Filibuster holds up bills in the Nebraska Legislature

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — For the last three working days, the Nebraska Legislature has not advanced any bill during floor debate.

It is mainly because of an effort to filibuster controversial bills related to abortion and transgender youth. 

A filibuster is a practice to slow down or block a bill from getting a vote.

And to fill time, senators often talk about random topics.

“At the fish fry we had, we had spaghetti.” Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said Tuesday. “Oh no, we didn’t had spaghetti.”

Sen. John Cavanaugh added, “Fish fries are a fantastic way to spend Fridays during spring season.”

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh was leading the effort, and several others joined in.

“We would do all that we can in our power to try to stop these harmful measures and to refocus the body’s attention on critical workforce issues impacting working families,” Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln said.   

In Nebraska, senators can introduce motions and amendments for bills. They are then allowed to speak for five minutes at a time, up to three times, on each motion or amendment. 

Other senators can jump in the discussion. Some even give their time to the person filibustering. 

Cavanaugh’s efforts frustrated some Republican senators in the officially nonpartisan Legislature.

“So maybe what she should do is just stand there for five minutes of silence like I did last year.” Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said. “That would make more sense than what she’s been saying.”