A big lake between Omaha and Lincoln, the size of Lake Okoboji, is raising key questions tied to big money.

On Wednesday state lawmakers gave the initial go-ahead to a bill that paves the way for an extensive study of what—when all is said and done—is likely to be a $1 billion deal.

Backers of the plan argue the vast majority of that would not come from Nebraska taxpayers.

In addition, supporters insist that Nebraska’s $1 billion COVID check from the federal government would pay part of the bill.

But those assurances have not slowed the suspicion of some state senators:

State Sen. Megan Hunt, Omaha (D): “I'm just skeptical that the problems to tourism and attraction retention in Nebraska is a lake. It’s not anything that I'm hearing from my constituents.”

State Sen. John Stinner, Gering (R): “(The US) Treasury has limited the scope of the final rule to dam and reservoir rehabilitation projects. This is not a rehabilitation project.”

But backers of the bill argue if not now, when:

State Sen. Robert Hilkemann, Omaha (R): “I know I will never see a lake between Lincoln and Omaha. And if we don't start sometime, no one will ever see it.”

The 4,000 acre lake is on two-tracks.

Track one lays the groundwork for a potential public-private partnership.

Track two is millions of dollars for the initial studies and final funding. That money would come from a $200 million pot that would also pay for other water related projects in the state.

The lake is all part of the Legislature’s STAR WARS panel—the Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability special committee, created last year.