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LINCOLN — A proposal backed by Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley that would help his office provide more oversight over the state’s no-bid contracts advanced out of committee Thursday and is likely headed to the legislative floor.
Legislative Bill 997, from State Sen. Bob Andersen of Sarpy County, comes on the heels of controversy involving the Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s $2.5 million, emergency no-bid contract with agricultural tech CEO Julie Bushell and her Global Sustainability Developers of Lincoln. Gov. Jim Pillen recommended her for the contract, according to Foley’s audit letter.
The Foley-sought bill, which the Governor’s Office supported, would require filing an extra copy of any state no-bid contract, including emergency ones, with the Nebraska State Auditor’s Office. The Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee backed the bill 8-0.
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Foley has said the GSD contract “smacks of favoritism” and questioned actions by some top staff under Pillen’s direct control. Pillen’s office has sought to justify the no-bid contract after the fact in multiple ways. Pillen said on conservative Omaha talk radio station KFAB in mid-February that the emergency approach to not seeking bids was important because time was “of the essence” in seeking federal funds he and his team have said Bushell helped them obtain.
Earlier this week, the Lincoln Police Department was tasked with investigating the contract after the Nebraska State Patrol determined it wanted to avoid the possibility of a “potential conflict of interest.”
State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln tried to include an unrelated amendment adding parts of his LB 951, which would allow people outside of city limits but within a city’s 3-mile zoning authority to vote in city elections. The current version of Ballard’s bill would affect only Omaha and Lincoln. It failed 4-4, with State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul siding with Democratic-aligned lawmakers against adding to the contracting change.
