LINCOLN- The Legislature's executive board Thursday appointed nine members of a special investigative committee to probe the state's troubled child welfare services in eastern Nebraska, but left Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, sponsor of the investigation, on the sidelines. That omission sparked a fiery discussion on the floor of the Legislature once senators were informed of the decision.

Cavanaugh suggested that she had been "stabbed in the back" by supporters of Gov. Pete Ricketts for challenging actions taken by his administration.

"Does anyone think this is right?" Cavanaugh asked during an emotional exchange that extended state budget debate.

Members of four designated legislative committees were named to the special committee that will investigate a five-year state contract with Saint Francis Ministries of Salina, Kansas, which originally appeared to have been substantially underbid, along with its accompanying negative impact on child welfare services in the Omaha area.

Members of the committee include John Arch of La Vista and Dave Murman of Glenvil, Health and Human Services Committee; Matt Hansen of Lincoln and Rita Sanders of Bellevue, Government and Military Affairs Committee; Mark Kolterman of Seward and Robert Clements of Elmwood, Appropriations Committee; Suzanne Geist of Lincoln and Terrell McKinney of Omaha, Judiciary Committee; at-large, Justin Wayne of Omaha.

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