Crackdown on manure spills raises stink for rural lawmakers in Nebraska Legislature

[Omaha Steve]

Published Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 1:00 am / Updated at 12:39 am

By Joe Duggan / World-Herald Bureau

LINCOLN — A proposed crackdown on manure truck spills backed up the Nebraska Legislature on Monday's first day of bill debate.

The effort to increase fines for livestock truck drivers who slop manure on metropolitan highways slammed into a rural roadblock. Lawmakers failed to register a vote after spending about two hours debating Sen. Heath Mello's bill, even though the measure has the support of South Omaha's trucking and meatpacking industries.

Sen. Tom Hansen of North Platte and others suggested that raising minimum fines for such spills from $100 to $250 could send cattle trucks to plants in other states.

“If this is a bill to do away with the packing industry in South Omaha, I think that should be made more clear,” Hansen said.

FULL story at link.