Senator Kavanaugh criticizes budget priorities, TANF use and repeal of autism waiver in lengthy floor remarks

Senator Mikaela Kavanaugh used floor time during final-reading proceedings to deliver an extended critique of the Legislature’s fiscal and policy priorities, focusing on the budget, use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, and the proposed HHS priority bill (LB376), which she said contains an “outright repeal” of an autism waiver that had been authorized in 2007 but never launched due to lack of funding.

Kavanaugh argued the state is choosing a budget that prioritizes property‑tax relief over funding government services such as libraries, community supports and services for people with disabilities. “We are choosing to have a deficit,” she said on the floor, arguing the state had shifted money into a fund to reimburse property taxes rather than sustain program funding. Kavanaugh said some TANF spending is directed to nonmedical crisis‑pregnancy centers and “fatherhood” programs rather than direct cash assistance to low‑income families, and she criticized what she described as over‑regulation and intrusive program requirements for TANF recipients.

She also objected to provisions in the HHS priority bill (LB376) that would remove statutory language and programs — including an autism waiver that could have been a future tool for addressing the DD (developmental disability) waiting list. Kavanaugh warned that repealing existing statutory tools would make it more time‑consuming to reinstate them later and reduce options for serving people with developmental disabilities.

Kavanaugh’s remarks referenced the Blind Commission and Hard of Hearing Commission cash funds and argued that reducing or raiding those funds and other DEI‑type programs would hurt vulnerable Nebraskans who rely on services for workforce access and independence.

Floor context: Kavanaugh spoke during several opportunities on the floor; her speech addressed a broad set of budget and policy concerns rather than a single motion. Other senators recognized guests and offered brief remarks during the same floor period.

Why it matters: The comments frame concern about how the Legislature’s budget and policy choices affect low‑income Nebraskans, people with disabilities and community services. If programs are repealed or their statutory authority removed, restoring them would require new bills, hearings and funding decisions.

Provenance: Kavanaugh’s remarks are recorded in the session transcript during consideration of several bills and committee reports (notably during floor consideration of committee amendments and in remarks surrounding LB376 and TANF funding discussion).