Budget, information for pregnant women debated in Legislature

A public hearing on the state budget Monday highlighted disagreements over the right approach to balancing it, and lawmakers continued debate on requiring health care professionals to give pregnant women information on domestic violence and human trafficking.

At a public hearing of the Appropriations Committee Monday afternoon, State Budget Administrator Neil Sullivan led off with a reassurance.

“Many Nebraskans read headlines about a $471 million budget gap and worry about the state's fiscal solvency. I'd like to begin by clarifying that the state of Nebraska is in an excellent fiscal shape,” Sullivan said.

Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed closing that budget gap using a combination of ways, including sweeping tens of millions from funds including the Environmental Trust Fund, which is supported by state lottery profits, to pay for projects that would otherwise be paid for from tax dollars.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh asked whether using funds intended for other purposes would erode public trust.

“We're hearing from the public that this is an erosion of trust. So I'm asking, ‘What do you expect us to say if we're going to move forward with the governor's intended budget proposal? What are we to say to the public to convince them that this isn't an erosion of the trust that we have built over generations, with them, with past legislatures?’” she asked.

Sullivan said it’s better to spend the trust fund money, rather than just let it accumulate.

“What I don't think the public intends us to do is just sit on the money and leave it in the bank account gathering dust,” he said.

Supporters of keeping the money in the Environmental Trust point out that voters approved spending money for environmental projects when they approved a state lottery in 1992. They criticized Pillen’s proposed use of it to balance the budget and pay for his effort to lower property taxes.

Sen. Christy Armendariz asked Sullivan where he thinks voter sentiment lies now.

“In your opinion today, if that were put on a ballot initiative, would folks vote for (the) Environmental Trust or property tax?” Armendariz asked.

“It would certainly be interesting to see if those two were both put on the ballot as competing interests. I mean, I sure hear a lot about property tax relief,” he replied.

Justin Hubly, executive director of the NAPE/AFSCME state employees union, said some budget cuts Pillen has already made have hurt.

“The Department of Revenue laid off its entire individual income tax collections unit this fall. With more than $100 million in back taxes owed to the state of Nebraska, this was a penny-wise and pound-foolish decision. Not only did the department raise the white flag on collecting revenue it is owed, it closed the Scottsbluff taxpayer assistance office, leaving the next closest office in North Platte,” Hubly said.

The Appropriations Committee’s preliminary budget proposal reduces the shortfall from $471.5 million to $344.5 million. The committee will now spend the next couple of months preparing a final recommendation for the full Legislature.

In the floor debate Monday morning, senators continued debating a bill by Sen. Tanya Storer that would require health care professionals to ask women who are seeking abortions if they’re victims of coercion, domestic abuse or sex trafficking. If so, they’d be given the numbers for national hotlines and the chance to make a confidential phone call. Storer said her goal is to save lives.

“This is meaningful legislation. This is meaningful to those women that this may be their only chance to get help and to get out of those horrific situations,” she said.

Sen. George Dungan said forcing women to remain pregnant instead of getting an abortion is a tool used by men who abuse women.

“Abusers know that if they're able to get that person to keep that baby, they stay connected with them," he said. "They stay attached both financially, which allows for the cycle of financial abuse to continue. They stay attached legally, through that child, and it gives them an ability to continue to keep tabs on their abuser."

Storer has acknowledged that coercing someone to remain pregnant is also a problem. She has an amendment she wants added to the bill to address that. Sen. Carolyn Bosn, a supporter of Storer’s bill, says it’s an answer to a questions raised by critics of the original proposal.

“Are we singling out abortion clinics to provide this notice when, if we really want to target domestic abuse and human trafficking, we would be providing this type of information to victims at all of their appointments?” Bosn asked.

The amendment would require the information be provided, “upon a pregnant woman's first recorded visit with a licensed health care professional to consult on a pregnancy.”

Sen. Megan Hunt, a critic of Storer’s bill, had mixed reactions to that proposed change.

“The heart of this bill is about reproductive coercion. And I think that…you know, being honest, I think Sen. Storer’s amendment improves the bill. I think that it opens new problems by putting obstetricians into abortion statutes,” Hunt said.

Hunt said the Nebraska Medical Association does not want obstetricians included in that section of law. Debate on the bill is scheduled to continue Tuesday.

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