With filibusters, the Nebraska legislature to discuss rule changes

LINCOLN, Neb. (COLOGNE) – State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said she was looking for a new pair of shoes this weekend; he wants to dig in his heels and filibuster more comfortably every day for the rest of the session.

“The leadership of this agency has made it clear that there is nothing left for us to do,” Cavanaugh said. “All we have to do is stand up against hate.”

Kavanaugh and Sens. Megan Hunt and Jen Day said they would slow things down on the legislative floor and oppose laws they consider hateful and anti-trans. Kavanaugh said he expects others to join him, but a proposed rule change proposed by Sen. Steve Erdman would limit the ability of filibusters.

“That’s what this proposal brought by Senator Erdman will be at the center of that debate,” said Senator John Arch, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. “Where’s the balance between ‘we have to pass bills’ and yet ‘we can’t silence minorities?’

The rule change allows for only one bracketed motion to be entered per bill for each state of debate. This means that competitors cannot submit bids, fill the allotted time, and then withdraw them.

That’s something that was brought up during Thursday’s debate over the Let Them Act. After a parenthesis, filibusters must be based on the content of the law with things like amendments.

“Let’s not do the procedural thing,” said Arch. “Let’s discuss the bill. and so it means. it does not lose its ability to filibuster.”

Cavanaugh said neither the revised version of the Let Them Grow Act, which focuses only on surgical procedures, nor the rule change would sway him from his current path.

“Whether the rules change or the rules don’t change, you can expect the same from me,” Cavanaugh said. “I slow everything down. because if they want to legalize hate, they have to prioritize hate legislation.”

Arch said the first hearing on the rule change will be next Tuesday. It needs 30 upvotes to move forward.

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