In Nebraska we have a unicameral legislature.
Other states have a house and a senate but here its just one body of 49 senators to represent the entire state.
But there is a second house, the people of Nebraska.
“There are times when the will of the people override what the legislature is doing, and that is accepted,” said Speaker of the Legislature John Arch.
This year we saw a significant gap between what the legislature supported and what the people voted for.
One issue in particular that saw strong support from lawmakers and significant opposition from voters, school choice.
“Does it feel like you dropped the ball on school choice with the people of Nebraska showing they aren’t supporting it the same way lawmakers are?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way. I think part of the process of any of these controversial issues is the period of education where people understand what the issue is….this particular issue is a bit of a philosophical issue I would call it. It is, what right should the child have to choose? That takes a while to educate and debate in the public,” said Arch