Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appointments Confirmations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislature adopts committee reports to confirm multiple gubernatorial appointments
Summary
Committees reported favorably on and the Legislature adopted reports supporting appointments to the Nebraska Power Review Board, Environmental Trust Board, Tourism Commission, Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee, Educational Telecommunications Commission, Racing and Gaming Commission, and State Electrical Board.
Lincoln — On the floor the Legislature unanimously adopted several committee reports recommending confirmation of gubernatorial appointments to state boards and commissions.
The Natural Resources Committee recommended the confirmation of Dennis Grennan to the Nebraska Power Review Board. Senator Brandt said Grennan has more than 50 years of power‑industry experience and previously served on the board. Brandt asked senators for a green vote; the committee report was adopted without opposition.
The Natural Resources Committee also advanced Jeff Kanger’s reappointment to the Nebraska Environmental Trust Board. Senator Brandt described Kanger as knowledgeable about the board’s work and recommended confirmation. Senator John Cavanaugh said he was not yet ready to vote on Kanger because he remains concerned about the trust’s recent practice of withholding grants and the Legislature’s use of trust monies to plug budget gaps: “We have in our budget right now $15,000,000 that we are scraping over the next 2 years from the environmental trust to fill our budgetary holes,” he warned.
Other confirmations or reappointments recommended by committees and adopted by the full body included Deborah L. Kelly to the Nebraska Tourism Commission (Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee); Lisonbee Muotri and Rui Yee to the Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee (Health and Human Services Committee); Clay Smith and Paul Terman to the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission (Education Committee); John Barrett and Chris Stinson to the State Racing and Gaming Commission (General Affairs Committee); and Tyler C. Ritz to the State Electrical Board (General Affairs Committee). Committee sponsors on the floor described each nominee’s relevant experience and urged confirmation; the Legislature adopted the committee reports by voice vote or recorded roll calls indicated in the chamber record.
Where floor debate occurred, senators generally offered personal endorsements based on acquaintance with nominees or experience with applicants’ prior service. No committee report was rejected on the floor and the confirmations move forward for final processing per statutory procedures.
