LINCOLN - The 2016 legislative session ended Wednesday with praise for a job well done and 11 term-limited senators saying goodbye.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts called the session "very successful" and pointed to lawmakers acting on a number of his priorities: holding spending growth to 3.6 percent, delivering property tax relief and defeating Medicaid expansion for the fourth time.
Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley of Kearney praised the accomplishments as well, listing continued prison reform, property tax relief, roads funding and the revamping of the Learning Community.
"I do believe we accomplished a lot," he said.
All told, Hadley said, lawmakers passed 216 bills this year and enacted an additional 66 by amending them into legislation that passed.
All but four of the bills named as priorities had their chance for debate. Hadley urged returning senators to act quickly on those bills next year.
But the speaker also warned that next year's Legislature will need to decide how to handle filibusters, which became increasingly common this year.
He said lawmakers voted a record 24 times this year on motions to end a filibuster. That compares to 13 such votes last year and nine in 2014. There were six such votes in 2013 and three each in 2012 and 2011.
"I just wonder if we're becoming a 33-vote Legislature," Hadley said, referring to the number of votes needed to cut off a filibuster.
State Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha agreed, saying the stalling tactic made the short 60-day session feel longer and more arduous than any other during his eight years.
"It's bittersweet to leave seeing that it may be changing for the worst in regards to the overreliance on filibusters," he said. "When I was elected, the focus was on trying to get people who disagreed to sit down and work through it to build consensus."
The departing state senators include Hadley, Mello and nine others. Among them are five of the 14 chairs of standing legislative committees.
Some plan to return to politics and elected office, including one who aims to be governor one day and another who might be looking at state office. For others, the end of their time in the Legislature is the end of their political life.
Here's what they said about their accomplishments and what they're planning to do next:
Galen Hadley, Kearney
Elected 2008, 2012; Speaker of the Legislature; past Revenue Committee chairman
Accomplishments: Passed tax reductions as chairman of the Revenue Committee, including a measure that indexed income tax brackets for inflation; met personal goals of being fair and truthful as Speaker of the Legislature.
What's next: Selling condo in Lincoln and returning to Kearney full time for retirement. No plans to seek other elected office. Traveling to Arizona or New Zealand early next year. "My wife has two votes, so I have a hunch we'll be going to New Zealand."
Dave Bloomfield, Hoskins
Appointed 2010; elected 2012
Accomplishments: Passed bill to ban use of telemedicine for drug-induced abortions; pushed for sales tax exemption on farm equipment repair parts; introduced bill to repeal motorcycle helmet requirements three times.
What's next: Retirement to the farm with "a little fishing, a little traveling." No plans to run for office again.
Kathy Campbell, Lincoln
Elected 2008, 2012; Health and Human Services Committee chairwoman
Accomplishments: Investigated and reformed child welfare after disastrous state privatization experiment; passed bill restoring prenatal Medicaid coverage for unborn children of illegal immigrants; pushed for expansion of Medicaid to more low-income Nebraskans; planned for future of health care in Nebraska; led efforts to improve children's behavioral health care.
What's next: Spend first weeks following session helping after the birth of daughter's second child. Finish up legislative projects. No specific plans after the end of the year. "Whatever I do next will not entail yard signs."
Colby Coash, Lincoln
Elected 2008, 2012; Developmental Disabilities Special Investigative Committee chairman; past State-Tribal Relations Committee chairman
Accomplishments: Passed legislation to allow bars to stay open until 2 a.m. and created special alcohol licenses for entertainment districts; assisted efforts to improve guardianship for the elderly, children in the welfare system and people with disabilities; played key role in rallying support among conservatives to repeal the death penalty.
What's next: Dive into his private consulting business that specializes in leadership development and communications. Spend more time with his wife and son. Won't rule out running for office again, but not likely for the Legislature. "I will miss it. The most rewarding part of politics is bringing people toward common ground."
Tanya Cook, Omaha
Elected 2008, 2012; Planning Committee chairwoman
Accomplishments: Pushed for community college funding; sponsored measure to eliminate the subsidy "cliff effect" that costs low-income families child-care subsidies if they get a raise at work; passed equal pay for equal work measure; added a voice for urban, working families.
What's next: Will take some time to consider options. "I'm very fortunate to have some flexibility in my schedule to make my private life a priority." Would consider running for elected office in the future. Wants to serve as a delegate for Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.
Mike Gloor, Grand Island
Elected 2008, 2012; Revenue Committee chairman; past Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee chairman
Accomplishments: Pushed the patient-centered medical home model as a way to improve health care; passed tax relief and modernization measures; revamped the process for evaluating whether to change health care licensing requirements; introduced legislation to raise the tobacco tax three times.
What's next: Married Marie de Martinez on April 15. "After that I don't know." Possibly teaching and home projects, possibly local office, definitely not a return to hospital administration.
Ken Haar, Malcolm
Elected 2008, 2012
Accomplishments: Provided leading voice on the environment and clean energy; passed net metering for those who generate home electricity with wind or solar power; pushed to create a state task force on climate change; led a successful call for a 2011 special session to reroute the proposed Keystone XL pipeline away from the Sand Hills.
What's next: Plans to help get the climate change task force going and otherwise is looking forward to retirement and possibly exploring volunteer opportunities.
Beau McCoy, Omaha
Elected 2008, 2012
Accomplishments: Advocated for lower state income taxes when he in 2012 prioritized a proposal that reduced state income taxes for low- and middle-income families; continued support for K-12 and higher education funding despite economic downturn; serves as national chairman for Council of State Governments.
What's next: Heading to China later this year to adopt a 2- to 4-year-old special-needs son, who will join five siblings, including 1-month-old Millie. Plans to continue working as manager of the building products division of Conklin Co. Wants to stay involved in politics and run for elected office again. Says serving as governor would be the "ultimate job in government." "We'll see what the future holds."
Heath Mello, Omaha
Elected 2008, 2012;
Appropriations Committee chairman
Accomplishments: Helped to shepherd through the state budget process, particularly last year's 49-0 vote on the mainline budget; started the process of addressing the prison overcrowding crisis; worked with rural senators to develop water projects funding policy, which included money for Omaha's sewer upgrade.
What's next: Spending time with wife and two small children, focusing on house projects, working at the Nebraska Career Education and Innovation Foundation and staying busy with legislative issues. Would consider running for office, statewide or in Omaha. "That's something my family and I will talk through later this year."
Ken Schilz, Ogallala
Elected 2008, 2012;
Natural Resources Committee chairman; past Agriculture Committee chairman
Accomplishments: Played key role in passage of 2014 legislation to create permanent funding for water sustainability projects; passed bill that ended Nebraska's practice of banning meatpacker ownership of hogs; sponsored bill to limit the civil liability of landowners for the purposes of promoting agri-tourism and other businesses on private lands.
What's next: Working as a government relations contractor for a wind energy development firm and exploring other employment opportunities. Will continue to live in Ogallala. No immediate plans to run for office again, but "you never close the door on that. Who knows after four years what could happen."
Kate Sullivan, Cedar Rapids
Elected 2008, 2012;
Education Committee chairwoman
Accomplishments: Passed compromise legislation preserving the Omaha-area Learning Community structure while eliminating the common levy; promoted balance of education needs and state budget constraints through evolving state school aid formula; pushed to ease property taxes through school aid, budget limits.
What's next: Return to Cedar Rapids, transition out of management of Cedar Rapids State Bank but remain on board of directors. No plans to seek other elected office.
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