During a recent public hearing on a bill that would prohibit state tax dollars that go to schools from winding up in the pockets of lobbyists, something was missing: the lobbyists who get the money.

Something else was also missing: the big schools that put the money in the lobbyists’ pockets.

Not one paid lobbyist, not one metro Omaha school board member, and not one metro Omaha school administrator testified for or against the legislation which was proposed by State Senator Bill Avery of Lincoln.

Omaha State Senator Brad Ashford, a member of the Education Committee which held the hearing, says the lobbyists and schools didn’t testify because, “It’s difficult to justify using tax dollars to pay for lobbyists who ask the state for more tax dollars.”

Ashford tells Nebraska Watchdog he thinks the committee will vote to move the bill to the full legislature.

In December, a Nebraska Watchdog investigation reported that during the last three years a dozen Nebraska school districts, half a dozen cities, 3 counties, and a handful of other public operations (such as Omaha’s Metro Area Transit) shelled out nearly $3 million tax dollars for lobbyists.

Avery’s bill only pertains to schools. According to the legislature’s fiscal office in 2009, 15 school districts spent an estimated $500,000 on lobbying.

Avery insists school administrators are more than capable of dealing with the legislature without shelling out tax dollars to lobbyists. According to Avery, “If our superintendents can’t figure out this process…perhaps they are overpaid.”

Contacted by Nebraska Watchdog a spokesperson for the Millard Board of Education said Millard opposes Avery’s bill and believes “lobbying has served the district well.” According to a statement released by Amy Friedman, Millard believes local school boards know better than the state, how to use the money the state gives them. The statement goes on to say, “Our board is accountable to the public.”

Nebraska Watchdog has asked the President of the Omaha Public Schools (OPS), Sandy Jensen, if she favors or opposes Avery’s bill. Jensen has not commented.

During the hearing in Lincoln some lawmakers wondered if prohibiting the use of state tax dollars to pay lobbyists would find schools using money from private foundations.

A spokesperson for OPS tells Nebraska Watchdog public schools are prohibited by federal tax law from using foundation money to pay for political activities such as lobbying.

Nebraska Watchdog is told that if schools are prohibited from paying lobbyists with state tax dollars only two options would remain; using local property tax dollars or eliminating the lobbyists.

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Editor’s note: to see Nebraska Watchdog’s initial investigation on school lobbying click here.

Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org