The Associated Press | Posted: Sunday, April 24, 2005 7:00 pm
Developments on the 67th day of the first session of the 99th Nebraska Legislature, Monday, April 25, 2005.
ON THE FLOOR:
ERNIE CHAMBERS: State lawmakers applauded in recognition of Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers becoming the longest-serving state senator in Nebraska history, passing the previous record set by Jerry Warner of Lincoln. Warner died in office in 1997 after serving 34 years, three months and 19 days. Chambers, 67, was first elected in 1970. A political independent, and self-professed "Defender of the Downtrodden," Chambers is the Legislature's only black senator and is among the most colorful and well-known personalities in the state. He has worked fiercely against the death penalty and is known as a master of the Legislature's rules, often using them to derail bills he opposes. A former barber, Chambers will be forced out of office in 2009 due to term limits. Unless term limits are revoked, the Chambers record will go unbroken. Chambers, in comments on the floor following the applause, said if he had known 35 years ago that he would still be in the Legislature he never would have run.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Let me assure you a crisis is in the offing," said Lincoln Sen. Chris Beutler, referring to the clash between room in the budget and the cost of a business tax incentive plan.