LINCOLN- It was a surprise party that had to wait a few hours because the man to be celebrated was busy taking the last of his term-limited time to draw out voting on bills Thursday afternoon.

"Because I wasn't informed of this happening," Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers told the group gathered on the north steps of the Capitol, "I was on the floor of the Legislature doing what it was my job to do."

Educating, slowing things down, offering up words of wisdom or criticism. On this his last day, his goal was to determine how things were going to go and say the things he wanted to say. Or to be like the death angel at Passover, and let a bill proceed without a visit from the spirit of extended debate. But when he finally showed up, they cheered, and shouted their love for the 46-year veteran of the Legislature. And held up thank-you signs and Fight for Justice signs. One man even had what appeared to be an old reelection sign that read: "Friends of North Omaha Support Ernie Chambers State Legislature."

Thank you, Senator Chambers,Senator Pansing Brooks said, for being true to you.

"You have been irascible, aggravating, impossible and mind-boggling. You have followed the mission of Finley Peter Dunne, a 1898 writer who suggested the need to 'comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.' You have also been powerful, gentle, inspiring, compassionate, kind and, yes, loving. "In short, you have been exactly what Nebraska has needed for 46 years."

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