News
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, March 25, 2019
Semikaput Last week, the Legislature strolled past midpoint of their 90-day session. With 44 legislative days remaining (until June 6), and a smattering of hearings this week, we approach the time when hundreds and hundreds of completely unpassable concoctions are...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, March 11, 2019
QUANDARY WalletHub says Nebraska’s effective total state and local tax rate is 49th worst in the country. The Tax Foundation ranks our property taxes the 40th highest. They also say we are middle of the pack in terms of our sales taxes (#25) and business tax climate...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, March 4, 2019
FINAL FINAL Reading in Nebraska's unicameral process is the third and FINAL round of floor debate. Advancing a bill to FINAL Reading is a simple step-by-step process. Step #1 Senator introduces the bill. BTW, your friendly neighborhood lobbyist can be a terrific...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 25, 2019
30 Days In the mid-2000’s, “30 Days” was a reality television series on the FX Channel. Each episode, a person was immersed for thirty days in a totally unfamiliar lifestyle, like working for minimum wage, as a prisoner, or a Christian living as a Muslim. It was...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 18, 2019
“Here’s looking at you, kid” “Unicameral, Unicameral, don’t tax me – tax that fellow behind the tree.” Valentine’s Day, the Revenue Committee hearings featured three property relief bills: LB314, LB497 and LB677. Each would lower property taxes by shifting a greater...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 11, 2019
The Iron Chancellor Dead guy, Otto von Bismarck said, “If you like laws and sausages, you should never watch either one being made.” Quaint. We can all agree that Otto was not a handsome man, but he was blessed with a truly enormous set of eyebrows. And what does Otto...
Testimony on LB 320 to the Agriculture Committee
Agriculture Committee Testimony LB 320 February 8 2019 Mr. Chairman and Members of the Agriculture Committee, The Nebraska Agri-Business Association would like to express our support for LB 320 as presented today. Our Association represents manufacturers,...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 4, 2019
Drop Anchor As floor debate clipped along Friday morning, Speaker Scheer announced that Senator John Stinner, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, would review the budget, because that’s what John does. John had good news: his committee is working really hard....
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, January 28, 2019
Winner Winner Chick’n Dinner Bill introductions concluded last Wednesday. The kids had a terrific time submitting 755 pieces of simply fabulous legislation. That’s an average of about 14 bills per senator. Every citizen in every socioeconomic class has something to...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, January 21, 2019
Hunting Fresh Meat In eight days, senators introduced 478 bills, a handful of constitutional amendments and some other nonsense. Senators Wayne (28) and Kolterman (25) lead the pack for most bills introduced. Fresh Meat senators are new. They want to be taken...