Latest news with #LegislativeBill319
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers back Pillen veto, kill bill to lift lifetime ban on food aid for some with drug pasts
State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, on April 10, 2025, as lawmakers debate his priority bill before it was vetoed by the governor. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Despite three consecutive bipartisan votes this year to lift a lifetime ban on public food aid for some Nebraskans with past drug felonies, the Legislature on Monday did an about face that put a nail in the bill's coffin. The only change between the 32-17 vote on May 14 that favored Legislative Bill 319, noted State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha and others, was a veto by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. 'If you change your mind, if you don't have the backbone to stand by your vote — on food, to people who don't have it — I don't really know what you stand for,' DeBoer told colleagues. Despite pleas by her and others, including the bill's sponsor, State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue — who invoked several Bible passages about forgiveness — the Legislature voted 24-24 to uphold the governor's veto. The bill needed 30 votes to override Pillen's veto. That means the status quo stands, with state law prohibiting anyone who has been convicted of selling or distributing a controlled substance from accessing SNAP benefits (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). People with three or more felonies for possessing or using illegal drugs also are ineligible, but state law allows Nebraskans with one or two drug possession or use convictions access to SNAP if they complete a licensed treatment program. Rountree's priority bill would have lifted the ban entirely under certain circumstances, such as if the offender completed their criminal sentence or was serving a term of parole or on post-release supervision. Also under Rountree's bill, a person with three or more felony convictions for drug possession or use had to participate in an accredited substance abuse treatment program unless a health care provider determined it was not needed. Pillen's one-page veto letter came just hours after LB 319 had gained 32 of the 25 votes needed at the time to move it to the governor's desk. Pillen contended that the bill would create 'loopholes' where 'habitual offenders' could evade treatment. 'Individuals that distribute or sell illicit drugs should not be entitled to taxpayer-funded benefits,' the governor wrote. 'Any illegal drug users should be required to complete treatment before they receive their third felony conviction.' Among those who consistently opposed Rountree's bill and supported the veto were State Sen. Tony Sorrentino of the Elkhorn area. He fended off colleagues' criticisms that withholding food as a punishment is 'barbaric' and said he was 'very comfortable about being uncomfortable' in this situation. 'I'm never going to stop standing up for the victims of these crimes,' he said. Meanwhile, nonprofits and people affected by the ban voiced disappointment. Derrick Martinez, a Nebraskan who is SNAP banned, said of today's action: 'We continued on a path doing the same thing that may keep people reoffending out of survival. It's time to do something better, because the old way has not worked.' The vote shift by seven Republican legislators who last week voted for the bill came despite being called out by supporters of the bill. The seven: State Sens. Christy Armendariz of Omaha, Stan Clouse of Kearney, Rob Dover of Norfolk, Glen Meyer of Pender, Mike Moser of Columbus; Rita Sanders of Bellevue and Brad von Gillern of Omaha. State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha said he had never cast a vote based on 'fear' of reprisal or political consequences from another elected official. He said that if LB 319 was a good policy last week, why isn't it today? He asked colleagues to honor the role the Legislature has as a separate branch of government. 'We were elected to lead, not to follow, and certainly not to flinch,' Fredrickson said. State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha affirmed her support for the bill and addressed a comment directly to Pillen: 'Do you not consider this a pro-life issue? Do you really support life?' Clouse, of his flip, said he was about '50-50' for the bill before and that the governor's decision pushed him to the other side. Said Meyer, 'I'm not inclined to override the governor's veto.' He said he also was swayed after learning later about a federal option that could be available to those the bill sought to help. Armendariz said she had reservations earlier, and voted against the bill during the initial two rounds of debate. She said she didn't feel strongly enough for the legislation to go against the governor's will. Among Republican lawmakers who stood by their earlier vote to support LB 319 was State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, who said he had asked Rountree earlier to bolster the bill with a treatment-related requirement, and that Rountree followed through. Jacobson, in voting to override the veto, said he doubted that many of his colleagues have ever dealt with a friend or loved one suffering from a serious addiction. Because he has, he said that he understands there is no cure — only a vigilant commitment and regimen to stay clean. 'I've been around addiction,' Jacobson said. 'I would encourage some of you to do the same to really understand why addiction exists.' State Sen. Sen Megan Hunt of Omaha and others noted that lifting the ban would affect people who had long ago served their sentence related to drugs. 'In Nebraska, this is the only crime where somebody can do their time, pay their debt to society, do their treatment, pay their fines, do everything that the judge, the jury, and the law says that they're supposed to do — but they pay the price legally for the rest of their life,' Hunt said. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln was among those who talked about 'smart justice reform,' noting that SNAP benefits help keep recidivism rates low. State Sen. Bob Andersen of Sarpy County, who opposed the bill from the start, said such support services should be left to private philanthropists and churches. Rountree — who opened the discussion by calling it a 'historic moment' and opportunity to take care of Nebraskans — said he was disappointed for the people of the state and the 1,000 or so who would have benefited by the legislation that had law enforcement support. Also a minister, Rountree, in an interview with the Nebraska Examiner, called support for the veto a 'sign of the times' — government moving away from taking care of 'the least of these.' Versions of LB 319 have been proposed in years past. Hunt said she has presented one every year since becoming a state senator. Said Rountree: 'These are challenging times for legislation like this. It doesn't mean we're going to give up.' Nonprofits in Nebraska that work with inmates reentering society after incarceration said state lawmakers 'got it wrong today.' 'When the government continues to make felony convictions and restrictions with no reprieve for anyone who has honestly worked to rebuild their lives, it shows us how out of touch our elected officials are,' said Jasmine Harris, public policy director for one such nonprofit, RISE. She said to ensure successful reentry, barriers to basic needs must be removed. 'Otherwise, people find themselves in predicaments that continue these cycles of incarceration and addiction.' Eric Savaiano, food and nutrition access manager for Nebraska Appleseed, said that ending the SNAP ban is about ensuring a basic human need. 'We won't stop fighting for this until this ban is gone. It is too important.' Mindy Rush Chipman, executive director of the ACLU of Nebraska, said no one benefits from the Monday vote. 'The SNAP ban will keep making life harder for struggling Nebraskans, adding food insecurity to the mix of collateral consequences that are already hurting them and their families long after their sentence ended,' she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pillen vetoes bill ending Nebraska lifetime SNAP ban for certain drug convictions
State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, center, talks with State Sens. Danielle Conrad and George Dungan, both of Lincoln. April 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen late Wednesday vetoed a measure passed just hours earlier to end a lifetime ban preventing some Nebraskans from accessing SNAP benefits. The veto of Legislative Bill 319, from State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, seeks to keep in place the status quo prohibiting anyone who has been convicted of selling or distributing a controlled substance from accessing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. People with three or more felonies for possessing or using a controlled substance also are ineligible. The current law allows Nebraskans with one or two drug possession or use convictions to access SNAP if they have completed a licensed and accredited treatment program. LB 319 would allow someone to access SNAP quicker if they have completed their sentence or are serving a term of parole, probation or post-release supervision. Under Rountree's bill, a person with three or more felony convictions for felony drug possession or use could access SNAP only if they are participating in or have completed a licensed and accredited treatment program, unless a health care provider determines that substance abuse treatment is not needed. Pillen said that would create 'loopholes' where 'habitual offenders' could evade treatment. 'Individuals that distribute or sell illicit drugs should not be entitled to taxpayer-funded benefits,' Pillen said in his one-page veto letter. 'Any illegal drug users should be required to complete treatment before they receive their third felony conviction.' Versions of LB 319 have stalled in the past, the most recent led by State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha. LB 319 passed 32-17, and Rountree said the veto wasn't a surprise. It takes 30 votes to override a veto, but senators sometimes fall to gubernatorial pressure on such motions. Rountree, a pastor who serves on the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, said the bill is about forgiveness and restoration. He said food shouldn't be a 'bargaining chip' and that someone should be able to access food once they've served their time. 'SNAP is an opportunity for them to reenter, get back on their feet, and I don't believe that people want to stay on SNAP forever, as many times the story is written that way,' he said. The bill was also supported by law enforcement, Rountree noted. He said helping Nebraskans with past felony drug convictions can restore their dignity and reduce bad interactions with law enforcement officials. At the bill's hearing, only the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services opposed the measure. Rountree said the changes would also help maintain family integrity, noting that as a substitute teacher, he saw the power of food for young children. Advocates, such as Derrick Martinez, who had previously been banned from SNAP, had urged Pillen to sign the bill just after its passage. In a statement, Martinez said LB 319 'shows that years of advocacy can actually pay off.' 'This moves the needle in a positive direction for not just me but for our state as it works to reduce recidivism,' Martinez said. 'This means less of a struggle, less anxiety, less pressure overall for myself and for others who have been banned from SNAP because of past convictions.' Jasmine Harris, director of public policy and advocacy with RISE, a nonprofit focused on habilitative programming and reentry support, said the legislation would remove 'another unnecessary barrier to help people meet their basic needs after incarceration.' Eric Savaiano, program manager for food and nutrition access at Nebraska Appleseed, said LB 319 also represented a 'huge win' for Nebraskans impacted by the 'failed' War on Drugs of the 1990s. He said more than 1,000 Nebraskans would be able to 'better support themselves and their households with critical food assistance, helping them better meet their needs and not fall back into bad habits because of desperation.' Rountree said the bill would let impacted Nebraskans know 'their life has value and meaning.' Also Wednesday, lawmakers voted to modify a separate SNAP-related bill with an 'unfriendly amendment' that was resurrected after having been previously defeated. The underlying LB 192, introduced by State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island, calls for an extension of current SNAP income eligibility levels, which otherwise would return in October to lower pre-pandemic eligibility levels. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha made LB 192 his priority bill this session. DHHS, which administers the program, has estimated that more than 4,000 families could be disqualified for earning too much money if the older eligibility threshold is restored. While the essence of LB 192 remained, State Sen. Bob Anderson of Sarpy County successfully revived an amendment that largely mirrors his LB 656, which would prohibit DHHS from seeking what he called 'blanket' waivers that make exceptions to SNAP work requirements, such as living in areas with high unemployment. Andersen's amendment this time passed on a 28-8 vote — a contrast from the 22-14 vote that defeated it last month. It needed at least 25 votes. The newly amended LB 192, on a voice vote, then moved back to final reading. Quick, during debate, noted that Andersen's was an 'unfriendly' amendment. He opposed it and said if Andersen wanted to help 'strengthen' it, as Andersen said was his goal, he could have discussed it with Quick earlier. Quick said the amendment 'puts barriers' in place for SNAP recipients who already comply with work requirements. Andersen said his amendment still allows for six specific work exemptions, and is aimed at about 20,000 people who he said were able-bodied Nebraskans currently exempt from work and training requirements. He said his amendment would get workers 'trained and employed.' State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln pointed out that the amendment at one point was estimated to cost $2.2 million in the first year and even more in the next. He said a new financial estimate reduced the cost to zero only because, instead of requiring DHHS to help find work for impacted SNAP recipients, it says the agency 'may' do so. Cavanaugh objected to the amendment and said the 'permissive language' is 'another sleight of hand to put off the books, to unbalance our budget behind people's backs.' State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth said he was not opposed to strict work requirements but objected to Andersen's late change in the lawmaking process. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair was a fan of the amendment, saying it could result in able-bodied people getting back to work sooner. As for additional costs, he said: 'If the resources aren't there, they (DHHS) are not going to do it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Amended bill lifting lifetime ban on food aid for Nebraskans with a past drug felony advances
The Nebraska State Capitol. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — A measure to remove a lifetime ban on public food assistance for Nebraskans who have served sentences for drug felonies passed another hurdle Wednesday. An amended Legislative Bill 319, designated as a priority by Bellevue State Sen. Victor Rountree, advanced on a 31-14 vote to final reading. Current Nebraska law offers a narrow exception to the ban for people with one or two drug possession or drug use felony convictions. They can access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps, if they have completed a licensed and accredited treatment program. Rountree's bill would open the door for other felony drug offenders who currently can't access SNAP benefits, as long as they've completed their sentence or are on parole or under post-release supervision. An amendment that passed Wednesday, on a 32-14 vote, added a requirement that those with three or more felony drug convictions undergo a substance abuse treatment program to be eligible, unless a licensed health care provider determines that treatment is not necessary. State Sens. Mike Jacobson of North Platte and Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln worked with Rountree on the amendment. Bosn said she did not think that food should be withheld as a form of punishment. Jacobson said he felt strongly that a treatment component be included. He believes addiction is not a choice and is a disease that requires a constant and lifelong commitment to stay clean. 'If we want to try to keep them from reoffending, we need to give them every opportunity to try to be gainfully employed. And that starts with putting food on the table,' Jacobson said. He said 152,000 Nebraskans currently receive SNAP benefits and the proposed legislation, if enacted, could add about 1,000 more. SNAP benefits are fully paid with federal funds, though administrative costs are split between the state and federal government. A fiscal analysis said the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services could absorb the additional workload of administering the expansion without additional cost unless demand proved larger than anticipated. State Sens. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha and Bob Andersen of Sarpy County were among those voicing continued opposition. On first reading April 10, the measure moved forward on a 32-5 vote. Kauth said a concern was taxpayers 'being on the hook' for chronic offenders. 'At some point we have to put a barrier up that says, 'If you continue to make these choices to engage in criminal activity, the taxpayers deserve to say no more,'' she said. Andersen said the state pays for prosecution and incarceration. He added, 'At what point do we stop feeding the beast … At what point do we quit being enablers?' State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk characterized himself as a conservative who does not promote rewarding people for bad behavior. He said, however, he believes punishment should not be prolonged after a person has paid their debt. 'If you think someone should suffer longer, increase the sentence then,' he said. 'It should not just go on and on and on.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
