LINCOLN- This week, the filibuster in the Nebraska Legislature continued, stalling every senator's work significantly. With a new Governor attempting to impose an ambitious and expansive agenda, a majority in the Legislature say they have much work to do while a minority say that's exactly the problem.

With almost fifty days gone in the Legislature's ninety-day session, zero bills have been enacted into law and the filibuster is expected to continue. Currently, 135 bills are piled up awaiting first-stage floor consideration while the filibuster eats away time on the calendar. For this reason, night sessions are looming on the horizon, and are expected to begin next month.

Thus far, only two large bills have passed through the first barricade: Sen. Brewer's concealed carry handgun bill and Sen. Linehan's bill to provide income tax credits for donations to fund scholarships for parochial schools. However, both face the filibuster hurdle in the weeks ahead, and bargaining is expected to take place as the remaining days in the session wind down.

Priority bills will take the focus for the remainder of the legislative session, with senators having named a wide variety of topics as their personal priority bills. Some of the legislature's most controversial bills were among those named. In response, Senator Macheala Cavanuagh has been filing amendment after amendment on each bill debated to slow down the legislative process.

In most years, lawmakers debate all of the priority bills that emerge from committee, along with passing a number of noncontroversial consent calendar bills. This will not be possible if each bill is filibustered. Speaker Arch has attempted to negotiate to end the series of filibusters but has yet to see any change on the floor of the legislature. To combat this, evening debate will begin on March 28th to make the most of the time possible.

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