LINCOLN- On Thursday, after deciding not to sign it last Wednesday, Gov. Pillen announced that he would allow Sen. Wayne's LB20, which immediately restores voting rights to Nebraskans convicted of a felony once they've completed their sentence, to become law. In a letter to the Legislature, Pillen said that Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Secretary of State Bob Evnen "identified significant potential constitutional infirmities regarding the bill."

"Although there are potential constitutional issues with LB20 and related provisions of existing law," wrote Pillen, "I will allow LB20 and LB20A to become law with neither my signature nor my endorsement of LB20's constitutional validity." The Nebraska Constitution allows bills to become law without the governor's signature five days after they are passed by the Legislature, so long as lawmakers are still in session. Pillen encouraged Hilgers and Evnen to "promptly" take the appropriate steps to address any potential issues.

Barring any legal hoops, LB20 will take effect this summer, just in time for the November election. Clerk of the Legislature Brandon Metzler said the last time a governor allowed a bill to become law without signing it was in 2001, when former Gov. Mike Johanns didn't sign a bill because it pertained to a legislative employment benefit decision. Wayne said he is not concerned with the constitutionality of the proposal. "If it is a court challenge, I have all faith that the Supreme Court will hold this to be constitutional," he said.

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