LINCOLN- A game of 'political chicken' on Tuesday killed plans to train teachers about other ways to address behavior problems in students. The programs also included training on mental health crises and would provide scholarships to students who spend time in the state's juvenile offender institutions. Sen. Lynne Walz, chair of the Education Committee, pleaded with her colleagues to support the programs.

“It’s time to stop playing games,” she said. “I ask you to focus on the goal of the bill and that is to provide scholarships to your kids.”

The bill fell five votes short of ending a filibuster, meaning the bill is officially dead. The body amended a separate bill to continue to give lottery funds into college scholarships for three more years. Opponents of the bills dubbed the amendment the 'hit the kids' bill and used procedural motions to prevent it from being debated and potentially added to the lottery funds measure.

Another Omaha lawmaker, Sen. Megan Hunt, said the issue of teachers intervening physically with students was “like a zombie” that has been debated and defeated repeatedly but continues to come back.

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