SEN. HUNT WANTS GROENE INVESTIGATED AND BETTER HANDLING OF HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS

LINCOLN- Former State Senator Mike Groene's choice of photographing a female staffer may spur a criminal investigation. Senators Megan Hunt and Machaela Cavanaugh called for a criminal investigation into Mike Groene.

Sen. Hunt wrote to the Attorney General’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol.

“The morality and ethics of this is one question,” Hunt told the Nebraska Examiner on Saturday. “The legality is another. My real question is, did anything illegal happen?”

The focus of her letter fell upon concerns of misuse of state property in relation to the computer. The second concern is the sharing of the photos without consent.

“I don’t know that Groene needs to be made an example of or anything,” Hunt said. “Sometimes there’s a straw that breaks the camel’s back. I think a lot of people are done with this pattern of harassment within the institution.”

Hunt and Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said Saturday that Groene’s actions show the need for the Legislature to improve how it handles human resources complaints from employees.

State Sen. Dan Hughes, chairman of the Legislature’s Executive Board, confirmed Friday that a formal complaint had been lodged against Groene. He said it was being taken “very seriously.” Speaker Mike Hilgers, who is running for Nebraska attorney general, referred questions to Friday’s statement from Hughes.

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FORMER NEBRASKA CONGRESSMAN BRAD ASHFORD OPTIMISTIC AFTER BRAIN CANCER DIAGNOSIS

OMAHA- Former Congressman Brad Ashford confirmed that he has been diagnosed with brain cancer, but said he feels confident he can overcome it. Ashford, 72, underwent a biopsy at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha on Friday, and his wife, Ann, said they are waiting for the results to determine the specific type of cancer and treatment plan going forward. In a phone interview on Saturday, Ashford said he was feeling good and would be returning home as soon as possible.

“It’s brain cancer, but I’ve got a lot of work to do so I’m gonna get out of here and keep doing what I do,” he said.

Ashford, who first disclosed the diagnosis in a Facebook post Friday, said he felt grateful to be in the care of Nebraska Medicine.

“The health care here at Nebraska Medicine is beyond anything one could imagine, it’s so incredible,” he said. “I’ve been proud to work on many projects here, including the cancer center, interestingly. There’s nobody better.”

Ashford said he would like to see State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha win the Republican primary for governor, and Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue represent the Democrats. In an interview Friday, he said he was impressed with Lindstrom when he got to know him about eight years ago. Ashford said he’s been pleased with Lindstrom approach in the Legislature.

“He is a doer, someone who has not been particularly political, a worker,” Ashford said.

Blood, he said, has done a strong job in the Legislature and as a Democrat running for governor trying to “carve out a lane for centrist solutions” in our polarized politics.

“I think they are both doers,” Ashford said. “They both would be good governors because they’re problem solvers.”

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NEBRASKA VIRUS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE FALLING

LINCOLN- Following a long January of Covid, cases, and hospitalizations continue to decline in February.

The state said 387 people were hospitalized with the virus Feb. 20th, that number has been falling since its peak at 767 on Jan. 28.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska fell over the past two weeks from 1,490.71 new cases per day on Feb. 5 to 277.14 new cases per day on Feb. 19th. From mid-January until Jan. 26, that number was regularly above 4,000 during the peak of the surge of the omicron variant of the virus.

The number of virus cases the state reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also fell again last week. The state reported 1,940 cases, down from 4,868 cases the previous week and 10,435 the week before that. The number of cases has been falling since the state set a record of 29,141 cases in the week that began Jan. 16.

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RESIDENTS AT SITE OF PROPOSED BIG LAKE NEAR GRETNA HAVE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS

GRETNA - Nestled amid the cottonwoods and cedar trees along the Platte River, Riverside Acres offers a secluded refuge for a cluster of 25 homes and cabins midway between Omaha and Lincoln.

There are lakes for fishing, trails for walkers and four-wheelers, and scenic views of the river that settlers described as a mile wide and an inch deep. It’s only a short walk to prime deer-hunting spots and blinds for goose hunting. What was once paradise has recently been stricken with turbulence.

State legislators are contemplating the expansion of the Platte River floodplain, just across the road from Riverside Acres, for a massive sandpit lake. The proposed lake would be 4,000 acres and 7 miles long and is projected to attract $1 billion in private investment. At these proposed figures, it would be the same size as Lake Okoboji in Iowa. This size would allow for boating, marinas, and condos. Boosters claim it might be impressive enough to keep young people from moving away to places with more exciting landscapes. Despite increased momentum in the State Legislature, the residents of the area have a much different opinion.

“I think it’s a joke,” said Don Brudny Jr., from his home in Riverside Acres. “It’s a way for real estate developers and people with money to try and make some more money." Brudny's family farm would be mostly inundated by the proposed lake site. “I have serious doubts that they can legitimately make it work,” Bundy said. “(But) how can you be for or against anything if you don’t know anything?”

Legislative Bill 1023, the Lake Development Act, and the Water Recreation Enhancement Act, LB1023 propses a total of $200 million in recreation enhancements. Within the bill, $20 million would be spent on a study of the lake idea and $26 million would be added to a fund for the costs of the lake.

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LAWMAKERS DECRY HANDLING OF GROENE CASE AS STATE PATROL OPENS INVESTIGATION

LINCOLN - Voices rose and painful stories were recounted Tuesday, February 22 as senators debated whether the allegations of inappropriate conduct by now-former State Sen. Mike Groene were handled appropriately in the State Legislature.

The Nebraska State Patrol also announced that it was opening an investigation into whether any laws were broken when Groene, 66, of North Platte, took photographs of a former aide, who described them as “objectifying and demeaning.”

State Sen. Dan Hughes, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board which handles such complaints, said he followed the guidelines in first seeking an "informal resolution" of the complaints made by Groene's legislative staffer. He also said he was required to keep the issue confidential.

Kristina Konecko, the aide, made the decision that the informal resolution was insufficient on Friday. She instead asked for an investigation.

Three state senators, Tom Briese, John Arch, and Anna Wishart, have been appointed to a special committee to handle the probe. If evidence of a criminal act is found, Hughes said the committee will hand it over to the Patrol and the Nebraska Attorney General's Office.

Groene announced his decision to resign Friday afternoon soon after the allegations were reported that he took inappropriate photos of Konecko.

He has denied that the photos were sexual in nature but has apologized for taking them without Konecko's permission. She had worked as a legislative aide to Groene on and off for six years.

Several female senators took to the microphone Tuesday to question the handling of the case.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said the only recourse women have when confronting superiors is to go to the press.

She went on to take aim at Hughes and Speaker Mike Hilgers for their handling of the matter, saying "You tow men, men in the body, have failed."

Sen. Megan Hunt said "We need to have a conversation. But above all, we need action."

"We know this stuff has been going on for a long time," Sen. Carol Blood said, but complaints about sexual harassment are still chalked up to "boys will be boys" or "that's how he is."

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LINCOLN GROUP WANTS TO FORCE BALLOT VOTE ON CITY'S GENDER IDENTITY ORDINANCE

LINCOLN - A Lincoln organization has started a campaign to try to force a ballot vote on a newly adopted Lincoln City Council ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The council’s “fairness ordinance,” which passed last week on a 5-0 vote, also broadens the city’s municipal code to add military personnel and veterans as a protected class, and it updates several other definitions.

Lincoln's Nebraska Family Alliance takes issue with the "sexual orientation and gender identity" provisions within the ordinance.

Following the council action, they are now seeking signatures for their "Let Us Vote" petition in hopes of collecting 4,137 names in just a 15-day window.

The figure is equivalent to 4% of the last gubernatorial election. If they succeed in obtaining the amount, the fairness ordinance would be rendered unenforceable and must be either rescinded or placed on the ballot for a vote.

A similar ordinance was approved in 2012 by the Lincoln City Council as well as the Omaha City Council. It would have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, more than 10,000 Lincoln citizens signed a petition in opposition and the ordinance stalled.

In a recent news release, the Alliance said that its "volunteers believe every person should be treated with dignity and respect, and are energized and motivated to halt this dangerous ordinance that would allow biological men in women’s showers, locker rooms, and restrooms.”

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FORTENBERRY'S ATTORNEYS WANT JURORS TO HEAR ENTIRE INTERVIEW WITH INVESTIGATORS

LINCOLN — Attorneys battled last week over whether the jury in U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s criminal trial will be allowed to hear the entirety of interviews he gave to federal investigators.

Fortenberry, a Republican, is accused of three felony charges of lying or misleading investigators.

His lawyers want jurors to hear the full interview given at the representative's home in Lincoln. They believe it will show "the agents' interruption questioning and invitations to tangents."

Federal prosecutors proposed hearing 19 segments of a nearly 50-minute interview in March 2019. This was proposed, partially, in an effort to save time according to the pretrial motion.

Fortenberry's defense attorneys, however, argued the interview deserves to be heard in its entirety to "rebut the government's theory that Fortenberry 'dug himself a medium-sized hole' by willingly providing incomplete and inaccurate responses.

“Fortenberry tried in good faith to recall the events asked about to the best of his ability, but those efforts are not fully apparent without all his statements and the context of this entire interview,” his attorneys stated.

Prosecutors also gave notice that they want to submit clips from a later interview in July of 2019 that Fortenberry and his then-attorney, former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, gave to authorities. The proposed submission would include 27 clips from the interview, but the defense wants five more presented to jurors. Fortenberry is reportedly quoted in these clips as saying, "I'm just not recalling" and "I don't remember."

Last week, U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld rejected a proposal to move the trial to Nebraska. It will instead be held in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. That trial begins on March 15.

Fortenberry is also facing a tough challenge in the GOP primary election from State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk. Flood has been endorsed by Gov. Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman.

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NEBRASKA CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS REACT TO RUSSIA-UKRAINE DEVELOPMENTS

WASHINGTON D.C.- Members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation react to the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine tensions. Here are their statements:

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.- “Putin has been clear on his goals: reestablish the former Soviet Union. This was an invasion of a sovereign nation. Biden must show firm resolve, work with our allies, and immediately put in place strong sanctions.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. -"Russia is now a pariah state and should be shut out of diplomatic and economic relations with the free world. Further, NATO and our Allies in the Far East must take the threat seriously, and significantly strengthen their defense capabilities. We have entered a new Cold War that could easily escalate if we do not take the Russian bully seriously. I call on President Biden and the United States to lead the immediate implementation of harsh economic sanctions on the Russian Federation, Mr. Putin, and his associates, and the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline.”

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.- “Here are some answers that can make a difference: 1. Immediate return to American energy independence; 2. Europe ends its dependence on Russian natural gas; 3. Europe reestablishes its will to properly burden share with NATO; 4. Arms for, and support of reform within, Ukraine. Only by re-establishing strength do we have leverage for diplomacy.”

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb.- "We need to get the Ukrainians more weapons. We should be doing gun runs around the clock to arm the Ukrainian people to the teeth. Our goal should be pretty simple: Help the Ukrainian resistance hold on for as long as possible. Make Putin regret his flagrant disregard for the rule of law.”

Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.- I support additional strong and swift sanctions to hold President Putin accountable. The U.S. must work alongside our allies when weighing our options. In the meantime, President Biden must take steps to ensure — should Russia further violate Ukraine’s sovereignty — no American is left stranded.”

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RICKETTS APPONTS NORTH PLATTE BANKER TO GROENE'S OPEN SEAT

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed North Platte banker Mike Jacobson to fill the open seat of former state Sen. Mike Groene, who resigned this week following allegations that he took inappropriate photos of a former female staff member.

Jacobson, founder and president of NebraskaLand National Bank, was sworn in as the District 42 senator on Wednesday morning after the governor's announcement at the state Capitol. He was joined by his wife, Julie. Jacobson will complete Groene's term, which ends in early January 2023, and stated that he will run for election to the seat for a full term

Jacobson has been active in the community, serving as Chair of the North Platte Redevelopment Authority, Chair of the North Platte Airport Authority, and on the Great Plains Health Board of Directors. He’s also a Past President of both the North Platte Development Corporation and North Platte Public Schools Foundation Board. He has also given leadership to numerous professional and statewide associations. He’s a Past Chairman of the Nebraska Bankers Association and Past President of the Agriculture Builders of Nebraska Inc.

He has been a board member of the Nebraska Independent Community Bankers and has served on various committees with the American Bankers Association. Additionally, he’s served on the Governor’s Agricultural Advisory Council; University of Nebraska President’s Advisory Council; and University of Nebraska Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET).

Jacobson is a graduate of Sutton High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics/Agricultural Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Three North Platte residents had filed for the District 42 seat: Lincoln County Commissioner Chris Bruns, Brenda Fourtner, and retired Great Plains Health CEO Mel McNea. The district redrawn by the Legislature last year includes all of Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Thomas, and Hooker counties and a large part of Perkins County.

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BIDEN APPROVES NEBRASKA DISASTER DECLARATION FOR DECEMBER STORM

WASHINGTON D.C.- President Joe Biden approved federal disaster aid Wednesday for parts of Nebraska pummeled by an unprecedented December storm.

The declaration makes federal dollars available to certain entities, including the state and eligible local governments, for emergency work or to help them repair or replace facilities damaged during the storm, according to the White House. The declaration applies to 25 counties, including Sarpy County.

It also makes federal funding available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

The state did not qualify for a program that makes assistance available to individuals.

Nebraska saw more than 27 tornadoes within a three-hour time span and its first-ever winter derecho on Dec. 15. A derecho is a series of long-lived straight-line winds.

Biden’s declaration came a day after Nebraska’s congressional declaration submitted a letter requesting that the president approve the aid. Their letter pegged the damage estimate in the state at $6.79 million.

The White House noted that additional designations could be made at a later date if requested by the state and backed up by further damage assessments.

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BLUEPRINT NEBRASKA TAX PLAN LIKELY WON'T BE DEBATED THIS YEAR

LINCOLN - A comprehensive reworking of state taxes, proposed by a coalition of business groups called Blueprint Nebraska, will probably have to wait another year to get off the ground. Following a hearing that featured the CEO of Union Pacific Railroad and representatives from the Nebraska and Omaha chambers of commerce, the top tax senator for the State Legislature described the Blueprint proposal as needing more work.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn chairs the legislative committee that handles tax issues. Linehan said "pieces" of the Blueprint plan match current priorities, including reducing the tax rate for the top state income bracket, but the overall proposal could use more study.

Even the head developer of the Blueprint Nebraska tax plan, former Sen. Jim Smith, acknowledged it is probably too late to get such a comprehensive proposal prioritized, debated, and passed. As of February 25, there are 28 days left in the 60-da legislative session. 

“Whether it’s this year or ’23, we think that this approach is what’s needed if we want to compete,” Smith said. “This bill is what tax modernization looks like.” 

Legislative Bill 1264, introduced by Omaha Sen. Mike McDonnell, has been in development since 2018. Supporters believe this to be essential if Nebraska wants to become more competitive tax-wise, attract more workers, and increase its population. LB1264 combines state income tax cuts with a broadening of the sales tax base to include more services that are not currently taxed. It also contains programs to forgive student loans in an effort to attract highly skilled workers. Sales tax collections would rise by $2 billion over 10 years, which would allow for cuts in property taxes under the plan.

Nebraskans who earn less than $50,000 would no longer pay state income taxes under the plan in an effort supports say is to lure more workers to Nebraska.

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SEED CORN COMPANIES SUE TROUBLED ALTEN ETHANOL PLANT FOR DAMAGES

LINCOLN - AltEn, which has operated a troubled Nebraska ethanol plant that used pesticide-coated seed corn to produce biofuel, is facing more legal trouble.Six seed corn companies that have been cleaning up the AltEn ethanol plant site near Med, Nebraska, filed two separate federal lawsuits on Tuesday, February 22 seeking repayment for their work.

One of such lawsuits alleges that AltEn, its owner Tanner Shaw, and other companies under Shaw's control have mishandled the seed corn and contaminated byproducts in "violation of federal and state laws." They also allege that AltEn did not meet its commitments to the seed corn companies to dispose of the chemically treated seed properly.

Shaw allegedly abandoned the site and left millions of gallons of wastewater and thousands of tons of waste grain. This is in direct conflict with state orders to clean the site up.

“Environmental controls were lacking or nonexistent,” one lawsuit stated.

Another lawsuit claims that, in an effort to prevent creditors from getting reimbursed, Shaw sold off his assets. The seed corn companies also claim AltEn has refused to participate in stabilization efforts and instead hindered the response by the seed corn companies.The lawsuits filed Tuesday allege the "failures" of AltEn include the release of untreated wastewater onto neighboring parties, the stockpiling of thousands of tons of wet cake byproducts, and the mismanagement of millions of gallons of wastewater in lagoons "perilously close to failure."

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NEBRASKA MEDICAL PROVIDERS LINE UP FOR SLICES OF FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS

LINCOLN - Nebraska’s nurses, nursing homes, assisted living centers, behavioral health providers, medical clinics, rural care providers, and people serving those with developmental disabilities all are seeking funding boosts,  a legislative committee heard Tuesday, February 22. 

Those seven bills seek to spend a combined $294.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds if they are approved. The Appropriations Committee heard different cases to ease staffing and funding challenges for Nebraska's health care system.

• Legislative Bill 1055, proposed by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, would spend $50 million in federal relief funds for hospitals and federally qualified medical providers to offer bonuses and increased pay to "front-line" nurses caring for patients. By implementing LB1055, 20,000 of Nebraska's nurses would receive about $2,000 each.

• Legislative Bill 1089, proposed by Sen. John Stinner, would set aside $60 million in federal relief funds to help nursing homes boost pay for direct-care employees. $45 million of those funds would be put towards Medicaid beds and would concentrate $15 million on nursing homes with the most residents funded by Medicaid.

• Legislative Bill 1269, proposed by Sen. Dave Murman, would allocate $10 million in federal relief funds to help benefit medical professionals repay their student loans in rural areas.

• Legislative Bill 1183, proposed by Sen. Ray Aguilar, would create $25 million in grants for the outpatient community clinics that serve Nebraska's neediest patients. The grants would be used on clinic-related construction projects.

• Legislative Bill 1066, proposed by Sen. John Stinner, would set aside $5 million in federal money for the addition of new mental health beds in rural Nebraska and $28 million for the University of Nebraska's Behavioral Health Education Center.

• Legislative Bill 1172, proposed by Sen. Robert Hilkemann of Omaha, would allocate $111 million in federal funds, or $37 million a year for three years, to help DHHS pay more to providers who serve people with developmental disabilities and would help offset COVID-19 related losses and cost increases.

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HERBSTER WAS SCHMOOZING WITH TRUMP TEAM JAN. 5-6 AS THEY DETAILED PLANS TO OVERTURN ELECTION

WASHINGTON D.C.- Charles Herbster, Conklin Co. CEO and governor candidate spent his January 5-6th of 2021 in Washington D.C. with former President Trump's inner circle, including General Michael Flynn, and Trump's sons.

Charles Herbster campaigns on his close ties to former President Trump and touts their friendship both in the political world and their personal lives. Herbster has been asked a number of times to detail what he did and saw on the days leading up to January 6th, 2021, but has declined all requests.

The Nebraska Examiner obtained over 130 texts from Herbster to his campaign staff over a 25 hour period before, during, and after the January 6th insurrection. Theresa Thibodeau who was campaigning with Herbster at the time is on the text exchange. Thibodeau left the Herbster campaign and launched a campaign of her own for the Nerbaska Governors seat.

Herbster’s campaign told the Examiner last week that he had not been called to testify before the select committee in Congress investigating the Jan. 6 riots.

On Thursday Former U.S. Rep. Hal Daub has endorsed Hebster in Nebraska’s GOP primary election for governor. Daub, who also served as a University of Nebraska regent and Omaha’s mayor, called Herbster “a person of integrity with deep management experience.” Daub also praised Herbster’s fight against what he called “anti-patriotic education.”

Daub clashed at times on the NU Board of Regents with Herbster’s top opponent, Republican Jim Pillen

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BILLS SEEKING TO BAN OR RESTRICT ABORTION HEARD IN MARATHON PUBLIC HEARING

LINCOLN — Abortion opponents and supporters of reproductive rights filled a State Capitol hearing room Thursday to voice often emotional opinions about three bills that would either ban or further restrict abortion rights.

The proposals come as the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to strike down Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that allowed pregnant women the right to choose whether to end or continue a pregnancy.

LB933, the Nebraska Human Life Protection Act. The legislation would ban abortion in the state if Roe v. Wade is overturned, enabling legislation is passed by Congress, or if the U.S. Constitution is amended

LB781, the Heartbeat Bill. Introduced by Sterling Sen. Julie Slama, it has 22 cosponsors. It has not been prioritized, which means it may not be debated this year.

LB1086, the Chemical Abortion Safety Protocol Act. It was introduced by Lincoln Sen. Suzanne Geist and five cosponsors. Kearney Sen. John Lowe has made it his priority bill.

The so-called “trigger” bill was introduced by State Sens. Joni Albrecht of Thurston and Mike Flood of Norfolk. It was picked by the Speaker of the Legislature, Lincoln Sen. Mike Hilgers, as his priority bill. Fifteen other senators have signed on as co-sponsors of LB 933. Opponents said LB 933 would force many women either to obtain expensive abortions out of state or bear children they may not be emotionally or financially able to care for. LB 781 would block an abortion if a fetal heartbeat could be detected by an ultrasound, which Slama said begins six weeks after conception. LB1086 would ban the mailing of chemical abortion pills, which account for 70% of the abortions in the state, according to Geist.

Opponents said the measures would force many women either to obtain expensive abortions out of state or bear children they may not be emotionally or financially able to care for. The committee took no action on the three bills after a hearing that continued into the evening.

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INCOME TAX CUT BILL MOVES FORWARD, BUT CRITICS WANT BENEFITS FOR POOR, MIDDLE CLASS

LINCOLN — A major proposal to cut state income tax rates and corporate income tax rates moved forward in the Nebraska Legislature Thursday, but only after its chief sponsor agreed to work on a compromise.

Legislative Bill 939, introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, would reduce the state’s top income tax rate over three years from 6.84% to 5.84%. The state’s corporate income tax rate would also drop from 7.1% to 5.84% by tax year 2026. The bill is a top priority for Gov. Pete Ricketts and for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, who argue that the top income tax rate — higher than all neighboring states except Iowa — makes the state unattractive for business.

But opponents of the bill, led by Lincoln Sen. Matt Hansen, argued that more than half of Nebraska taxpayers would get no tax reduction from LB 939. He also said that it is unfair that the most wealthy 1% of Nebraskans earn half of the state’s income but pay only 10% of the income taxes.

The state economic forecasting board will make a new prediction Monday on expected state tax revenue, which Linehan said will help determine whether the income tax cut is affordable. The fiscal note on LB 939 estimated that it would lower state tax collections by $365 million for the individual income tax cuts alone when fully implemented. That figure caused some senators to question whether the state would be able to fund state services if the full tax cut was enacted. When asked what amendments might be needed, Linehan said the tax cut may have to be spread out over more years.

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FORTENBERRY RELEASES POLL CLAIMING LEAD OVER FLOOD IN CD1 RACE; FLOOD ENDORSED BY FORMER NE GOP CHAIRS

LINCOLN - U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s re-election bid has a path to victory despite his indictment for lying to the FBI about foreign funds raised for a previous campaign.

That’s the upshot from his team’s most recent poll, which reached 405 likely GOP primary voters in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District. The Nebraska Examiner obtained a copy of the poll, including the questions that were asked. The poll shows nine-term incumbent Fortenberry leading former Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood by 10 points, head-to-head, which is outside of the margin of error. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.5%, per the campaign. The poll was conducted Wednesday via calls to landlines and cell phones. In January, the same pollster found the two candidates closer, within the margin of error.

Fortenberry’s negative advertising against Flood appears to be having an impact, his polling firm, Moore Information Group found. The new poll shows more voters are reacting unfavorably to Flood since the advertisements started airing. The ads were still running this week, during the polling.

Flood joined the race in mid-January and secured the endorsements of Nebraska’s last two governors, Republicans Pete Ricketts and Dave Heineman. Much of the state’s GOP leadership is behind him. Fortenberry faces a wild card: three felony charges saying he lied to or misled federal investigators about his campaign’s fundraising. His trial is scheduled to begin March 15.

Meanwhile Flood continues to rally much of the state’s GOP leadership around his U.S. House campaign to unseat indicted fellow Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln. Flood’s campaign on Wednesday announced endorsements from three former chairmen of the Nebraska Republican Party: Mark Fahleson, Mark Quandahl and David Kramer.

In a joint statement, they highlighted Flood’s work to limit abortions and cut taxes. “He’s a law-and-order conservative,” the statement said. “He cares about our party, stopping the Biden agenda, and he will fight for Nebraskans and our conservative values.”

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ANTI-CRITICAL RACE THEORY BILL GETS COOL RECEPTION AT LEGISLATIVE HEARING

LINCOLN - The bill known as Nebraska's anti-critical race theory bill got a cool reception at a legislative hearing Thursday.

Students, teachers and representatives of higher education were among 40 people who testified against the bill. Many, like Sandra Gable, a high school teacher for 34 years, expressed concern the bill would prevent teaching an accurate history of America that included all its blemishes.

Gable said the bill is an attempt to "whitewash or even rewrite American history...This bill opposes everything that I have spent my life doing and learning and teaching," she said.

Three people testified in favor of LB 1077 during the 3-1/2 hour hearing before the Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.The bill would prohibit Nebraska public schools, public colleges and government entities from providing training to teachers, students or employees if that training promoted race or sex "scapegoating," stereotyping or discrimination. If schools or colleges were found to violate the law, the state could withhold funding.

Committee member State Sen. Carol Blood expressed concern about the bill.

"If I were a person of color, if I were a person with a disability, if I were a person who has struggled because of how I identify, where I come from, how I look, I might be insulted by this," Blood said. She said the bill suggests that their perspective is not important.

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RICKETTS ANNOUNCES TRADE MISSION TO UK, IRELAND COINCIDING WITH HUSKER GAME

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts and business leaders will travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland in August to promote Nebraska businesses on a trade mission that coincides with the Husker football team's season opener in Ireland.

The trade mission will focus on agriculture, insurance, and other major Nebraska industries, Ricketts announced Monday. It also will allow the trip participants to watch the Huskers play Northwestern in person on Aug. 27.

Ricketts, a Republican, has led Nebraska business executives and state administrators on trips to Asia, Europe, Mexico, and Canada during his tenure, with the goal of helping business leaders build relationships abroad and getting foreign companies to invest in Nebraska.

He said the U.K. is a dominant player in Europe's insurance industry, which is also a major employer in Nebraska, and several Nebraska companies have offices in England. Companies based in Ireland and Britain have created about 6,000 jobs in Nebraska, he said, pointing to British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline's office in Lincoln.

"There's a great opportunity for Nebraska companies to go over there and find business opportunities," Ricketts said at a press conference. "We'd love to help open up doors for (business) folks to be able to get into the U.K."

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POLITICAL NEWCOMER FROM LINCOLN SAYS HE KNOWS WHAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE GO THROUGH

LINCOLN- Jazari Kual says those representing Nebraska in Washington, D.C., should look more like the people being served.

That’s why he’s running for Congress.

Kual is seeking Nebraska’s 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has been represented by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry since 2005. Kual entered the race as a Democrat and will face State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks in the primary election May 10.

The 26-year-old is a journalism student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He said he plans to graduate next spring.

Kual first gained local recognition over the summer of 2020 for filming the protests in Lincoln and Omaha spurred by the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Kual said he ultimately decided last year to run for Congress because he was disappointed in Fortenberry’s votes on legislation addressing police brutality and the pandemic.

Kual is a co-founder of LNK Freedges, a hunger relief organization in Lincoln. He said he also volunteers with other local organizations.

Kual said statements Fortenberry made around the time of the missed CASH Act vote — including one where he said he favored more targeted relief — made the congressman seem out of touch.

Kual said he has heard from multiple Nebraskans who have just turned 18 that he will be the first person for whom they will vote.

“It’s really inspiring to me,” he said. “My whole goal is to inspire young people to get involved.”

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