You’ll often hear me say that Nebraska is a pro-life state. I say this because Nebraska has a long, bipartisan tradition of working together to protect life through the years. One of the state’s first pro-life victories came from Senator Bernice Labedz of Omaha, a Democrat, who led the effort to enact a law requiring parental notification before a minor receives an abortion. Since then, Senators like Mike Foley, Mike Flood, Lydia Brasch, and Tony Fulton have all led successful efforts to ... read more
Weekly Columns
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Pro-Life Nebraska
June 11, 2019 -
The Results Are In
June 04, 2019Last week, Senators wrapped up the First Session of the 106th Nebraska Legislature. From property taxes to a new pro-life law, the Legislature did important work on a wide variety of issues. Here are a few of the highlights from the session over the last five months.
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Honoring Our Fallen Heroes
May 25, 2019Memorial Day is a great time for backyard barbecues and pool parties, but it has a much deeper significance. It’s a day when we commemorate the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price so that we can enjoy our freedoms in peace. Today, we are able to spend a carefree day of relaxation with friends and family because of their courageous sacrifices. However, we should never forget the true meaning of Memorial Day: remembering our fallen. The greatness of a nation is not measured by ... read more
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How Will the Legislature Spend Your Money?
May 21, 2019With less than two weeks left in the session, Senators are starting to wrap up their work. A final round of debate is left on the state budget, which includes important priorities such as K-12 school funding, public safety initiatives, and property tax relief.
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Understanding Marijuana’s Dangers
May 14, 2019Several states across the country have allowed various forms of marijuana in defiance of federal law and at great risk to public health. This week, the Nebraska Legislature will debate LB 110, a proposal to legalize marijuana under the guise of medicine. This proposal would put Nebraska on a path toward liberalizing our drug laws, which in many states has already resulted in recreational marijuana. As Senators get ready to debate this issue, here are five of the top problems with ... read more
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Property Tax Déjà Vu
May 06, 2019This week, the Legislature will debate the largest tax increase in Nebraska history. LB 289 raises the state sales tax rate by 9%, cuts property tax relief from the state in half, imposes new taxes on a variety of services (including car and home repair), raises the cigarette tax, and increases the tax on buying a house.
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Entering the Fourth Quarter
April 30, 2019The Legislature is entering the last quarter of its 90-day Legislative session. In the final weeks, there are many opportunities for Senators to put some points on the board and make our state more competitive. There are also great risks, however, that Senators could raise taxes, spend too much, and threaten our state’s public safety. Here are a few of the top debates that will impact you as this legislative session starts to wind down.
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Break the Endless Cycle of Tax and Spend
April 23, 2019This week, the Legislature’s Revenue Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on LB 289, a bill proposing the largest tax increase in the history of Nebraska.
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New Taxes Are Coming (If Senators Don’t Stop Them!)
April 16, 2019April 15th is National Tax Day, and it’s a reminder that we have a long way to go to make Nebraska more competitive on tax policy. Overall, the Tax Foundation ranks Nebraska 24th nationally for tax climate. As a state that relishes national championships, we should also work to be #1 in tax competitiveness, so we can grow Nebraska.
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“Raising Revenue” Means Raising Your Taxes
April 09, 2019As Nebraskans recover from the most devastating natural disaster in our state’s history, the Legislature continues to work on the next two-year budget and property tax relief. While Senators work, it’s important that they approach these issues in a way that brings people together and provides tax relief for all Nebraskans.
