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Heineman says Legislature missed budget deadline

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Governor Dave Heineman says he's received budget requests from virtually every agency in state government, but he's waiting for one straggler: the Nebraska Legislature.

Heineman criticized lawmakers Wednesday for missing Monday's statutory deadline to submit a request for operating expenses, including salaries and benefits.

Heineman says his office hasn't received anything from the Legislature's Executive Board, which has scheduled a meeting Friday to approve its request.

Legislative staffers say it's ready, but they needed time to convene committee members, and they notified Nebraska's budget office that it would arrive late.

Heineman says he called attention to it because of recent criticism of Secretary of State John Gale. Gale allowed Republican Pete Ricketts to change his gubernatorial running mate after a September 1st deadline. Senator Ernie Chambers called the switch illegal.

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