Gay rights bill dies in Nebraska

A proposal to ban discrimination against gays and lesbians working for the state of Nebraska or any entity that receives state funding fell two votes short of winning legislative approval on Wednesday. Omaha senator Ernie Chambers made the proposal, which would have prohibited any agency receiving money under the $6.1 billion two-year state budget from discriminating based on sexual orientation. State government should not concern itself with a person's private life, and it especially should not discriminate based on whether a person is gay, Chambers said. Chambers's proposal elicited opposition from Lincoln senator Mike Foley, who said it was not appropriate to discuss the idea in relation to the state's main spending bill. Foley was one of 12 senators who voted against adopting the amendment. It received 23 votes in favor, two short of the 25 needed to be added to the budget bill. (AP)