EX-RUNNING MATE, FORMER STAFFERS CALL HERBSTER UNFIT TO BE NEBRASKA GOVERNOR

OMAHA- A former running mate, a former political mentor, and more than a dozen former campaign staffers who helped get Charles Herbster’s Nebraska governor’s race off the ground no longer stand by his side.

Several, including former running mate Theresa Thibodeau, who is now running against Herbster for the Republican nomination, pointed to Herbster’s lack of interest in learning about state issues and his obsession with national politics. Former Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, who served on the Conklin board and mentored Herbster politically before parting ways for “personal reasons,” acknowledged having heard similar concerns.  Several people once close to Herbster started criticizing him more as polling showed his lead narrowing in the GOP primary race with University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen and State Sen. Brett Lindstrom. 

Herbster’s campaign said those criticisms and others reflect that he’s an outsider running a campaign that Nebraska’s political establishment doesn’t like.

“Charles is not a career politician, and he is not running an establishment campaign like many had wanted,” the statement said. “Most who demanded a more traditional establishment campaign are no longer on the team, and we have moved on.

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NEBRASKA STATE TROOPERS ENDORSE HERBSTER, SAYING HE HAS OFFERED THEM HIGHER PAY

LINCOLN — The union representing Nebraska State Patrol troopers sent a message Tuesday to Gov. Pete Ricketts and his preferred replacement: They’re tired of waiting on the state to pay them more. 

The State Troopers Association of Nebraska endorsed Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster in the Republican governor’s primary race, a candidate Ricketts has said would be “terrible.” 

Ricketts' favorite, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, was given a chance when the union interviewed four candidates before they made a choice.

Ultimately, union leaders said Herbster put greater emphasis on their needs.

“The State Patrol has suffered greatly over the last few years in hiring the number of highly qualified candidates to serve the citizens of Nebraska that they deserve,” said State Patrol Investigator James Estwick, the union’s vice president for eastern Nebraska. 

Retired Patrol Col. Tom Nesbitt said the Patrol is down from the authorized staffing number, which he says is already too low to do the job. Herbster said Nebraska is short about 150 state troopers.

Nesbitt said he supports Herbster because he "has a plan, and that plan is going to work." Despite these comments, neither Herbster or Nesbitt and the union were willing to expand on what that plan is, what the cost might be, and what promises were made to secure the union's endorsement. 

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COVID CASES AT NINE-MONTH LOW IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- While concerns are rising across the globe about a new omicron subvariant, Nebraska continues to see falling COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Cases fell by nearly half in Nebraska last week, from 650 to 354, according to a World-Herald analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The last time Nebraska saw so few cases in a week was nine months ago, in early June 2021. 

Nebraska cases have now fallen eight straight weeks since the highly contagious omicron variant peaked in January at more than 29,000 reported weekly cases. They're down almost 99% since then. 

Nebraska also continues to have one of the nation's lowest per-capita case rates, ranking fourth after South Carolina, Kansas, and Nevada. 

In a number of European countries, cases once again are on the rise as the new omicron subvariant BA.2 takes hold. It's thought to be 30% to 50% more contagious than omicron.

Nebraska as of Monday was reporting 18 cases of BA.2.

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DARK MONEY ADS HIT HERBSTER AND LINDSTROM IN NEBRASKA GOVERNOR'S RACE

LINCOLN- The first dark money dropped into Nebraska’s governor’s race Friday, with a pair of TV ads attacking two of the contest’s top three Republican candidates.

Dark money group Conservative Nebraska funded a TV ad calling Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster a “Missouri millionaire” who does business out of state and pays his property taxes late. 

A similar group, Restore the Good Life, backed a TV ad calling State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha “a liberal tax and spender,” citing a vote supporting a gas tax increase to fund roads. 

The attack on Herbster mirrored Gov. Pete Ricketts’ criticisms Tuesday to the Nebraska Examiner after learning that Lt. Gov. Mike Foley was endorsing Herbster.

Ricketts reached Friday, acknowledged that he was helping fund the group running ads against Herbster, saying he would be “a horrible governor.” 

“Me and my dad (Joe) gave a combined $600,000 to Conservative Nebraska,” Ricketts said. “I want Nebraska Republicans to have the facts when they head to the polls.”

The governor’s father, Joe Ricketts, founded TD Ameritrade. The Ricketts family has spent millions of dollars, in dark money and in donations given publicly, on Nebraska races and ballot initiatives.

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FORTENBERRY JURORS HEAR TESTIMONY FIT FOR HOLLYWOOD

LOS ANGELES- Lead defense attorney Glen Summers bored into a mistake the lead FBI investigator made on an application for a search warrant in 2017.

In an October 2017 affidavit, FBI agent Todd Carter wrote that he suspected that the $30,000 given to Fortenberry at the 2016 fundraiser was repaid shortly after the February 2016 fundraiser, when a congressional resolution was introduced by Fortenberry condemning religious genocide. The resolution was sought and in part drafted by In Defense of Christians, which was headed by Baaklini and had Dr. Ayoub on its advisory board.

But Summers produced documents that showed the resolution wasn’t introduced in March 2016 in the U.S. House of Representatives, as Carter wrote. Rather, the documents show, that was the date of its introduction in the U.S. Senate. Records showed the resolution was introduced in the House in September 2015, months before the $30,000 was given at the February 2016 fundraiser.

“So the information you submitted was incorrect, wasn’t it?” asked Summers.

“It appears the date was wrong, yes,” Carter said.

Carter, who testified Thursday and Friday, repeatedly defended steps taken by the FBI in probing whether Fortenberry was aware he’d been given illegal “straw man” donations that originated with Chagoury.

But a Fortenberry campaign spokesman issued a statement after court Friday, blasting the “shoddy investigative work” of the FBI.

“This was an unjust case that should never have been brought and nothing the government has produced in its case so far proves otherwise,” said spokesman Chad Kolton.

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STATE AUDIT REORTS NEARLY $278,000 WENT WRONGFULLY TO PUBLIC RETIREES WHO ALREADY HAD DIED

LINCOLN - Nearly $278,000 from the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems was wrongfully sent to 11 people — before authorities figured out those people were no longer alive. 

One of such people had been dead for seven years, 83 months exactly, where payments were made. This totaled $105,250 according to an audit released this week by the State Auditor of Public Accounts. 

As of now, no money has been recouped in the case of the NPERS member who has been dead since 2014. The case has been forwarded to the Nebraska Attorney General's Office after halting payment in 2021.

Law enforcement is now investigating the case for potential fraud, said Craig Kubicek, deputy state auditor. 

“For it to go on that long is probably unusual — we’re talking seven years,” he said. 

Some plans allow for payments and benefits to be extended to beneficiaries after death but, according to Kubicek, these plans were not those types.

Based on auditor recommendations, new procedures have been put into place to avoid future mistakes in the system. This system covers public employees of schools, judges, and the Nebraska State Patrol.

NPERS had previously relied on two methods to determine whether a member had died: obituaries in three separate newspapers; and a vendor who performed a "death audit" every month that cross-referenced member names with public sources.

Inefficiencies in that process led to NPERS switching to a different vendor in 2020. The new provider then identified the cases of the woman who had died in 2014 as well as seven others, all of whose payments were halted in February 2021.

For the full article click HERE

LAWMAKERS ADVANCE BILL PROVIDING ABOUT $475 MILLION IN AID TO UNDERSERVED OMAHA RESIDENTS

LINCOLN-  A bill that would provide north and south Omaha about $475 million in recovery resources moved forward Tuesday in the Legislature, but its future remains uncertain. 

LB1024 cleared the first of three rounds of debate on a 28-0 vote, with 19 lawmakers declining to vote. 

The bill would create a fund of about $475 million that would be distributed to serve qualified census tracts within Omaha city limits.

According to State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, who introduced the bill, LB 1024 would bring a long-awaited revitalization for the historically neglected region of North Omaha. Among the proposed plans in the bill are avenues for residents to access jobs and affordable housing.

Although the bill identifies several other uses for the money, Wayne said the bill’s main purpose is to create the fund itself. Next legislative session, Wayne said he and Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha will introduce bills specifying acceptable uses for the money.

Throughout Tuesday’s debate, one big question kept coming up: Where is the $475 million coming from? The answer is still very much up in the air.

Multiple senators said they would only support LB 1024 for now and may change their vote in the future depending on the final details of the bill’s financial plan.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA RENTAL AID BILL COULD BE DEAD DESPITE LEGISLATURE'S APPROVAL

LINCOLN- A bill that would require Gov. Pete Ricketts to apply for $120 million of federal rent and utility assistance money could be dead in the water despite passing in the Legislature.

Legislative Bill 1073 passed on a 26-15 vote Wednesday but crucially did not pass with an emergency clause, which means the law would take effect after the deadline to apply for the funding. The bill needed 30 votes to pass with an emergency clause, but it only received 26 votes in a separate attempt.

Additionally, Ricketts, who has repeatedly said he opposes the additional aid, could veto the bill.

In order for the bill to have the desired effect, the U.S. Department of the Treasury would first have to agree to extend the deadline for Nebraska beyond March 30, which State Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln said is a possibility. Additionally, LB 1073 would need 30 votes to pass a veto override if Ricketts vetoes the bill. 

Regardless of the bill's outcome, Hansen, who designated LB 1073 his priority bill, said there were other options available for the state to access rental assistance for residents, although he did not name specifics. 

For the full article click HERE

BILL TO INCREASE FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR NEBRASKA DRUG OFFENDERS ADVANCES

LINCOLN- Sen. Megan Hunt's second attempt at improving food assistance for convicted drug offenders in Nebraska cleared a hurdle Tuesday, but the bill could ultimately meet the same fate as the failed first attempt.

The bill, LB121, which Sen. Megan Hunt introduced in 2021, would allow a person convicted of drug offenses — possession, use or distribution — access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly called food stamps, as long as they were complying with probation, parole or post-release supervision. 

The bill passed its first round of debate on a 25-17 vote.

Hunt has been trying to pass a bill to improve food assistance for drug felons since at least 2019. That initial bill was effectively killed when Hunt fell short of the 33 votes she needed to pass a filibuster-ending cloture motion.

Hunt argued LB121 was fundamental to changing the culture of the state and would improve the quality of life for all Nebraskans by helping those in poverty. She said it makes no sense for young people who are convicted of a drug offense to not have access to food when they are older. 

Because SNAP is a federally funded program, Hunt said the bill would cost nothing for Nebraska taxpayers.

Supporters, including Sens. Steve Lathrop and Terrell McKinney of Omaha, said LB121 would help reduce recidivism rates by eliminating the barrier of food access many drug convicts face upon their re-entry into society. 

For the full article click HERE

SENATORS ADVANCE PLAN FOR $1 BILLION ARPA FUNDS

LINCOLN- State lawmakers, following a daylong hearing, tweaked the Appropriations Committee’s spending proposal for the state’s allotment of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Their 41-1 vote moved the package of about 40 projects and initiatives to the second round of legislative debate.

Changes adopted Wednesday included a $20 million infusion for construction of mental health treatment and education facilities, on top of $20 million Appropriations had already recommended. State Sen. John Arch of La Vista pushed for the extra funding. He said COVID-19 has only added to mental health problems.

Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil championed an amendment that senators adopted calling for $10 million to help cover college debt for rural health care workers and nursing students.

Lawmakers also supported a $7 million request from Sen. Tim Gragert of Creighton for drinking water system infrastructure benefiting at least four rural communities.

And Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha garnered enough support for an amendment that now directs all $150 million of a fund for job training and business development to North and South Omaha. Before Wednesday, a third of that money would have been open to applications from low-income census tracts statewide.

Several other funding amendments failed to secure approval from the Legislature, including a request by Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue to provide bonuses for teachers. She chastised colleagues, saying they valued sewers over educators.

Speaker Mike Hilgers asked that any senators requesting changes suggest spending reductions in other areas. Blood had suggested cutting some funds from a sewer project at the state fairgrounds in Grand Island.

For the full article click HERE

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PETITION DRIVE MAKES URGENT PITCH FOR DONORS, VOLUTNEERS

LINCOLN - An initiative petition drive seeking to legalize medical cannabis in Nebraska has issued an urgent plea for donations and volunteers after reportedly losing a major contributor.

An email was sent to supporters of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana on Wednesday, March 23 that said, due to "personal and tragic circumstances," a "committed donor" is no longer able to fun its petition drive this year.

The email called supporters to "show our grit" by volunteering to help circulate petitions, or to raise $500,000 to finance paid petition circulators by May 1.

Despite the setback, State Sen. Adam Morfeld said on Thursday that Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana is confident they can raise the funds needed to "fill the gap." 

“Our campaign has an incredible amount of grassroots support,” Morfeld said. “We have hundreds of well-organized volunteers who are out gathering signatures, and more supporters sign up to help every day.” 

According to Morfeld, it is "possible, but very difficult" to qualify an initiative for the ballot without using paid circulators. However, Morfeld went on to say "if any campaign can do it solely with a grassroots signature drive, it's ours."

Two years ago the initiative collected more than 122,000 signatures but was kicked off by the Nebraska Supreme Court. They ruled that the initiative's language violated the state's "single-subject" rule, which requires a ballot issue to contain no more than one subject.

In the email sent Wednesday, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana said it has collected roughly 15,000 signatures so far in its attempt to qualify for the 2022 general election ballot. The group needs 87,000 signatures in the next 100 days. 

In addition to the lack of funding, the petition faces major pushback from Gov. Pete Ricketts, who claims that legalizing medical marijuana is a gateway towards legalizing marijuana for recreational use. 

Ricketts' position that cannabis has no medicinal value has been in stark contrast to the dozens of Nebraskans who have testified at the Capitol about its benefits in treating chronic pain and seizure disorders.

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CONGRESSMAN'S WIFE TESTIFIES THAT HER HUSBAND WAS OFTEN DISTRACTED DURING FUND-RAISING CALLS

LOS ANGELES — The wife of U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry provided several explanations Thursday, March 24 about why her husband may not have heard or understood warnings in a June 2018 cell phone call — warnings repeated at least three times — that his re-election campaign had received illegal contributions during a fundraiser two years earlier.

Celeste Fortenberry testified that on June 4, 2018, both she and her husband were exhausted after a long flight home from Finland.

Not only were they exhausted, but they were also stressed out because one of their daughters was slated to have serious surgery in a couple of days.

The Representative's wife of 26 years also said the congressman "loathed" fund-raising calls, leaning him to do other chores like cooking, cleaning, yard work, or walking the dog while he was making such calls "on autopilot."

Background noises during the June 2018 call indicated to her that there was a "high degree of probability" that her husband was performing another task during the call.

Celeste also remarked that the couple has poor cell phone reception in their Lincoln home. "We live in Nebraska," the wife told jurors. "The state has kind of lousy cell phone service."

All of such testimony served to strengthen the defense's case that the congressman did not lie to federal investigators but instead, either didn't hear, didn't comprehend, or didn't recall what was said in the June 2018 phone call.

The 61–year-old Republican is charged with lying to agents in two interviews in 2019. He is also charged with attempting to conceal the L.A. donations by not amending his federal campaign reports. Fortenberry faces up to five years in prison on each felony count.

The congressman, on Thursday morning, informed the court that he would not be testifying on his own behalf.

For the full article click HERE

THE FIRST AND POSSIBLY ONLY DEBATE IN THE NEBRASKA GOP RACE GAVE CANDIDATES A PLATFORM

LINCOLN- Four Republicans running to be Nebraska’s next governor stood on a soundstage Thursday and answered questions from reporters for an hour on live television statewide.

That they did so is rarely news. But Thursday’s event, hosted by Nebraska Public Media, was the first and perhaps only debate of this GOP primary race. And University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, one of the top three candidates, has refused to participate in any debates before the May 10 primary election.

The race's front runner, Charles Herbster was to be tested. On prisons and criminal justice reform, Herbster highlighted the need for better mental health care in Nebraska. He said nonviolent criminals need a path back to work. He also discussed building Nebraska’s next prison in a major city. On taxes, Herbster said he’d explore all options. 

Herbster said during the debate that he would help Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers protect agriculture, in part, by not allowing foreign nationals to buy farmland in Nebraska.

His top opponents on stage Thursday, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha and former Sen. Theresa Thibodeau, also of Omaha, said the law wouldn’t allow Herbster to do as he proposed. 

Lindstrom, who has staked his campaign on running a positive race, focused on the future. He avoided attacking his peers and emphasized his efforts to cut taxes, including state taxes on Social Security payments. He has proposed a bill this year to cut them faster. 

For the full article click HERE

U.S. REP. JEFF FORTENBERRY FOUND GUILTY OF THREE FELONIES

LOS ANGELES- In a nearly immediate decision, a California jury found U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry guilty Thursday of lying to federal investigators and trying to conceal illegal campaign donations. 

Jeff Fortenberry was found guilty on all three felony charges, each of which carries a possible 5 year jail time sentence. Sentencing was scheduled for June 28th according to judge Stanley Blumenfeld.

Afterward, Fortenberry promised an appeal and said he would review whether to continue his re-election campaign. He faces a formidable GOP challenger, State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, in the primary.

“We always thought it was going to be hard to have a fair process here,” Fortenberry told reporters, his family at his side, outside the courthouse. “We made our case.”

The most important piece of evidence was a 10-minute audio recording — done surreptitiously by the FBI — of a June 4, 2018, phone call the host of a Los Angeles fundraiser had with Fortenberry. 

During the trial, several of the jurors scribbled notes every time the recording of the phone call was played in court, which occurred at least four times during the trial.

Among the questions facing Fortenberry: Will he continue his re-election campaign while appealing the guilty verdicts? What kind of future does he have if he loses his seat in Congress?

For the full article click HERE

HERBSTER GOES OFF SCRIPT IN GOVERNOR DEBATE; LINDSTROM STAYS ON; THIBODEAU ATTACKS

LINCOLN — Four Republicans running to be Nebraska’s next governor stood on a soundstage Thursday and answered questions from reporters for an hour on live television statewide.

That they did so is hardly news. But Thursday’s event, hosted by Nebraska Public Media, was the first and perhaps only debate of this GOP primary race. And University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, one of the top three candidates, has refused to participate in any debates before the May 10 primary election.

Political pundits said they were interested in observing how the frontrunner, Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster, handled questions in front of the camera.

Herbster pointed to the need for better mental health care when faced with questions about prisons and criminal justice reform in Nebraska. 

On taxes, Herbster said he'd explore all options.

Herbster also gave, and stood by, one of the most unexpected answers of the night. He said, without offering evidence, that China planned the COVID-19 pandemic to get rid of President Donald Trump.

“This is a planned pandemic,” Herbster said. “It was planned all along. I’ve said that from day one, and it was planned to be a part of taking America down and dividing America.” 

Former Sen. Theresa Thibodeau, who is currently fourth in polling behind Herbster, Pillen, and Lindstrom, landed the biggest blows of the evening. 

She said Herbster didn’t know what he was talking about and won’t locate his largest business in Nebraska.

And she said Lindstrom calls himself a tax cutter but voted for a significant gas tax increase that families feel at the pump.

For the full article click HERE

ATTEMPT TO CREATE SUPER-SIZED TAX BREAK BILL FALLS ONE VOTE SHORT IN LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN — An attempt to add a major package of income and property tax cuts to a bill providing a tax break on Social Security checks ran into a logjam Friday in the Nebraska Legislature.In the end, the attempt to create a super-sized collection of tax relief proposals failed, with a vote to stop a filibuster falling one vote short of the 33 necessary.

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, who has made eliminating state income taxes on Social Security a priority, said his proposal is still very much alive, despite Friday’s development.

“We will regroup on Monday,” Lindstrom said, and work to attach provisions of Legislative Bill 825 onto another tax bill dealing with turnback taxes to support sports arenas, such as Omaha’s CHI Center.

That bill could also provide a vehicle for the whopper income/property tax relief proposal.

The Lindstrom bill — which had plenty of support to advance from second-round — would phase out all state taxes on Social Security by 2025. It would benefit an estimated 325,000 Nebraskans who rely on the federal retirement aid.But the state income tax cuts and an increase in property tax credits proposed in the larger tax bill, LB 939, ran into opposition from some senators who believe it helps mostly rich and not middle-class taxpayers. Because of the opposition, LB 939 was blocked from advancing on Tuesday. Thus, Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who introduced LB 939, sought a way to advance her proposal by attaching it to the Social Security measure, which was headed for passage.

Opponents of the move, such as State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, said it was a brazen attempt to piggyback the less-popular income/property tax bill on the top of a very popular measure, cutting taxes on retirement income.

Read more to this story on our website by clicking HERE

PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR ARPA FUNDS RELEASED BY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

LINCOLN- With the ARPA funds tentatively set to be debated in the Legislature beginning next week, the Appropriations Committee released their preliminary plans for state's over $1billion in federal ARPA dollars.

The state was given $1.04 billion dollars thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act. The $1.9 trillion relief bill passed just over a year ago under the Biden administration. These funds are specifically provided to states to be used at the local level. ARPA can provide a wide variety of resources to Nebraska as the state works to address health and economic recovery. 

Governor Pete Ricketts announced his proposed plan for the ARPA dollars in January, with the committee having the final say in drafting the plan that will appear before the full legislature for consideration. The Appropriations Committee began to prioritize and work through ARPA proposals from the Governor, citizens, companies, and other legislative committees, wrapping this work over the last weekend resulting in the agreement on the preliminary plan that will be presented to the body.

The plan covers many areas that will affect the state. The number of asks for relief dollars was extremely high, totaling nearly six times the amount given to the state. The preliminary plan encompasses a wide range of subjects, organized into key areas including Public Health Response; Negative Economic Impacts; Premium Pay for some frontline workers; Water, Sewer and Broadband; and funding for administration of the dollars.

For the full preliminary spreadsheet released by the Appropriations Committee click HERE

For an in-depth description of bills included, requested dollar amounts in comparison to what was appropriated, and areas of focus, click HERE

LEGISLATURE GIVES FIRST NOD TO MAIN BUDGET AMID DISAGREEMENTS

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature, flush with federal cash, gave first-round approval Thursday, March 17 to the Appropriations Committee’s $9.9 billion main budget bill for the two years that end in mid-2023.

The bill’s 40-6 passage papered over simmering divisions among senators about the best approach to state spending moving forward, which spilled into subsequent debate. One senator who voted in opposition to the budget, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, said she has concerns with the lack of discussion about the potential repercussions of their decisions. 

“The majority, sometimes even if it’s a supermajority, makes a mistake,” Linehan said. 

Sen. John Stinner, who serves as the chairman of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, defended the group's work and continued to do so well into the next bill's debate. In regard to the budget's $62 million in wage increases for state employees and $95 million for increased reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers, Stinner said, “Go home and find a nursing home and find out what’s happening. They don’t have staff. Go to Mullen, Nebraska, where they just lost their nursing home.”

Two of the six that voted no on the bill, Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney, pointed out the hypocrisy of their colleagues who spoke in agreement with them about North and South Omaha's needs, yet spent budget money elsewhere. 

“If North and South Omaha was an investment area of our state, they clearly could’ve found a way just like they did here to invest,” Wayne said. “They chose not to.” 

Sen. Curt Friesen, who also voted against the budget, was frustrated with his colleagues voting to end first-round debate before they were able to change or amend the budget. 

“We’re spending on things I don’t think we should be spending on,” said Friesen, who also voted against the budget. “Somewhere down the line we’re going to have a compromise.” 

Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh and John Cavanaugh also voted against the budget advancing.

For the full article click HERE

ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF MAY BECOME PART OF COMPROMISE ON INCOME TAX BILL

LINCOLN — Additional property tax relief may be working its way into a bill designed to reduce state income taxes.

The development comes after the income tax proposal, Legislative Bill 939, advanced from first-round debate but only after the prime sponsor of the bill, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, promised to amend the bill before second-round debate. Linehan declined to comment on what amendments are being considered, but other sources claim that at least one of such amendments being discussed would provide more property tax relief.

Roughly $200 million in additional income tax relief could be produced by increasing the state income tax credits that provide a refund for property taxes paid for K-12 education. Nebraska's business community has long lobbied to cut the state's income tax rate. Business groups argue that Nebraska's top income tax rate discourages businesses and workers from locating here. 

Currently, LB939 would reduce the state's top individual income tax rate from 6.84% to 5.84% after three years. Additionally, the state's corporate income tax rate would be reduced from 7.1% to 5.84% by the tax year 2026. The state's 6.84% top rate is the most among all neighboring states except for Iowa. However, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed a bill into law that establishes a flat tax of 3.9%.

Despite a 40-1 vote to advance from the first round of debate, there is strong opposition to LB939. Opposers voted "yes" on the condition that some compromises are made before it comes up for second-round debate.

Sen. Matt Hansen, who has led the opposition, has said his biggest issue with the bill is that it was claimed to be a "middle class" tax cut when in reality, most of the benefits go to the state's wealthiest taxpayers.

For the full article click HERE

BILL WOULD GIVE FIRST-YEAR NEBRASKA TEACHERS UP TO $5,000 TO MAKE UP FOR LOW PAY

LINCOLN- Nebraska lawmakers are looking to up the ante on a package of incentives meant to attract more teachers to Nebraska.

Legislative Bill 1218 would create the Teach in Nebraska Today Program, which would provide first-year educators up to $5,000 a year for up to five years. The bill is one of the Education Committee’s priorities this year, as lawmakers look to address the teacher shortage impacting Nebraska schools.

The program was added as an amendment to a bill that, as introduced, would strike the requirement for a basic skills test and provide other avenues for candidates to enter the teaching profession.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, a member of the Education Committee, said the teaching crisis is “a long time coming.” Teaching vacancies have been increasing for years across the U.S., but the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the issue. Some educators left the profession due to burnout.

Linehan said one of the reasons for the shortage is the low pay most teachers earn early in their careers, which discourages many students from pursuing teaching jobs. She said many teachers don’t earn high pay until later in their careers.

“It’s not a 21st-century pay scale,” Linehan said.

For the full article click HERE