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Partisan motives alleged in push to open Nebraska votes

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The last election gave Republicans an even larger majority in Nebraska's nonpartisan Legislature, and now some conservatives are seeking to end the secret votes that let lawmakers break from their party when choosing legislative leaders.

Conservative groups and factions of the Republican Party are seeking a requirement that Nebraska lawmakers disclose how they voted when picking committee chairmen and the speaker of the Legislature. A legislative committee will review the measure Wednesday.

Supporters insist the push is a matter of government transparency, but Democrats and even some Republicans see it as a conservative effort to impose party discipline on moderates.

Nebraska's one-house Legislature has no formal party structure or leadership, leading to frustrations by some Republicans since the party dominates in state politics.

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