A letter to the Lincoln Journal Star published Thursday got an airing Friday on the floor of the Legislature.
The letter criticized the Legislature's Transportation and Telecommunications Committee because of the way opponents to a bill (LB46) said they were treated at a hearing last week.Ìý
Melody Vaccaro said committee members spoke harshly to the opponents and failed to explain the rules. One committee member, Sen. John Murante of Gretna, she said, rolled his eyes while people were testifying.Ìý
She was also dismayed that the committee, after hearing testimony opposed to the bill, advanced it to the full Legislature two hours later, seemingly without considering all points of view.
Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers read the letter out loud and added his criticism.
Transportation Chairman Curt Friesen defended the committee.Ìý
People are also reading…
The hearing rules are posted at the door, Friesen said, and when opponents ignored a rule that prohibited applause and demonstrations, he asked those people to be quiet or else he would clear the room. Many chairmen have done that at one time or another.
"I want an orderly room. I do not allow outbursts like that, because it intimidates anybody who may want to testify," Friesen said. "I run my committee meetings in a fair and equitable manner at all times. And if I do sound a little gruff, that's just grumpy old me."Â
On the quick turnaround of the vote to advance the bill, Friesen said it's his policy to not discuss bills the same day they are heard. But Speaker Jim Scheer had urged committees to get some bills to the floor to debate in these early weeks, and since license plate bills are fairly generic, he bent his rules to accomplish that.Ìý
Murante said he didn't remember rolling his eyes during any testimony. On the committee he chairs, he said, it's a top priority to ensure all opinions are welcome.Ìý
"If I caused any offense, certainly it was unintentional," he said.Ìý
Committee member Suzanne Geist said she didn't see any rudeness toward the people attending the hearing. And in voting to advance the bill, she said, she did weigh all the testimony.Ìý