LINCOLN- 17 Nebraska senators have signed a pledge pushed by Charles Herbster's new Nebraska First PAC, stating that they would vote to end the Legislature's long-standing system of electing committee chairs by secret ballot.

The secret ballot vote was introduced to the Legislature to allow senators to vote across party lines, without facing public repercussions.

Republicans have wanted the change to happen for many years, believing that public ballots would push Republican senators to vote along party lines, and that fewer would risk the potential political price of voting Democrats into committee chair positions.

Three of Herbster's most vocal supporters, including Sen. Halloran, Sen. Erdman, and Sen. Brewer signed the pledge. Other senators in support of the change include: Sen. Linehan, Sen. Albrecht, Sen. Geist, Sen. Lowe, Sen. Arch, Sen. Bostelman, Sen. Briese, Sen. Clements, Sen. Dover, Sen. Hansen, Sen. Jacobson, Sen. Kauth, Sen. Murman, and Speaker Hilgers.

Sen. Linehan defended her singing of the pledge, saying, "This is the right policy. You should have to stand by your votes."

Nebraska political scientists have argued that the push for the removal of the secret vote is not about transparency, as the State GOP argues, but rather about Republican majority control. These same political scientists stated that the current secret voting method protects senators from being punished by their party for voting across state lines.

Paul Landow, a political science professor at UNO, stated, "These are George Norris reforms that are critical to the operation of a one-house, nonpartisan Legislature. You cannot get along without them."

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