From how to spend a billion dollars in federal Covid relief cash to the future of a $230 million state prison, Nebraska lawmakers hit the floor of the Capitol today with plenty of money on the table.

At the same time several right-versus-left issues are also front and center over the next 60 day session.

[See our full video report above]

For starters abortion: As the Supreme Court wrestles with the future of Roe v Wade Gov. Pete Ricketts has told NCN he is, “Pulling together legislative plans with pro-life leaders across the state”— looking at the very least to limit abortions.

At the same time during a Tuesday rally at the Capitol three bills protecting abortion rights were unveiled. State Senator Megan Hunt of Omaha arguing that barriers in Nebraska make an “abortion harder to access.”

Ricketts has also been front and center opposing Critical Race Theory insisting that University of Nebraska Chancellor Ronnie Green is pushing CRT on campus.

GOV. PETE RICKETTS (November, 2021): "What the University is talking about is giving unqualified persons a job base on their skin color. The Chancellor of the University is promoting a program to do just that. He’s violating the Constitution and he did not tell me these things when we were talking about it last week. I was misled by Ronnie Green, I have lost all faith in Ronnie Green, I don't believe anything he says anymore and I don't know how you get that back.”

Green says he's not bringing critical race theory to UNL and while the issue has simmered it very likely will be part of any University-Ricketts’ budget talks.

And then there are vaccine mandates.

The governor opposes any must-get-the-shot moves and it's likely there will be a bill designed to keep mandates at bay.

Vaccine mandates, Critical Race Theory and abortion: Fights Ricketts won't easily win as Democrats have possibly just enough votes to hold him off.