News
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, March 12, 2017
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 tedious to...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, March 5, 2017
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 Beermann, is old enough...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 26, 2017
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 work so hard. Last week,...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 19, 2017
Timeout After 31 acrimonious eye poking days of debate on the floor of the Legislature, Coach (Speaker) Scheer, called a timeout. Infractions have escalated since Day 1 when Team Majority scored on the old Student Body Right and captured nearly every leadership...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 12, 2017
Making Soup Lawmaking is not supposed to be easy. Love the analogy about making soup. This 104th Legislature, 1st Session is contentious and far from easy. Much like our nation's capitol. The Right holds the majority, the Left is in the minority, and a few senators...
Nebraska Agri-Business Association Endorses Sonny Perdue to be Secretary of Agriculture
The Nebraska Agri-Business Association joined a host of other farm and agri-business related associations and companies in supporting Sonny Perdue for Secretary of Agriculture. Click here to read the letter.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, February 5, 2017
Balance the Budget The state's fiscal year will end 6/30/17. Before the Legislature begins work on the next biennial budget (2017/18 - 2018/19), they have a small matter to clean-up. A $145 million-ish hole in the current budget. LB22 was introduced on behalf of the...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, January 29, 2017
Expulsion The long, slow countdown on the political career of state senator, Bill Kintner, reached DEFCON 5 last week. If you don't know good ol' Bill, he's the type of guy who: you can count on to insult his political opponents. gives political mates the Gee Bees on...
The U.S. fertilizer industry contributes $162 billion to the U.S. economy
Think you know about fertilizer? Think again. The U.S. fertilizer industry contributes $162 billion to the U.S. economy. The fertilizer producers, wholesalers and retailers, and the businesses that serve them support 515,900 U.S. jobs with total annual compensation of...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, January 22, 2017
Lebowski The legislative schedule now has senators debating issues in the George Norris Chamber, mornings, 9am-noon. Lunch is noon-1:30 pm. Committee hearings begin at 1:30 pm and wrap-up whenever the gas seeps out of the room. Little can be written that would make...