LINCOLN- Senators who oppose giving a tax credit to Nebraskans who donate to scholarship-granting organizations mounted a successful filibuster of the bill Wednesday, blocking it from advancing for the second time in nine months.

The Opportunity Scholarships Act (LB364) would have allowed taxpayers to receive a credit on up to half of their annual income tax liability if they donated to programs providing tuition and fees for low-income students attending a private school.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn — who gave the bill a priority designation this year, allowing it to return for debate — said the program would have allowed more than 1,000 families to find the “right educational fit” for their children.

She was again backed by Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne, who argued the program could help students from his North Omaha legislative district afford a private school education instead of waiting for improvement in the public schools serving the area.

“We are not saying this is the silver bullet,” Wayne said, “but we are saying give this a chance.”

Opponents, echoing debate on the same bill that took place last April, said creating tax benefits to incentivize philanthropy was unnecessary and said the program would take away state funding designated for public schools.

Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington said nothing in the bill guaranteed the scholarships would reach students who needed them. What was certain, DeBoer said, is that a handful of wealthy donors would quickly collect the $5 million in tax credits each year.

The cloture vote fell five short of the 33 needed to break the filibuster.

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