Debate Transcripts

LB 87 (1999)

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February 23, 1999

 

SPEAKER KRISTENSEN:  Question before the body is the motion to advance LB 362.  All those in favor say aye.  Those opposed say nay.  It is advanced.  LB 87. 

 

CLERK:  Senator Smith, I have E & R amendments to 87, Senator.

 

SPEAKER KRISTENSEN:  Senator Smith.

 

SENATOR SMITH:  Mr. Speaker, I move we adopt the E & R amendments to LB 87.

 

SPEAKER KRISTENSEN:  Question before the body is the adoption of the E & R amendments.  All those in favor say aye.  Those

 

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opposed say nay.  They are adopted.

 

CLERK:  Senator Wickersham would move to amend with AM0454.  (See page 686 of the Legislative Journal.)

 

SPEAKER KRISTENSEN:  Senator Wickersham, you're recognized to open.

 

SENATOR WICKERSHAM:  Thank you, Mr. President.  The bill, as currently drafted, has the potential for having a joint public agency use sales tax directly in the funding for its operations.  In other words, a joint public agency, if it was assigned sales tax capacity by a municipality or a county, could use sales tax directly to support its operations.  That has turned out to be a little more complex an idea than what, frankly, I had anticipated.  It is the source of the A bill that is accompanying this bill.  It creates some issues, as I've indicated, that I, frankly, did not anticipate, and it is my current judgment that that potential authority should be removed and that's what the amendment does.  Very simply, it takes away any potential direct use of sales tax by a joint public agency for the support of its operations.  Sales tax might still go to a joint public agency, but an a budgetary allocation or transfer by one or more of the members of a joint public agency, not as a direct tax levied on behalf of or by the joint public agency.  Simply a number of issues, unanticipated issues, and difficulties in administration, so I heartily recommend to the body that those provisions be removed.

 

SPEAKER KRISTENSEN:  Debate on the Wickersham amendment?  Senator Wickersham, you're recognized to close.  He waives closing.  The question before the body is the adoption of the Wickersham amendment.  All those in favor vote aye; all those opposed vote nay.  Record.

 

CLERK:  25 ayes, 0 nays, Mr. President, on adoption of Senator Wickersham's amendment.

 

SPEAKER KRISTENSEN:  The amendment's adopted.

 

CLERK:  I have nothing further on the bill, Mr. President.

 

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SPEAKER KRISTENSEN:  Senator Smith.

 

SENATOR SMITH:  Mr. Speaker, I move we advance LB 87 to E & R for engrossing.

 

SPEAKER KRISTENSEN:  Question before the body is the advancement of LB 87 to E & R Engrossing.  All those in favor say aye.  Those opposed say nay.  It advances.  LB, 148.

 

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