by Mick Mines | April 3, 2017 | Advocacy
Kumbaya Jupiter aligned with Mars following the Legislature’s four-day recess. With committee hearings in the rearview mirror, the agenda moved to all-day floor debate. And just when no-one was looking, a 49-senator GROUP HUG broke out (followed by the checking of...
by Mick Mines | March 27, 2017 | Advocacy
Cabaret Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome, im cabaret, au cabaret, to cabaret! As a stagehand prepares to ring down the curtain on Act II of our little legislative melodrama, our attention turns to the box office. Money money money money money money. Isn’t it always about...
by Mick Mines | March 27, 2017 | Advocacy
Oops! Since 1988, Nebraska law (§60-6 279 for you wonks) requires motorcycle riders in Nebraska to wear helmets. Annually, anti-mandatory helmet Believers (those with and those without scars) find a senator to carry a bill that would eliminate mandatory brain buckets....
by Mick Mines | March 13, 2017 | Advocacy
Where’s Ernie Live? All week was Groundhog Day (without Bill Murray and I Got You Babe). Each day began with a prayer; then a morning filibuster; then lunch; then afternoon committee hearings; then leave; then repeat. Tedious? While this schedule appears...
by Mick Mines | March 6, 2017 | Advocacy
License Plates Nebraska’s statehood sesquicentennial was March 1. That’s 150 years for those of you in Council Bluffs. Some of us are old enough to remember Nebraska’s statehood centennial. Former Secretary of State and Nebraska treasure, Allen...
by Mick Mines | February 27, 2017 | Advocacy
Mr. Dynamite The Appropriations Committee is the James Brown of the Legislature. Like James, this committee is the “hardest working” of ’em all.Indeed, the nine members of the committee work so hard, they don’t have time to explain why they...
