Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Nabity said Tuesday that state lawmakers should be called into a special session to pass an economic development bill they skipped over in the recent legislative session.

Nabity said it was a mistake for lawmakers to pass over the so-called Cabela's bill (LB500), which was meant to help the Sidney-based outdoor outfitter open a Sarpy County store.

"Failing to pass LB500 sends a terrible message to similar companies wanting to add jobs to our state," Nabity said at a Capitol news conference. "If Nebraska is not friendly to its own, homegrown companies, why should outside companies want to build and add jobs here?"

The bill was passed over because there did not appear to be enough votes to stop a filibuster in the waning days of the session.

The bill, which will be revisited next session, proposes to create special tourism and entertainment districts, with sales and lodging tax incentives used to help fund construction.

Cabela's, which would have qualified as a tourist destination under the bill, had expressed interest in building a Sarpy County store.

Gov. Dave Heineman, who has the authority to call a special session, was traveling Tuesday and could not reached for immediate comment.

Proponents say Cabela's is a legitimate tourism destination and deserves incentives from the state.

But others say the measure is unfair to existing sporting goods stores and that a new Cabela's store would not attract people from outside Nebraska.

Nabity said the incentives provided in LB500 would allow communities to create new loans, or bonds, for developers to build tourism attractions and repay the loans with the sales taxes that are generated from these new projects.

"It is the most efficient way to support new projects, because it does not put any pressure on the private citizens to pay higher income or property taxes," he said. "As a matter of fact, it may do just the opposite and allow for tax cuts in the future."

"Nebraska lost a wonderful opportunity to create new jobs, develop a new source of income tax revenue and pull travelers off of Interstate 80 to enjoy what Nebraska has to offer," he said.

The Sidney store, situated near Interstate 80, ranks in Nebraska's top five tourism draws in 2004, according to the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism.

In Nebraska, 3,500 people work for Cabela's, including a credit-card operation in Lincoln, for a total payroll in the state of $125 million.

Cabela's has 11 stores, which feature big-game trophies, indoor waterfalls and aquariums.

Nabity said a proposed $70 million amusement park between Omaha and Lincoln also could benefit from the Cabela's bill. Steve Minard, president of Metro Omaha Theme Park LLC, said earlier that he wanted to take advantage of the measure if passed.

Nabity is running against Heineman and U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne for the GOP nomination in the 2006 race.

There are no announced Democratic candidates.

Nabity, the owner of an Omaha investment management firm, has been endorsed by former Republican Gov. Kay Orr.

Dave Nabity: http://www.davenabity.com/

Nebraska Republican Party: http://www.negop.org

Nebraska Democratic Party: http://www.nebraskademocrats.org