Chambers aims to kill bill on prisoner labor

LINCOLN – After three hours of discussion, one of three amendments proposed by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha to a bill dealing with prison labor was passed Tuesday.

“I intend to take all the time that is necessary to kill this bill,” Chambers said.

The bill (LB52) would allow nonprofit organizations to hire prisoners for labor with no pay.

Chambers proposed amendments to eliminate nonprofit organizations from the proposed program and to eliminate the requirement that the labor would pay for the operating costs of the penitentiary. Both failed.

But his amendment to exclude organizations that discriminated against individuals based on sexual orientation from the program passed with a 29-5 vote.

Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial is the sponsor of the bill that would create the prisoner work program. He said it was based on a work camp in McCook, where he said he had no knowledge that discrimination based on sexual orientation took place.

“I don’t see what it changes,” Christensen said. “The whole thing comes down to, if you’re a great worker, nobody is going to get rid of you.”

Chambers said it is already against state law to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation, and allowing these organizations to do so would be wrong.

Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus agreed. He said if there was no evidence of discrimination seen in the area of McCook in question, then the amendment to eliminate organizations that do so would not hurt the aim of the original bill.

Schumacher also said that the Legislature should take advantage of the time to have a discussion on the issues raised about Nebraska’s criminal justice system and underlying tones of discrimination in legislation.

“Sen. Chambers can’t have all the fun today,” Schumacher said. “Are we not capable of engaging in that discussion?”

With the exception of a few other senators who spoke, however, Chambers occupied the majority of the discussion.

“Maybe we have an obligation to deal with those issues,” Schumacher said, adding,

“We’re all hesitant to talk about the collective will.”