Omaha Senator Proposes Raising Threshold for Tax Increases - KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD-Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker is proposing a constitutional amendment that would make it more difficult for the Legislature to approve tax increases.

Sen. Pete Pirsch of Omaha will present his measure Thursday to the Legislature's Revenue Committee. The measure would let voters decide whether to increase the vote threshold for lawmakers on bills that raise taxes.

The current set-up requires a simple majority. Pirsch's measure would mandate a majority of all lawmakers, plus four — a vote threshold of at least 29 in the 49-member Legislature.

Lawmakers haven't passed any direct tax increases in years. They approved the largest tax cut in history in 2007, and passed a second, slimmed-down tax cut package last year.