LINCOLN- An emotional public hearing over a rare request to censure a state senator ended Thursday with the committee deferring action until after the four-day Easter weekend. That came despite a request by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh for an “immediate” decision on whether to censure fellow Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings for vulgar statements directed at “Senator Cavanaugh” during floor debate March 18 over an obscenity bill.

Sen. Ray Aguilar, who chairs the Exec Board, said after the half-hour hearing that events Thursday were “too emotional,” and he wanted members of the committee to consider their decisions over the weekend. Cavanaugh, the only testifier at the hearing, called on the committee to uphold “justice and decency” by issuing a censure, a formal expression of extreme disapproval.

The censure request was filed after Halloran, during floor debate on March 18, repeatedly inserted the name “Senator Cavanaugh” as he read a graphic description of a rape contained in the book, “Lucky.” Halloran, in an email to reporters, said he did not want to attend and “give credence” to a legislative hearing he maintained violated two legislative rules.

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