by State Sens. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Mike McDonnell of Omaha. Aug. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) An additional $132 million will also be transferred out of the cash reserves to help balance the budget. After the changes, about $689 million would be left in that 'rainy day' fund. Legislative leadership has already rebuffed ideas to take funds away from the pending Perkins County Canal in western Nebraska or to 'pause' the lowering of income tax rates. Plymouth State Sen. Tom Brandt's LB 171 would pause the already approved income tax rate reductions for two years 'to allow the state to catch its breath.' But Pillen, von Gillern and Clements all argued that doing so could hurt rather than help the state. University of Nebraska budget woes exemplify challenging budget environment The University of Nebraska has faced a whirlwind with its budget, first requesting a 3% increase for both of the next two years, which was rejected by the Appropriations Committee in its preliminary budget report this February. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen sits in his office in the Nebraska State Capitol. April 29, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Instead, the committee adopted the suggestion of Gov. Jim Pillen to cut NU's state-aided budget by 2% cut in the first year and kept NU at the lower level in the second year. The committee revised the NU budget last month, giving the university a 1.25% increase next year and keeping the NU budget flat in the following year. With the committee's changes, the Appropriations Committee spent $46 million more than Pillen's budget after NU President Jeffrey Gold and Pillen continued negotiating. Federal uncertainty partly led to the change. The committee again reconsidered NU's budget last week with a suggestion from the Legislative Fiscal Office to possibly remove any increase to NU's budget for next year and give the university a bump in the second. An effort to maintain the previously approved bump failed, but in a last-minute negotiation, senators agreed to halve next year's increase. Instead of an agreed $17.4 million bump over the next two years, NU would get about $13.1 million more the next two years than it currently does. Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president of the University of Nebraska system. Sept. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Gold has said that the less-than-anticipated state dollars could lead to tuition increases and additional hardships as officials weigh a path forward later this year. Gold last month said the difference in NU's original budget request and what lawmakers are considering 'will, unfortunately, force us to have some very serious discussions regarding tuition in each year at the upcoming biennium and, thereafter, some very serious discussions about belt-tightening and further budgetary reduction across all of the campuses, colleges and institutes in the state.' Pillen, who last week told the Examiner he respects 'the heck' of Gold and is a 'Dr. Gold fan,' said the two have had conversations of a needed strategic reimagination at the university, such as eliminating duplicative programs or reviewing programs with more instructors than students. Before becoming governor in 2023, Pillen served 10 years on the NU Board of Regents. 'If you're in education and your solution is more money, more people, I'm not on your team,' Pillen said, repeating efforts to end unfunded mandates for schools. 'I'm 100% on education.' Advocates for the University of Nebraska system join at the Nebraska State Capitol for the annual 'I Love NU Day.' In the front row, from left, is NU President Jeffrey Gold, State Sen. Jason Prokop of Lincoln and Student Regent Ishani Adidam (University of Nebraska at Omaha), Student Regent Pranita Devaraju (University of Nebraska Medical Center), Student Regent Elizabeth Herbin (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Student Regent Sam Schroeder (University of Nebraska at Kearney), State Sen. Teresa Ibach, Chancellor Joanne Li (UNO), interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies (UNMC) and interim Chancellor Charlie Bicak (UNK). April 2, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some Nebraska Republicans join national quest to infuse more religion into schools
The top of the Nebraska statehouse and a church cross in the Lincoln skyline on Mar. 5, 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN – Across the street from the Nebraska State Capitol, a monument to the Ten Commandments stands on the sidewalk outside of St. Mary Catholic Church. Although it's not on Capitol grounds, as in some states, religion still similarly influences the statehouse. This year, three Nebraska lawmakers have bills that could infuse more religion into public schools and test the legal limits of the separation of church and state. While the bills might not pass during this legislative session, they reflect a push by Republican state lawmakers nationwide, emboldened by President Donald Trump's second term and recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that appear to have altered the legal landscape for religion in education. The Nebraska proposals include requiring the Ten Commandments and 'In God We Trust' to be displayed in public schools, allowing students to leave during the school day to receive religious instruction and letting schools hire unlicensed religious chaplains to counsel students. The lawmakers who filed the bills say they aim to restore morality and character among Nebraska students, saying that they believe the nation needs help. 'We have somewhat lost our way on values,' State Sen. Glen Meyer of Pender said during a hearing on his bill requiring schools to display the Eisenhower-era national motto about God and trust, Legislative Bill 122. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Religious Studies Professor Max Mueller said the bills seem to be steps towards re-establishing a Christian dominance in public schools. 'States are the laboratories of democracy,' he said. State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, during the hearing on his Ten Commandments bill, said LB 691 isn't designed to 'force any religion on our students, but instead to expose our students to the very historical wisdom that inspired our founders.' He alluded to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2019 that allows the Ten Commandments to be displayed publicly because of historical significance. 'Under that context, perhaps it would be good for our courts to reexamine the topic,' Murman said during the bill's hearing in the Education Committee last month. The Cornhusker State is one of 15 states nationally where lawmakers introduced legislation this year requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. The Nebraska bill is modeled after a recent Louisiana law, which went into effect this year. It's currently blocked in five K-12 school districts because of litigation challenging its constitutionality. Louisiana became the first state to add such a requirement in four decades since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that Kentucky's law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools was unconstitutional. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined a handful of other state AGs in a brief defending the Louisiana Ten Commandments law in federal court. Proposed religious-related school laws LB 691, by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, requires displaying the Ten Commandments in every Nebraska elementary school classroom and in every middle or high school building. LB 122, by State Sen. Glen Meyer of Pender, requires display of the state and national motto, 'In God We Trust,' in prominent areas in schools. LB 549, by State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City, allows school districts to employ unlicensed religious chaplains to counsel students. LB 550, by Lippincott, requires school districts to adopt a policy that excuses students from school to attend religious instruction during the school day. David Barton, a Texas-based evangelical activist who has spent four decades advocating that church-state separation is a 'myth, ' testified in favor of the Ten Commandments bill in Nebraska late last month. Barton also pointed to the shift in the nation's highest court, saying the 'hostility is gone.' In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Washington state public school football coach who prayed with his team on the 50-yard line. Many on the religious right see that case as an opening that signals the legal landscape is more favorable to religious-themed laws. The opinion signals that the court is moving away from the 'Lemon Test' to determine whether the government allows religion in public spaces. The test consists of three parts: The government's primary purpose must be secular. The government's actions must not promote or inhibit religion. And the government's actions must not create excessive entanglement with religion. ACLU Nebraska testified against the Nebraska proposal, arguing that Nebraska's Ten Commandments bill is 'blatantly unconstitutional' and that the Louisiana law it's modeled after 'violates the establishment and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment.' 'If LB 691 is enacted, it will announce that the state has a favored brand of Christianity and marginalize those who do not subscribe to it,' said Dylan Severino, ACLU Nebraska's Policy Counsel. Severino added that Nebraska schools serve students of all faiths and those with none, and their families should feel welcome in their schools. Tim Royers, The President of the Nebraska State Education Association, the state teachers' union, told the Examiner that public schools can 'promote religious liberty and religious literacy as two fundamental competencies for citizenship' but must work within the framework provided by the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. 'Finding common ground regarding religion is a centuries-old issue in America,' Royer said. 'And the battleground shouldn't be in our public schools.' Mueller, the UNL religious studies professor, said the culture war fight over the Ten Commandments in classrooms is a 'very American fight' and isn't new, but that the 'super Catholic majority' on the U.S. Supreme Court makes some on the religious right eager to face lawsuits because they feel the court is now on their side. The Supreme Court now has a 6-3 conservative majority, with three members appointed during the first Trump administration. At the end of the hearing on his Ten Commandments bill, Murman echoed Barton's view on the U.S. Constitution's Establishment Clause, which prevents the government from creating a state religion. Murman argued that too many people have misunderstood the Founding Fathers' 'wall of separation.' 'That document was Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist … was to keep government out of religion, instead of religion out of government,' he said. 'In other words, there shouldn't be an established religion by the government, but the Founding Fathers definitely supported it, and the historical record shows that religion and the Ten Commandments are a big part of the history of the United States.' Many historians and scholars have sneered at or debunked Barton's interpretation. But it still has significant influence in conservative circles. Mueller said that while it's true that 'the wall' isn't directly in the Constitution, some lawmakers' arguments lack context. Thomas Jefferson's interpretation was before the Supreme Court became the arbiter of the Constitution, Mueller said. While 'originalists' like former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and current Justice Clarence Thomas claim they're returning to the Constitution's original language, it's still an interpretation. 'Like all documents, whether it's the Bible, the Declaration of Independence [or] the Constitution, we have the text itself,' Mueller said. 'And then we have histories of interpretation.' State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City is behind the proposed law allowing students to be excused for religious instruction and coursework, LB 550. He says the bill would 'empower parents by giving them a stronger voice in their children's education.' 'We aim to support families who seek religious education with their children while strengthening character education in our public schools, fostering a well-rounded and inclusive learning environment for every student,' Lippincott said. He proposed a similar bill during the last legislative session, but it was indefinitely postponed, essentially stalled for the year. Lippincott said the difference with his bill this year is that it would cost school districts nothing and that all religious studies would be conducted off school grounds. Meyer, during his hearing for LB 122, the 'In God We Trust' bill, said, 'What I'm trying to accomplish is to have a real first step to realizing what we stand for in this country.' Mueller said simply displaying the Ten Commandments or the trust motto in classrooms and schools wouldn't lead to more productive classrooms and students. 'If they feel so inclined to place something, a statement of values in the classroom, I would encourage, why not the Bill of Rights?' Mueller asked. Lippincott said he filed his other bill, allowing schools to employ chaplains in a role similar to counselors, to support children in schools. The proposed law's language states hiring a chaplain is not an endorsement of a specific religion by the school. During previous attempts to pass similar legislation, he said it would help Nebraska schools facing staff shortages, while some opponents said it was another way to insert religion into public schools. One state that has already taken some of the steps Nebraska's GOP-dominated, officially nonpartisan Legislature has been considering is Texas. The Lone Star State recently passed legislation that allows chaplains and requires 'In God We Trust' signs in schools. Some Texas Republicans have called their 2025 legislative session a 'spiritual war.' The Nebraska Republican Party platform and constitution don't specifically mention the Ten Commandments. The state GOP's legislative plan for this session mentions God, but only referring to 'God-given talent,' 'God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,' and calling for an end to 'the legal ability for [Nebraska Natural Resource Districts] to try and play 'God' and attempt to modify the weather.' Nebraska GOP Chairman Eric Underwood said that while the religion in schools bills are not explicitly referenced in the state party's 2025 plan, he pointed to Article I of the party constitution, which mentions 'the furtherance of our Principles.' 'Which could be defined as our faith-based principles and included through our education systems,' Underwood said. The education section of the GOP platform also says, 'We believe moral training based on principles established by God, under whom we profess to be a nation, should be returned to its proper and traditional place in the public schools.' It also says, 'Mindful of our religious diversity, we reaffirm our commitment to the freedoms of religion and speech guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. We firmly support the rights of all citizens to openly practice the same, including the rights of individuals to engage in voluntary prayer in schools or in any other public institution.' Underwood added that the party supports the Meyer bill requiring 'In God We Trust' in schools. Gov. Jim Pillen has said in the past that Catholics and Christians should 'have more courage' to stand up for Christian values in the state. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said, 'Our country was founded on a separation of church and state, [and] the Democratic Party believes in that fundamental principle.' The Education Committee could decide the fate of each bill this week. Mueller said that when it comes to religion in government, America is a paradox. 'America was founded as a Christian nation, as a Protestant Christian nation that favors Protestant Christians,' Mueller said. 'At the same time, America is an experiment … can we all participate equally in democratic institutions and society at large?' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CONTACT US
