Q&A IN NEBRASKA GOVERNOR'S RACE; PILLEN, BLOOD DISCUSS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH CARE

LINCOLN- Affordable housing and mental health care are the key topics in previous interviews, that held to be true going into this interview.

Pillen and Blood agreed that Nebraska needs to build more affordable housing and improve how it delivers mental health care. They disagreed on how they’d pursue change.

Pillen said his plan "Would be to inspire the communities to come together and solve problems. The governor’s seat can certainly help really large organizations understand (that) they need to play a role in helping get those infrastructure costs and invest."

Blood said she would first distinguish between workforce housing and affordable housing. She noted that money needs to be assigned with a purpose and not just thrown at these housing projects. She finished by noting, "We have to work with local government. There are, especially in our more rural areas, a lot of older buildings that have been zoned for commercial that we could retrofit to make into housing."

In regard to mental health care, candidates focused on different aspects.

Pillen was uncertain of the specific solution but did offer that, "We need more people, we need more young people to be incentivized and see the calling and have the help of the calling to be trained to be mental health specialists, because there are not enough people. Second would certainly be the mandates around the delivery of care."

Blood pointed to building mental health facilities and again, better-assigning dollars spent. Blood emphasized that we "Need to get certifications for health care workers that can help. We can get people trained in counseling. We have got to get more psychologists. That’s why telemedicine is so important and broadband is important."

For the full article click HERE

SMITH TOUTS WORK ON TAX RELIEF AND TRADE AS HE CAMPAIGNS FOR AN EIGHTH TERM

LINCOLN- Seeking re-election for an eighth two-year term, U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., is emphasizing his work on tax relief and foreign trade as he campaigns for votes in the state’s vast, 3rd Congressional District.

Smith has applauded the striking down of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. He called Nebraska’s current ban on abortion after 20 weeks as “something that is reasonable.”

He has claimed more than 70% of the vote in every re-election bid in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 3-to-1.

This year, he faces two opponents, who have mounted nominal campaigns: Democrat David Else, an Overton farmer, and musician/businessman Mark Elworth Jr. of Omaha, a leader of the Legal Marijuana NOW Party.

Smith says he has built a great staff and great relations over his seven terms.

The congressman’s endorsements include those from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, the National Right to Life Committee and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, which gave him a 100% rating as a “taxpayer hero.”

Smith is one of three candidates to become chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policies and Social Security. If he is chosen — he would be the first Nebraskan to get that post — Smith said it would enhance his ability to seek favorable trade policies for Nebraska agriculture products.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKANS HAVE THREE DAYS REMAINING TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER ELECTION

LINCOLN- The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 8 general election is quickly approaching.

Nebraskans hoping to vote in the upcoming election now must register in person. The deadline to register online was October 21st, meaning any online voter registrations received at this point will not be effective for the 2022 general election.

In regard to mail-in registrations, any mail-in registrations postmarked after October 21st will not be counted.

Eligible voters have until 6 p.m. on October 28th to register in person at their county election office. Nebraskans can check their voter registration status and get the location of their polling place by contacting their county election office or by going online to www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/.

Early voting is underway, and registered voters can cast their ballot at their county election office during regular business hours before Election Day, Nov. 8. Polls will be open that day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time.

Voters who lose or never receive their early ballot can cast a provisional ballot on Election Day at their polling place.

for the full article click HERE

SENATOR ERDMAN ENDORSES BRIAN HARDIN FOR LEGISLATURE

SCOTTSBLUFF- In a letter to the Scottsbluff Herald, State Senator Steve Erdman announced his endorsement of District 48 candidate Brian Hardin.

Senator Erdman said, "After visiting with both candidates and watching a recent forum, I believe Brian Hardin has a more thorough understanding of the issues that are most relevant for the 48th district."

"Brian’s ability to speak to these issues in a clear and concise manner will also serve him well as a state senator. Brian’s traditional roots growing up on a farm in Mitchell Valley as well as his diverse background will enable him to bring to the State Legislature the unique skill set needed to represent District 48 as well as all of western Nebraska. For these reasons, I am hereby endorsing Brian Hardin for the Nebraska State Legislature."

Senator Erdman is the representative of neighboring District 47. Brian Hardin is running a contested race against Don L. Lease II. Both Hardin and Lease are running for the legislature for the first time.

District 48 consists of Scottsbluff, Banner, and Kimball Counties. The district was previously represented by John Stinner who had been the district's senator since 2014.

For the full article click HERE

VARGAS BATTLES NEW GOP FIREWALL

OMAHA- While Douglas County would lean Democrat, Sarpy County, a Republican stronghold, was seen as the GOP's firewall to victory.

But this year there's a new player in the Second District and it arguably makes the Democrats case even harder.

That new player is heavily Republican Saunders County, added during the latest redistricting by the Nebraska Legislature.

As voters in Saunders County are casting their November ballots, they find themselves, for the very first time, helping decide who will win the 2nd Congressional District race, as GOP Congressman Don Bacon battles Democrat State Sen. Tony Vargas.

Saunders County is made-up of one small town after another, the largest being Wahoo with 4,600 people. Saunders was added to the 2nd District during a controversial redistricting vote by the Legislature last year.

One of those no votes, Tony Vargas.

To better describe the new area, one can look to the 2020 presidential election. In Douglas County, Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by 11 points. In Sarpy county it was the opposite, Trump beat Biden by 11 points. The difference comes in Saunders County where Trump won by 45 points.

For the full article click HERE

GOP ACTIVIST: NEW STATE LEADERS STRENGTHEN PARTY

LINCOLN COUNTY- Nearly 35 people gathered to hear Fanchon Blythe, one of Nebraska's National Committeewoman who helped overthrow the party elites at the GOP convention this past summer.

Blythe claimed the state party is flourishing and coming alive all over the state.

She told the audience that she “eats, sleeps and drinks” her efforts to help rebuild the party organization.

Blythe served as the chair of the Lancaster County Republicans for four years. She became widely known within the party in July as one of the six delegates whose credentials were revoked in advance of the state party convention in July. The six were outspoken critics of the established party line. Despite the attempt to exclude them, they made their way inside the convention hall.

“It was huge, what happened,” Blythe said. “”The state party used to operate mostly from the top, and a little ways down from there. Now, it operates from the bottom to the top. Everyone is included. It is no longer a party that is run by one family.”

Blythe said part of her work as a committeewoman now is to travel around helping county Republicans get organized. From North Platte, she was headed to Ogallala and Scottsbluff. She said in the late summer, she helped Saunders County organize, elect officers and revise their county constitution.

Blythe claimed they have rebuilt the party headquarters and is learning as a collective how to tackle the hard and pressing issues in the state.

For the full article click HERE

MORE THAN 9 MILLION VOTERS HAVE ALREADY CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS

WASHINGTON- Roughly 9.4 million Americans have already voted in the midterm elections, casting a combination of in-person early votes and mail-in ballots, according to data compiled by the United States Elections Project.

As expected, the states leading total votes so far are Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, all of which have very contested races.

Thus far, 2.6 million people have voted in person while 6.8 million have returned mail-in ballots. Another 41.6 million voters have requested mail-in ballots, according to University of Florida Professor Michael McDonald.

The 17 states reporting data and that share party affiliation show that of the roughly 5.1 million Americans in those states who voted early, 50% are Democrats, 30% are Republicans and 20% are not part of either party or registered with another political affiliation.

In Nebraska, about 96,000 early ballots had been returned as of October 25th, according to data from the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office. Of those, 43% were returned by Republicans and 42% by Democrats. The remainder were from nonpartisans or people registered with another political affiliation.

Professor Michael McDonald said he was slightly surprised thus far by the early voter turnout amongst the Republican party, but is somewhat expected in this election cycle.

For the full article click HERE

OUTSIDE SPENDING FLOWS INTO NEBRASKA CONGRESSIONAL RACE BETWEEN BACON, VARGAS

OMAHA- Millions of dollars have poured into the race for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, a hefty sum that analysts say reflects a competitive contest. ​​​​

In the District 1 race, spending has been impressive, but not up to the standards set in the District 2 race.

Republican-dominated state and given the power of incumbency, the Republican incumbents have outraised, and outspent, their Democratic challengers, overall, in both races during the election cycle.

more than $12.3 million had been spent by the candidates and outside groups for the Bacon v. Vargas race. This spending is a sign of a tight and highly contested race between the two candidates.

Possibly making the biggest difference is the outside money. More than half of money spent in the Bacon-Vargas contest, nearly $7.4 million, has come from outside groups.

A significant share of the outside money, $3.5 million, has been spent in opposition of Vargas, compared with $2.1 million in opposition of Bacon. Another $1.7 million has been spent in support of Bacon.

Top outside donors supporting Bacon are the Congressional Leadership Fund and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Top groups supporting Vargas are the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the House Majority PAC.

For the full article click HERE

BARGER, DUNGAN OFFER STARK CONTRASTS IN RACE FOR NORTHEAST LINCOLN'S DISTRICT 26 SEAT

LINCOLN- District 26, previously occupied by Senator Matt Hansen will be filled by either Russ Barger or George Dungan. Both candidates are very different, but each identified public safety as a top issue.

Barger, a 50-year-old Republican attorney and entrepreneur, and Dungan, a 34-year-old Democrat and former public defender — have fundamentally very different views.

For Dungan, who finished 292 votes behind Barger in second place in May’s four-way primary race, the issue is nuanced and intertwined with the availability of accessible health care, including mental health care and substance-use programs.

“We need safe neighborhoods,” said Dungan, who worked in the Lancaster County Public Defender’s Office for eight years after earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and a law degree from American University.

For Barger, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate who has worked in Nebraska’s Attorney General’s Office and for the state’s Department of Labor, the issue seems more black-and-white.

“Our local law enforcement has been undermanned and underfunded for years, and it’s now showing with our record crime numbers in 2022,” he said in a written response to questions after declining an in-person or phone interview, citing time constraints.

Nowhere is their differences more apparent than in their stances on abortion. “There could not be a clearer contrast between Russ Barger and I when it comes to the issue of whether or not somebody has access to reproductive health care,” said Dungan.

Barger believes abortion should only be legal in cases when the mother’s life is threatened. He does not support exceptions for rape, incest or “fetal anomalies.”

For the full article click HERE

MORE MILES COMPLETED ON PANHANDLE'S HEARTLAND EXPRESSWAY

LINCOLN- Dignitaries gathered to celebrate the completion of an additional 14 miles of four-lane, divided freeway on the Heartland Expressway in Nebraska’s Panhandle.

The new four-lane portion extends from Nebraska Highway Link 62A,  east of Minatare, to Alliance.

Increased revenue from the Build Nebraska Act and the Transportation Innovation Act enabled the Nebraska Department of Transportation to extend the expressway.

The NDOT also received an $18.3 million grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program.

The Heartland Expressway, a federally designated, high-priority corridor, will eventually provide multilane, divided highway access from Rapid City, South Dakota, to Denver, via Alliance, Scottsbluff, Kimball and Brush, Colorado.

Gov. Pete Ricketts, who attended Monday’s event, said the expressway will significantly increase the flow of freight from America’s border with Canada all the way to ports along the Gulf of Mexico.

Alliance Mayor Mike Dafney said the expressway has been long awaited by Panhandle residents.

For the full article click HERE

PILLEN SAYS TAX REFORM, REVAMP OF EDUCATION FUNDING ARE TOP PRIORITIES

OMAHA- At a Rotary Club of Omaha meeting, gubernatorial candidate highlighted his values ahead of the November 8th elections.

Rather than the traditional campaign events, such as candidate debates and large-scale public speeches, Pillen has favored smaller gatherings such as the Rotary Club.

“If you do nothing but large events, people might say they saw you, but they don’t know you,” Pillen said. 

Pillen said he would have called a special session this year to debate abortion legislation following the Supreme Court ruling in June, which Gov. Pete Ricketts did not do. 

When asked multiple times whether he would support a full abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest, Pillen responded: “It’s about saving as many babies as possible.” 

If elected, Pillen said he would first address the legislature. He said he wants to start an “attitudinal change,” to encourage lawmakers to serve the state, rather than their individual districts. 

Pillen’s top priority in office would be to fix Nebraska’s “broken tax code” and reduce property taxes. 

Pillen also has made education funding an increasingly prominent pillar of his platform. 

Another top priority for Pillen is addressing the so-called “brain drain,” which refers to large numbers of educated young adults leaving Nebraska. 

For the full article click HERE

PRISON WATCHDOG URGES CAUTION IN OPENING NEW UNIT FOR HIGHEST RISK INMATES

LINCOLN- A prison watchdog is urging caution as the state prepares to open a new, 384-bed unit designed to hold the state’s most dangerous inmates.

The Nebraska Inspector General's Office outlined in a 29-page report complaints from inmates, staff, and management at similar facilities in Tecumseh, York, and Lincoln. 

The report outlined a series of recommendations for the department in opening the $49 million, maximum-custody unit at the Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln, which has been billed as being specially designed to handle dangerous inmates. 

The Inspector General's report said the current facilities are operating more like restrictive housing, with the units struggling to provide the required out-of-cell time of 24 hours a week and rehabilitation programming. 

Mike Chipman, the president of the union that represents corrections officers, said he also has concerns, mainly about recent reductions in the minimum staffing requirements for some state prison housing units, reductions that have left one officer overseeing units that used to require two. 

The Inspector Generals Report highlighted areas such as staffing, writing out guidance requirements, body camera usage, increased behavior incentives, improved exercise yards, and Inmate transfer anger. 

For the full article click HERE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN $800 MILLION TO KEEP INDEBTED FARMERS AFLOAT

LINCOLN- More than 13,000 farmers have benefited from nearly $800 million in federal debt relief, said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

The assistance came from a new federal initiative to erase farmers’ loan delinquencies to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and private lenders or to resolve their remaining debts after foreclosure.

Going forward, the USDA is expected to give hundreds of millions of dollars of relief to farmers who are facing bankruptcy or foreclosure and to those who are at risk of missing payments on their loans.

“The star of the show here is the farmer,” Vilsack told reporters. “The person that really matters is the farmer, and keeping that farmer, him or her, on the land so that he or she can take care of their family and their community.” 

The government’s farm loan obligations for its 2022 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, totaled about $5.8 billion, according to USDA records. States with the highest obligations included Iowa at about $484 million, Arkansas at $424 million, Oklahoma at $366 million and Nebraska at $341 million. 

For those with government-backed loans from private entities, the average benefit was about $172,000. 

For the full article click HERE

COSTS OF INCARCERATION RISE AS INFLATION SQUEEZES INMATES, FAMILIES

LINCOLN- All over the country, prison commissaries are raising the prices of basic commodities, like deodorant and fresh fruit, to account for decades-high inflation rates. These items, which are not provided by the Nebraska Department of Corrections, are being made harder to purchase by families already struggling with high inflation.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney said that these raised prices are concerning, and that he plans to double down on seeking a legislative response. 

Sen. McKinney previously attempted to limit what prisons could charge inmates, but did not gain the necessary support in the Legislature. "Individuals are having to rely more so on family to make up for rising costs of goods they need inside," stated the Senator, "Inflation affects people inside and outside of prison, it's a fact you can't deny."

Wanda Bertram, communications strategist for the Prison Policy Initiative, shares a similar sentiment. Bertram believes that prison commissaries that charge inmates for essential items instead of providing them for free is placing an unnecessary burden on not only the inmates, but their families too. 

"The prison and jail system always has the power to play hardball with the provider to get prices down in order to make items more affordable for the consumers," said Bertram, "but a prison system that's already content with foisting the cost of things like over-the-counter medication onto incarcerated people probably is not going to work very hard to do that."

However, Shannon Ross, executive director of The Community, a nonprofit focused on inmate re-entry, stated that inflation isn't the only problem in prisons. Low inmate wages, she stated, are one of the reasons why inmates can't afford these commissary items. In Nebraska, inmates who work while incarcerated make between $1.21 and $4.72 a day, well below the state's minimum wage.

Many inmates rely on food from the prison commissary to provide more satisfying meals than what they are served by the state. Inmates have also reportedly had trouble finding fresh fruits and vegetables, often being served unhealthy or outright rotten food by the state. 

For the full article click HERE

HUNGRY GAMBLERS SPENT A LOT IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE LINCOLN WARHORSE CASINO

LINCOLN- Nebraska's first week of casino gambling brought in nearly $286,000 in taxes for state and local governments. 

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission Director Tom Sage called the number "remarkable."

Sage said he did not yet have an accounting of the total amount wagered in those first seven days, and WarHorse officials declined to release that number.

Director Sage did note that the first day of the operation had total wagers over several million.

Assuming a payout of 90%, gamblers putting $14 million into slot machines would net tax revenue of about $280,000. Extend those numbers over a full year, and slot machines in Lincoln could generate $728 million in revenue and $14.5 million in state and local tax revenue.

Of the nearly $286,000 in tax revenue generated in September, 70%, or about $200,000, goes into a fund that will provide relief to the state's property taxpayers.

In regards to the Omaha casino, construction continues. 

WarHorse gaming spokesperson Drew Niehaus said, "Unfortunately in Lincoln, it was a little bit easier to get those machines into a space, Omaha requires a little more renovation to the existing facility so we’ve got a little bit more work to do before we’ll be gambling in Omaha.”

For the full article click HERE

FIVE STATE SENATORS CALL FOR INVESTIGATION OF NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

LINCOLN- Three weeks before an election in which concerns about education could motivate Republican turnout, five conservative state senators called for a legislative investigation into the Nebraska Department of Education.

The senators said one of their staffers found a link in June to a New York University center for culturally responsive education on “Launch Nebraska,” a state Department of Education website built for schools reopening during the pandemic. On this website, a document defending CRT and a discussion of racial justice were found.

State Sens. Dave Murman of Glenvil, Steve Erdman of Bayard, Robert Clements of Elmwood, Steve Halloran of Hastings and Myron Dorn of Adams said they want the Legislature’s Education Committee to investigate who shared the link and what else was shared. They also said they want to know who might have promoted a new sex education curriculum.

“After a year of operation, ‘Launch Nebraska’ posted left-wing agenda items completely foreign to Nebraska public schools before the pandemic…,” Murman said. “Now we’ve uncovered documents that show unequivocally, unequivocally that the department has also been promoting critical race theory.”

Murman said if an investigation is held, he did not expect it to begin any sooner than the next legislative session in January. Murman, Erdman, Clements and Halloran did not contact the state Education Department before calling for the investigation.

For the full article click HERE

DON WALTON: RICKETTS WOOED BY NATIONAL GOP LEADERS TO ACCEPT SENATE APPOINTMENT

LINCOLN- Over the past week, several national Republican leaders have urged Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts to accept an appointment to the Senate and then gear up for 2024's race.

Besides Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina made a direct pitch to Gov. Ricketts at the annual Republican steak fry gathering in Nebraska last week. 

"I hope you'll think about it, sit down with your family and pray on it," said Graham, "and if that opportunity comes, maybe you can take the competency and caring and the conservativism you've demonstrated here in Nebraska and bring it to help us in Washington."

"Think about it," Graham urged the Governor. It has been a few years since a Nebraska Governor held a seat in the Senate, but it isn't unheard of. Several more recent Governors have done so, including Jim Exon, Bob Kerrey, Ben Nelson, and Mike Johanns.

Present also at the steak fry event was former Vice President Mike Pence, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA SEPTEMBER TAX RECEIPTS $110 MILLION OVER PROJECTIONS

LINCOLN- According to a report issued by the Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska's net tax collections were up nearly 18% over projections.

September's net revenue receipts were up nearly $110 million, continuing a trend started in July of higher-than-predicted figures.

In July and August, the state's net collections were up 1.1% and 4.8% respectively, with September's coming out at 9.4%.

Last Friday, Gov. Ricketts released a statement celebrating September's figures, saying that the increased numbers will help the state provide more tax relief while making increased investments.

"Nebraska's growth continues to be incredibly strong," said Gov. Ricketts, "creating opportunities for our families to enjoy the good life, thanks to Nebraskans whose hard work is helping our state thrive."

The forecasting board will meet again in late October to update previous projections. Both the Legislature and the Governor utilize these predictions while making tax and budget decisions.

For the full article click HERE

LINEHAN HOPES EDUCATION CONCERNS CAN BE SOLVED WITHOUT INVESTIGATION

KEARNEY- After five state senators called for an investigation into the state's department of education, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan says she doesn't think it's necessary. 

Linehan is a member of the Nebraska Legislature's Education Committee, and although she believes the investigation is unnecessary the Senator did say she thinks the claims are valid. 

"There's been a disconnect between parents in our communities and what a handful--I don't think it's a huge number--but some sin education think they need to be teaching," said Sen. Linehan. 

The concerns stem from a link on the Department of Education's website that brought users to a page promoting "culturally responsive education." However, according to Education officials, the link, which was discovered in June, was removed by the end of the summer.

"I wouldn't say investigation," said Sen. Linehan, "we just need some parameters about what gets on there, how does it get on there, and who is ultimately responsible for what is on the website."

When asked about the recent drop in Nebraska's ACT test average, Sen. Linehan indicated that that's a bigger problem than the investigation. 

"It's a crisis. We need to get everybody on the same page that what we need in education is a good, basic foundation so young people can go be successful," said Linehan.

For the full article click HERE

PATRICK O'DONNELL, NATION'S LONGEST-SERVING CLERK OF THE LEGISLATURE, PLANS TO RETIRE

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, longtime Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell announced his intentions to retire by the end of the year. O'Donnell, now 73, has served in the position since 1978.

In an email to all state Senators, O'Donnell wrote, "It has been an honor to serve. I wish you well in the upcoming session." Although O'Donnell gave no particular reason for his retirement in the email, veteran lobbyist and longtime friend of O'Donnell's Walt Radcliffe stated that it, thankfully, wasn't health-related.

O'Donnell was hired on to the Legislature during his last year in law school, and acted as an aide to the Legislature's Judiciary Committee. "I started working here," said O'Donnell, "and I never left." In the past, O'Donnell told the Omaha World-Herald that "this place kind of gets in your blood. I feel like I'm part of something that's important."

When asked why he was departing, he said, "It’s a different environment, the nature of the members has changed. Some of that may be due to term limits, some because of money and politics."

“There are people who are more engaged in political theater now than the hard work of being a good senator."

O'Donnell noted that there are still dedicated individuals, just not nearly as many.

“We’re certainly not perfect,” he said. “I don’t know of one (legislative system) that is better. But I think we were even better before.”

O'Donnell said he will be keeping an eye on the upcoming session, but It may be from a golf course, or wherever he is traveling at that time.

The Legislature’s Executive Board will recommend the choice of the first new clerk of the Nebraska Legislature in 45 years.

For the full article click HERE