By Joe Jordan, Nebraska Watchdog

A Nebraska lawmaker who wants to stop tax dollars from winding up in the pockets of lobbyists sounds a lot like a fan of the Chicago Cubs.

State Senator Bill Avery of Lincoln says his plan for “lobby reform” will have to wait ’til next year.

Avery isn’t sure why his bill is stuck in the Legislature’s Education Committee but wonders if the influence peddlers at the State Capitol have won round one. Avery tells Nebraska Watchdog, ”I don’t know if the lobby got to the committee or not.”

During a recent public hearing on Avery’s bill, which would prohibit schools from using state tax dollars to pay lobbyists, not one lobbyist testified. In addition not one metro Omaha school board member or administrator testified.

Following the hearing State Senator Brad Ashford of Omaha told Nebraska Watchdog the lobbyists and schools didn’t testify because, “It’s difficult to justify using tax dollars to pay for lobbyists who ask the state for more tax dollars.” Ashford was confident the committee would vote to advance the bill to the full legislature.

But Avery says at best the committee is stuck at a 4-4 tie, leaving the measure one vote short and forcing him to bring the bill back next year.

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