LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts criticized a group of 20 state senators who either voted 'no' or sat out on the vote to limit the growth in property taxes. Ricketts had called for a 3% limit on property tax increases by local schools, cities, counties and other local governments.

“They are the roadblock that stands between getting the people of Nebraska the property tax relief they desperately need,” Ricketts said in a press release.

The state legislature failed to get the 33 votes necessary to halt a filibuster and advance LB408, the bill Ricketts sponsored. Despite many attempts to amend the bill, 408 died Thursday night. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer R-Neb. critiqued the senators who sat out the vote, saying during her time in the legislature, “we voted. we did not pass on votes. we were accountable to our constituents."

Opponents of the measure argued that local officials are meant to run the schools, cities and counties, not state legislators. LB408 was considered by many to be one of the most controversial bills of the 2021 session.

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