SLEUTHING DISCOVERS THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS MISSED AS 'UNSERVED' BY BROADBAND ON FEDERAL MAP

LINCOLN- Emily Haxby, who also serves on the Gage County Board, had doubts about the accuracy of federal maps showing areas that were “unserved” by broadband. Using a laptop at her farm near Clatonia, and some help from the state’s public power districts, a rural broadband advocate has uncovered oversights that may brings millions of extra federal dollars to Nebraska to expand high-speed internet service.

Haxby uncovered a dozen homes and businesses in her own rural area that were listed as "served by broadband" but are not. That’s important because a new pile of federal money — $42.45 billion via the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program — is being distributed on the basis of how many “unserved” locations there are in each state compared to other states.

With the help of the Nebraska Public Power District and the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, she found 11,367 farms, homes and other locations across the state that should have been labeled as “unserved” on federal broadband maps. The discovery could mean tens of millions of extra federal dollars for Nebraska to get broadband to unserved areas, according to Pat Pope, the former president/CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District.

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PILLEN SEEKS APPLICANTS TO FILL VACANCY LEFT BY RESIGNATION OF STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, INTERIM DIRECTOR NAMED

LINCOLN- Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen set a deadline of May 2nd for applications to fill the vacancy left by the recent and abrupt resignation of former Director of Economic Development Tony Goins. Goins resigned in early April after an investigation uncovered instances in which he had used his state email to funnel business to a Lincolncigar lounge that he was a majority owner of. Goins also used the email to promote a campaign event at the bar, an action prohibited by Nebraska law. 

The Capital Cigar Lounge also received two pandemic recovery grants from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the same agency Goins headed since being appointed by former Governor Pete Ricketts in 2019. Governor Pillen, in a Tuesday press release, set the deadline for applications for the position, which pays around $215,000 a year.

In the meantime, Gov. Pillen has appointed Joe Fox to the post. Fox previously served as the Department of Economic Development's director of business development. Fox will begin directing the agency until an applicant is approved.

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LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL TO PRIORITIZE RESOURCES IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY ADVANCES IN BUSINESS, LABOR PACKAGE

LINCOLN- On Thursday, the Legislature's Business and Labor Committee advanced a substantial package of legislation that includes LB267, a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Brewer that would give priority access to resources for "critical infrastructure utility workers" during civil defense emergencies, as determined by the President of the United States.

These workers would be given prioritized access to resources during emergencies that pose a "severe threat" to human health, including personal protective equipment, vaccines, and certain medical treatments. Brewer introduced the bill after hearing concerns from public power workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, who claimed that they were left in "no man's land" with vaccines and other resources despite having a "critical task."

During the hearing for LB267, Nebraska Adjutant General Daryl Bohac was the sole opponent testifer. Gen. Bohac, who heads the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, argued that LB267 would allow the state to supplant local capabilities and responsibilities with a too-broadly defined state mandate. 

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LEGISLATURE ADVANCES PLAN TO APPROPRIATE $180 MILLION FOR LINCOLN'S SECOND WATER SOURCE

LINCOLN- The Legislature gave first-round approval to an LB531 from Sen. Terrell McKinney that will provide grants to hundreds of proposals seeking to revitalize parts of North and South Omaha. Included in the bill is funding for Lincoln to begin work to secure a second source of drinking water. $180 million would be appropriated to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources from last year's ARPA money.

The Department plans to build a Southeast Nebraska regional water supply network that pumps water from the Missouri River to Lincoln and other communities. Originally LB506 intended to appropriate $200 million for the same purpose, but amidst negotiations, it was included as an amendment to LB531. The project lead, Sen. Eliot Bostar, said the Governor's support for the project helped the idea gain momentum.

"Frankly, (Pillen) gets it and agrees this is a valuable project that is important for the state because it ensures we don't get into a position where we have to exercise our water rights and impair irrigator access," the senator said. Winning first-round approval is "extremely significant" toward moving the estimated $1.39 billion project forward, Bostar said. 

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'NO EASY BUTTON': TED CARTER SAYS NU WILL NEED TO MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES TO CLOSE BUDGET GAP

OMAHA- University of Nebraska President Ted Carter told the Board of Regents that the university system would have to begin looking for cost-saving methods in order to hold any substantial tuition increases in check. Carter went on to say that, although NU Systems will receive a small bump in state aid from the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, the University might have to make some difficult decisions in the coming months. 

"There is absolutely no easy button for navigating these headwinds," Carter told the NU Regents. In a request given to the Legislature's appropriations committee last fall, NU sought a 3% increase in each of the next two years, which Carter noted would still leave the university with a $25 million budget shortfall. 

Despite this, Gov. Pillen and the Appropriations Committee later recommended a 2% increase in their budget proposals released earlier this year. An agreement was eventually struck between Pillen and Carter, and committee members approved a 2.5% budget increase. Carter finished by telling the Regents that he would begin discussions with them to decide whether or not to continue the current tuition freeze, but reaffirmed his support for keeping tuition at the university affordable. 

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CONTRACTOR-LED FINANCE MODEL PROPELS NEBRASKA HIGHWAY

LINCOLN- A new and unique contractor-led build-financing model is fueling the accelerated delivery of the $352 million Lincoln South Beltway, which includes 43 miles of alignment, 21 bridges, five interchanges, and 11 roundabouts. The Beltway is expected to be completed by 2024 after just three years of construction, as opposed to the expected eight to ten. 

To expedite the process, the Nebraska Department of Transportation utilized deferred contract payment certificates. The funds to pay for these certificates come from tax-exempt bonds via a conduit issuer, the Arizona Development Authority. NDOT then makes $7.5 million payments every quarter until the project is completed. 

Typically, a large project like the South Beltway would have been broken up into several phases and built as funding became available. "For a state Department of Transportation with about $700 million or so a year to spend, a $350 million project was just too big a piece" without the unique finance model, said Chris Hawkins, CEO of Hawkins Construction Co., who is building the Beltway. 

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NEBRASKA ICON, CHIEF STANDING BEAR, TO BE ON 18 MILLION POSTAGE STAMPS

LINCOLN- The story of Chief Standing Bear, which has reached new levels of prominence in Nebraska of late, now will be spread further through the U.S. mail. Beginning on May 12, a “Forever” commemorative stamp bearing the likeness of the Ponca leader is to be issued and become available for use nationwide. The U.S. Postal Service announced they intend to print 18 million of the specialized stamp. 

On May 12 there will be a dedication ceremony in Lincoln with Anton Hajjar, vice chair of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors; Candace Schmidt, chairwoman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska; and Judi gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs. The Chief Standing Bear stamp features a portrait by illustrator Thomas Blackshear II, who created the image based on a black-and-white photograph taken in 1877. 

In a media advisory, the U.S. Postal Service said it “holds reverence for Chief Standing Bear by honoring him with a forever stamp.” The statement notes how in 1879, Standing Bear won a landmark court ruling that determined a Native American was a person under the law, with an inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.The stamp can be prepurchased or purchased after the May 12 reveal. 

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FIVE NEBRASKA ENTITIES TO SHARE $13 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS AIMED AT HELPING LOW-INCOME AREAS

OMAHA- The Biden administration announced that $13 million will head to Nebraska to improve access to financial services and stir investment in underserved communities. The $13 million was split amongst five entities who were all awarded various amounts of the main pool. The awards were part of $1.73 billion in grants that are to go to 603 Community Development Financial Institutions across the country through the Treasury Department’s CDFI Equitable Recovery Program. 

Midwest Housing Development Fund Inc. of Omaha was awarded the bulk of the Nebraska share, about $6.2 million. Other recipients are: Omaha 100 Inc., $2.97 million; Oakland-based Nebraska Enterprise Fund, $2.23 million; Grand Island-based Native360 Loan Fund Inc., $961,541; Omaha’s Economic Empowerment Center, $527,331. 

“These grants — representing the largest CDFI grant program in history — will enable hundreds of community lenders to invest in small businesses and entrepreneurs, provide home loans for families, financial services for local nonprofits, and capital for community organizations,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement. Jodie Harris, CDFI Fund director, said the program funding is expected “to help families make ends meet” in tough times exacerbated by COVID-19. 

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$80 MILLION IN RATE INCREASES BACKED FOR NEBRASKA HOSPITALS, OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

LINCOLN- Following a decision on Wednesday from the Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations Committee, Nebraska hospitals might see their largest bump in Medicaid payment rates in more than 15 years. The Committee voted 6-3 to increase payment rates for health care and human services providers by 3% next year, and another 2% the following year. 

The passage of this decision would add an estimated $80 million to the committee's budget proposal for the two-year period ending in 2025. This new plan would apply to healthcare providers serving Medicaid patients, which includes hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, and a large range of other medical professions. 

Gov. Pillen included enough money in his proposed budget recommendations to allow for the continuance of payment rates, but not enough for increases. Despite this, medical leaders in Nebraska have argued that an increase in payment rates is critical, citing rising inflation and rampant workforce shortages. Nebraska Hospital Association President Jeremy Nordquist expressed gratitude for the increase, saying, "Certainly, it's better than zero. I know there's a lot of competing priorities."

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NEBRASKA BILL BANNING ABORTIONS WHEN CARDIAC ACTIVITY IS DETECTED PASSES FIRST ROUND OF DEBATE

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature voted to advance LB626, Sen. Albrecht's Heartbeat Act, to its second round of debate. In total, 32 Republican senators voted to advance the bill, as well as Democrat Sen. Mike McDonnell. Following its advancement, Sen. Joni Albrecht called it a "monumental" victory for Nebraska. 

"This is about elective abortions," Albrecht said of her bill's intent, "I know every woman and every child deserves love. We can protect their lives." LB626 will now move on to its second round of debate, when Sen. Merv Riepe intends to discuss his amendment that would shift the abortion ban from roughly 6 weeks to 12 weeks. However, Riepe, a former hospital executive, said he would support LB626 as written so long as the Legislature discusses his amendment. 

Democratic senators in the body expressed anguish at the passage of the bill. Sen. Megan Hunt, a vehement opponent of the bill, said, "In a state where we are criminalizing care...what's next? Every year, we have some kind of abortion ban. What's next? They just keep coming, one after another." Other senators questioned which abortions will be allowed under the bill, citing the bill's alleged vagueness. "The sound you hear on an ultrasound is not a heartbeat," said Sen. Jen Day, another opponent. 

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FUNDING THE STATEWIDE WEATHER MONITOR IS ON HOLD AS SENATORS, STAKEHOLDERS OPT FOR STRATEGIC PLAN

LINCOLN- A legislative bill that would have bolstered Nebraska's statewide weather monitoring system and provided funding has been tabled by the Legislature, despite the fact that the current system has been running on an increasingly patchwork budget. The system, formally titled the Nebraska Mesonet, would have received around $1 million over two years in LB401, a bill introduced by Sen. Myron Dorn. 

The bill was tabled, according to Sen. Dorn, to allow a committee to form around the subject and perform a survey to assess the system's capacity and identify what it needs to grow in the future. "We could have maybe funded it with general funds this year," said Dorn, "But we also don't want to go down the wrong path and come back three years from now and go, 'Boy, we didn't plan the best'." 

Dorn said that the general consensus between his office, the University of Nebraska, and Nebraska's Department of Natural Resources, is to work toward increasing the number of weather monitoring stations across the state and ensure support is reliable, especially in rural areas. Over the past few years, and because of the weather system's fluctuating budget, several stations have had to lay off staff and even close down.

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BIPARTISAN BILL TO CREATE DIGITAL ARCHIVE FOR THE NEBRASKA UNICAMERAL PUSHED BACK

LINCOLN- Nebraska is one of seven states in the United States that doesn't make its legislative proceedings available on demand. However, under LB254, a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Brewer that would require the legislature to record and store all legislative proceedings, that may change. The creation of this new digital archive, according to Sen. Brewer, would help citizens better understand what's going on in the Nebraska Legislature.

"We have a desire on everybody's part to tell the story of the Legislature," said Brewer, "And so many of our committee hearings are fascinating the people that come to testify and that's all lost unless you happen to be sitting in front of the TV when it's on." Civic Nebraska, a nonprofit that encourages civic engagement in Nebraska, expressed support for the bill as well. 

"Providing video coverage of the Legislature to the public increases the capacity for different organizations and other to use clips of floor debate and committee hearings to educate people," said Heidi Uhing, Public Policy Director for Civic Nebraska. However, LB254 has been pushed back on the agenda to allow for debate on more contentious topics, like abortion and a gender-affirming care ban. Despite this, Brewer stated that he was optimistic it would be passed.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS ADVANCE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR OMAHA RECOVERY PROJECT, $180 MILLION FOR LINCOLN WATER SOURCE INCLUDED

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, the Nebraska Legislature voted 30-0 to advance LB531, a bill introduced by Sen. Terrell McKinney that would allocate around $400 million to low-income Omaha neighborhoods. The bill is a follow-up to LB1024, which was introduced in 2022, that sent around $335 million to these underserved areas. Having passed its first round of debate, the bill will still need to pass through two more rounds before ending up on Gov. Pillen's desk.

Sen. Terrell McKinney told his colleagues that the bill's aim is to reduce poverty and crime rates, as well as improve educational and health outcomes in areas historically lacking in these services. "North Omaha is not a charity case for wealthy individuals to act as our savior," said McKinney during the debate over LB531, "It is a community that deserves a fair chance at the good life."

Most of the funding will be distributed through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The Department will review over 367 proposals and applications for funding, and will decide which projects to disburse money to. LB531 guarantees funding for several proposals, however, including $20 million for a Malcolm X museum and $20 million for local healthcare centers.

Included in the bill is funding for Lincoln to begin work to secure a second source of drinking water. $180 million would be appropriated to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources from last year's ARPA money.

The Department plans to build a Southeast Nebraska regional water supply network that pumps water from the Missouri River to Lincoln and other communities. Originally LB506 intended to appropriate $200 million for the same purpose, but amidst negotiations, it was included as an amendment to LB531. The project lead, Sen. Eliot Bostar, said the Governor's support for the project helped the idea gain momentum.

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HIGHER-THAN-ANTICIPATED FISCAL NOTE, $900 MILLION MORE, MAY REQUIRE TRIMS IN PROPOSED INCOME TAX CUTS

LINCOLN- After the initial fiscal note was above the expected number, the income tax reduction package or LB754 will need to be to narrowed down. The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates that Legislative Bill 754 will deliver $3.89 billion in tax cuts over its first six years, nearly $900 million more than previously thought.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the main sponsor of the bill, said that some of the tax cuts called for in the bill might have to be pared back so it fits within the state budget and so it matches, dollar-for-dollar, the tax relief provided by a package of property tax changes in a companion measure, LB 243. The official fiscal note is not calculated until the bill passes the first round of debate. Linehan did say she had some doubts about the accuracy of the fiscal note. 

Sen. Linehan agrees that preserving the cuts in personal and corporate income taxes are the highest priority in LB 754, as well as eliminating state tax on Social Security. Under the bill, the state’s top personal income tax rate and corporate tax rate would gradually fall to 3.99%.

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NEBRASKA'S PROPERTY TAX PLAN HAS LOTS OF MOVING PARTS, MAKING BENEFITS HARD TO PREDICT

LINCOLN- The basic goal of Gov. Pillen's property tax plan is simple: provide Nebraskans with a bigger break on their local property taxes by shifting money from state revenues, which are currently seeing an all-time high. However, the proposals advanced by Gov. Pillen and several Nebraska lawmakers to attain this goal are anything but simple. 

Several proposals which will move Nebraska toward this property tax goal are exceedingly complex, and deal with property tax credits, income tax credits, school aid, and changes in local taxing authority. This complexity makes it particularly difficult for taxpayers to figure out how these efforts might affect them. 

Many of the proposals' futures would depend entirely on whether the state continues its commitment to pay for the increased aid. In the past, efforts to bolster state aid have been scaled back during years when state revenues falter, leading to a great deal of uncertainty. However, one proposal would set aside $1 billion in a special fund to prepay the new state aid, but the state would still need to add consistent funding to keep up this commitment.

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NEBRASKA HAS NEARLY $200 MILLION IN UNCLAIMED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FUNDS

LINCOLN- Nebraska is sitting on around $200 million in unclaimed property tax credits, which come from a fund set up in 2021 that is supposed to provide direct property tax relief to citizens. "I would say the average is between $800 and a thousand this year" per household, said Nebraska Department of Revenue interim Director Glenn White.

"The money that isn't claimed is basically sitting right in the state's checking account," continued White. On top of that, according to the Department of Revenue, Nebraska is sitting on an additional $45 million in unclaimed credits from 2020. State Sen. Tom Briese, who sponsored the bill in 2020 that created the credit fund, said he'd like to see more people claim their credits. 

"And those dollars are substantial. We're talking about 25 to 30% of your school district property taxes paid," said Briese, "and a percentage of your community college taxes paid." Last week, certain Nebraska senators attempted to use some of that unclaimed funding to fund other methods of property tax relief, but were met with stiff opposition from Briese and others. 

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NEXT STEPS FOR VOTER ID IN NEBRASKA: NO NOTARY REQUIRED, NARROWER FOCUS ON VERIFICATION

LINCOLN- Nebraska state senators are setting aside the most controversial aspects of two legislative proposals to implement voter ID in Nebraska, and are instead focusing on drafting a comprehensive bill that would take a "narrower" approach. Eight senators on the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee are expected to begin meeting this week to draft the new voter ID bill, according to State Sen. Tom Brewer.

Sen. Brewer expressed interest in finalizing the bill's language this week or next week, and indicated that the committee will vote to send the bill to the full Legislature as early as mid to late April. Brewer said that the narrower approach the committee will be taking is to help the bill pass through the body without any significant filibuster. "We are going to keep this narrowly focused on what the people approved," said Brewer.

Brewer also indicated that Sen. Slama's LB535 will act as the vehicle for the new bill, but is not expecting to include language that would require a notary signature to cast a ballot. Sen. Danielle Conrad, a member of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee, said she was glad to see Brewer and the other members of the committee be so open to compromising on the voter ID proposal. "I'm hopeful that we'll be able to put our heads together and find the right path," said Conrad, "And if we want it to be done this year, we have to do it in a way that minimizes opposition." 

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CASA NEBRASKA VOLUNTEERS ADVOCATE FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHLDREN

LINCOLN- In 2022 alone, over 2,000 abused or neglected children in Nebraska had a court appointed special advocate, or CASA, who helped them navigate through the court process. A 'CASA' is a screened and trained volunteer appointed by a judge to advocate for a foster child who has been removed from their home following an instance of abuse or neglect.

CASAs thoroughly research the child's case and conducts interviews with the child, their providers, and their teachers, and share relevant facts with judges to help the court make more informed decisions regarding the child's future. "Our goal is to make sure that every child is going back to their home safely," said Corrie Kietly, a representative of the Nebraska CASA Association, "If that's not possible, then we find another safe and loving home for the child."

Currently, Nebraska CASA has around 960 volunteer advocates, with around 1,000 children in Nebraska's foster care system that still need a CASA. "Kids who are in foster care and who have CASA volunteers have better outcomes, do better in school, and get better services for the family," said Kietly, "That's just because there's another person involved in helping move that case along."

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS NARROWLY ADVANCE TRANS HEALTH CARE BILL AFTER INTERNAL CHAOS

LINCOLN- On Thursday, the Nebraska Legislature voted 33-16 to advance Sen. Kauth's LB574, a bill that would bar transgender youth under the age of 19 from receiving gender-affirming care. The controversial bill sparked hours of debate, and Sen. Kauth offered her colleagues an "olive branch" amendment, but told the body to vote 'no' on it. All 32 Republican senators voted to invoke cloture and advance the bill, as well as Democratic Senator Mike McDonnell. 

Prior to the bill's passage, Sen. Hunt withdrew several motions, and appealed to Sen. Kauth, saying, "Let's see the olive branch." Sen. Kauth responded by telling Hunt "We have our votes," prompting Speaker John Arch to put the Legislature on pause for forty-five minutes to allow for compromise and off-the-mic discussion. "I do appreciate your patience with this," Arch told the body, "This is a complex situation. And as they say it, it impacts not only the public but also proceedings of the Legislature."

Despite the bill's advancement, Sens. George Dungan and John Cavanaugh, two attorneys, questioned the constitutionality of the bill, stating that it might infringe upon the fourth amendment since it could be considered "discrimination in [a] federal court." Sen. Dungan also appealed to his Republic colleagues to consider a future amendment, and to move forward in a way that would significantly minimize harm. "I do not think that you are malicious," he said, "I think you are trying to help. Please listen: don't be sympathetic or pity people. Be empathetic and understand where people are coming from."

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'OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP' BILL ADVANCES TO PROVIDE TAX CREDITS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS

LINCOLN- On Thursday, the Nebraska Legislature voted to advance Sen. Linehan's LB753, which would adopt the Opportunity Scholarships Act and allow state dollars to go towards private or parochial schools. The bill, which some call "school choice" legislation, estimates in its fiscal note that around 5,000 Nebraska students could switch to private school if it's passed. The bill, in its first year, would allow for $25 million a year in tax credits, but that number could eventually rise to $100 million later on. 

If that happens, the state would be spending more on the Opportunity Scholarship Program than it does on the State Patrol, which costs around $80 million a year. Advocates of the bill stated that it would allow many more Nebraska students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, the opportunity to attend a private school if they should so choose. "This bill allows children to find the best school that fits their needs, even if they can't afford tuition," said Sen. Linehan, who has worked for seven years to pass such legislation. 

Despite the bill's passage, Sens. George Dungan and John Cavanaugh questioned the constitutionality of the proposal, since the Nebraska State Constitution prohibits public funding from being provided to religious institutions, which many private schools are. However, Sen. Linehan argued that the bill is not an appropriation of funds to private institutions, but rather a tax credit system. "It's not an appropriation if we never collect the money," she told her colleagues. 

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