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What’s up with Nebraska? State shows independent streak

In this May 20, 2015, photo, Nebraska state Sen. Ernie Chambers, an independent, center, jokes with Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis, a Republican, left, and with Sen. Rick Kolowski of Omaha, a Democrat, right. The Nebraska Legislature is comprised of 35 Republicans, 13 Democrats and one independent, but the parties have no control in Nebraska’s unusual one-house, nonpartisan Legislature. The speaker of the Legislature sets the agenda and designates certain bills as priorities but can’t control whether a bill makes it to the floor and how senators vote. The setup forces lawmakers to build coalitions based on conscience, regional interests or agreements to support one another’s bills. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) In this May 20, 2015, photo, Nebraska state Sen. Ernie Chambers, an independent, center, jokes with Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis, a Republican, left, and with Sen. Rick Kolowski of Omaha, a Democrat, right. The Nebraska Legislature is comprised of 35 Republicans, 13 Democrats and one independent, but the parties have no control in Nebraska’s unusual one-house, nonpartisan Legislature. The speaker of the Legislature sets the agenda and designates certain bills as priorities but can’t control whether a bill makes it to the floor and how senators vote. The setup forces lawmakers to build coalitions based on conscience, regional interests or agreements to support one another’s bills. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

By Associated Press May 31, 2015 1 min read

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – For a conservative state, Nebraska lawmakers had a rather liberal-leaning list of accomplishments this legislative session.

But by the time lawmakers adjourned last week, they had repealed the death penalty, legalized licenses for certain immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, raised the state fuel tax and come close to approving a medical marijuana bill.

It was surprising in a state where Republicans hold all elected statewide offices and make up more than two-thirds of the 49-seat Legislature.

But Nebraska is different from other states. The Legislature is officially nonpartisan, leaders have far less control over bills and the small size encourages legislators to become friends.

Republican Sen. Laura Ebke says the nonpartisan rules feed the notion that senators need to research issues themselves and vote their conscience.