LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers voted Tuesday to override Gov. Dave Heineman’s vetoes of state budget items, including funding for courtyard fountains and a new heating system at the Capitol.
The 37-11 vote came days after Heineman, a Republican, announced that he had trimmed $65 million from the Legislature’s updated budget package. Heineman singled out the $2.5 million fountain project as a less important priority than state-funded property tax relief.
The fountains are the last major unfinished design feature of the Capitol, which was built in stages between 1922 and 1932. They were originally expected to sit in each of the building’s four open-air courtyards, but the work was halted because of the Great Depression. With the new funding, construction is expected to be completed just before Nebraska celebrates its 150th anniversary as a state.
Sen. John Nelson, of Omaha, said the state is now able to finish the project, and that if lawmakers don’t act, it could get postponed indefinitely.
“For the governor to say that we’ve done without this now for 80 years, and we don’t need the fountains now - I disagree with that,” Nelson said. “I think this is the time.”
With the override votes, senators restored $61 million of the $65 million that Heineman vetoed.
“The governor and the Legislature had a respectful disagreement on priorities,” said Jen Rae Wang, the governor’s communications director. “Governor Heineman supports property tax relief, and 37 state senators supported increased spending.”
Sen. Beau McCoy, of Omaha, said the fountains should be “near the very bottom” of the state’s priority list.
“It is an extra in my mind, not a need,” said McCoy, a Republican candidate for governor. “All of us live on budgets … You have to, to survive in today’s climate. And there comes a time when you make decisions based on what’s needed and what’s wanted.”
Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff, who is serving is eighth and final year on the Appropriations Committee, said senators have talked about finishing the Capitol building for years. Despite the perceived public outcry against the fountains, he said, many Nebraskans have told him that they want to see the project move forward.
“I think it’s important for us to finish this facility,” he said. “I think it’s important for us to complete what the dreams were of the people who put this together.”
Lawmakers also defeated a budget amendment to remove $11.7 million so crews could begin work on a new heating and air conditioning system for the Capitol. The total HVAC renovation project is expected to cost nearly $78 million over 10 years.
Heineman used his line-item veto to cut provisions that he felt were lesser priorities for the state or those that weren’t requested by agencies he oversees. He also repeated his argument that lawmakers haven’t done enough this year to lower taxes.
Lawmakers have already agreed to a $25 million increase in the state’s property tax credit fund, which would increase the total annual amount to $140 million. An attempt by some state senators to add more money was rejected before it reached Heineman’s desk.
Sen. Heath Mello, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said members this year have tried to strike a balance between tax cuts and maintaining state buildings and services.
“This year’s budget priorities marked a very stark difference from what we’ve seen in years past,” Mello said.
Sen. Bill Kintner, of Papillion, complained about the up-or-down process for voting on the governor’s vetoes. This year’s budget changes were all contained within three bills. Senators had the option Tuesday to amend each bill on the floor, but lawmakers weren’t able to vote on individual line-item vetoes.
“I think the taxpayer is getting the short end of the stick,” Kintner said. “People deserve to have each of these overrides voted on, on its own merit.”
___
Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte
Please read our comment policy before commenting.