The mainline state budget, LB 814, was advanced from first-round debate Wednesday night on a vote of 36-4.
Critics of the budget faulted the plan for “stealing” money from cash funds held by state agencies to fund programs, rather than using general state tax funds, as is typical, to cover the cost. The story noted how that is a technique used often when state government funds are tight, not when — as is the case now — the state sits on a record surplus of tax revenue.
Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said it was done to free up more money for tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and out-of-state corporations.