NEBRASKA'S FLOOD SAYS MESSY FIGHT OVER SPEAKER IN CONGRESS HAS PRODUCED SOME GOOD

WASHINGTON, D.C.- As the messy and convoluted fight for a Speaker of the House continues, Rep. Mike Flood says that Republicans need to keep fighting until Rep. Kevin McCarthy wins. "I think it's time for us to pick a Speaker, and that should be Kevin McCarthy, said Flood, "It's time to govern." Flood went on to state that it's frustrating to see Congress held up by just a select few. 

Flood also stated that the GOP caucus has little choice but to keep pushing for McCarthy's election, since giving in would "set a bad precedent" and make it more difficult for the House Republican majority to function over the next two years. "This isn't about tonight or tomorrow," he said, "This is about the next two years. If 90% of the caucus has to give in to 10%, it's going to be like this for the next two years. You have to draw the line."

All three Nebraska Congressmen have voted each time for McCarthy, but Rep. Don Bacon expressed interest in working with moderate Democrats to elect a more moderate GOP speaker, if the handful of Republican "cowboys," or those Republicans holding up the Speaker vote, refuse to give in. Flood disagreed with this sentiment, saying, "I don't think we should share power with Democrats. The people of this country made a choice in November..."

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PILLEN NAMES INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

LINCOLN- Gov.Jim Pillen, who assumed the governorship this Thursday, has named an interim director for the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Moe Jamshidi, who has served in the Transportation Department as deputy director, will replace John Selmer, who plans to retire next Wednesday. 

John Selmer has held the directorship since 2021, and previously served as director of the strategic performance division of the Iowa Department of Transportation for 31 years.

Jamshidi has worked for Nebraska's Department of Transportation for nearly 40 years, and even served as interim director in 2015.

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NEBRASKA GOVERNOR RICKETTS LEAVING 'BEST JOB IN THE WORLD' WITH RECORD OF TAX CUTS, SPENDING RESTRAINT

LINCOLN- Former Gov. Pete Ricketts closed out his governorship this Thursday, calling his old job the "honor and privilege of a lifetime" and the "best job in the world." Ricketts is exiting his position with his eye on another, the soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat left by Ben Sasse, which the former Governor applied for in December.

"I want to continue to look for ways to be able to serve the people of Nebraska," said the former Governor, "and I believe that my experience as governor for the last eight years makes me the best candidate to be the next U.S. Senator." Ricketts went on to list several of his greatest accomplishments, including improving how Nebraska's government is run, updating tax relief, and leading us through the pandemic and widespread flooding. 

"I believe that is a strong case for why I should be the next U.S. Senator," he finished. Sen. Ben Sasse's resignation will take effect on January 8th, and many expect Governor Pillen to appoint Ricketts. State Sen. Tom Briese, in a goodbye statement to outgoing-Governor Ricketts, said, "His legacy is one he can be proud of in the arena of fiscal restraint and tax reform."

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BREAKING: LEGISLATURE ELECTS NEW SPEAKER, CHAIRS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

LINCOLN- Today, new and returning Nebraska senators voted to elect the leaders of the 14 standing committees of the 108th 1st session Legislature. Listed below are the committee names, as well as those senators elected to serve as the chair for the biennium.

Speaker of the Legislature

Speaker John Arch

Agriculture

Senator Steve Halloran

Appropriations

Senator Rob Clements

Banking, Commerce and Insurance

Senator Julie Slama

Business and Labor

Senator Merv Riepe

Committee on Committees

Senator Joni Albrecht

Education

Senator Dave Murman

Executive Board

Senator Tom Briese

General Affairs

Senator John Lowe

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs

Senator Tom Brewer

Health and Human Services

Senator Ben Hansen

Judiciary

Senator Justin Wayne

Natural Resources

Senator Bruce Bostelman

Nebraska Retirement Systems

Senator Mike McDonnell

Revenue

Senator Lou Ann Linehan

Transportation and Telecommunications

Senator Suzanne Geist

Urban Affairs

Senator Terrell McKinney

*Members of each of the above committees will be decided by the Committee on Committees. We will send another breaking news when those assignments are available.

LAWMAKERS SEE CHANCE TO REVIVE FAILED EFFORTS AT REFORMING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PRISONS

LINCOLN - A year after a data-driven effort to relieve Nebraska’s prison overcrowding crashed and burned, some lawmakers are hopeful of resurrecting criminal justice reform in the 2023 Nebraska Legislature.

State Sen. Justin Wayne, an Omaha attorney who appears in line to become the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which deals with criminal justice issues, has already had some initial talks with senators on both sides of last spring’s debate in hopes of finding the common ground that eluded them then.

And the problem certainly hasn’t gone away. With some 44% more prisoners than it’s designed to hold, Nebraska’s prison system has not only been the most overcrowded in the country, but also the nation’s fastest-growing.

Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, who led opposition in the Legislature to criminal penalty changes during the 2022 session, has said she still believes the two sides can reach some kind of agreement going forward.She said one of the flaws of the 2022 bill was that the programs intended to create alternatives to prison were not well-developed.

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DOUG PETERSON RELFECTS ON TWO-TERM TENURE AS NEBRASKA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL

LINCOLN- Doug Peterson, Nebraska's 63-year-old Attorney General, has had an eventful eight years serving the state, and has brought in nearly $200 million in settlements, convicted high-profile murders, and worked to stop human traffickers. Peterson stated that he will leave the office just as he came: as an attorney and just an attorney.

"Prior AGs had often run for political office or said they were running for other political offices. I wanted to bring back the Bob Spire model of being a lawyer first," said Peterson. Peterson worked for Bob Spire, who was Nebraska's AG from 1985-1991. "So when I had to evaluate whether we made decisions or not," continued Peterson, "it wasn't even a matter oh would this play out politically."

Peterson went on to outline some of the most important issues he was able to tackle while Nebraska's AG, including the trafficking of children, clergy sexual abuse in the state, and consumer lawsuits that netted the state $200 million over the past eight years. 

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FULTON TO RETURN TO PRIVATE SECTOR AFTER SEVEN YEARS AS STATE TAX COMMISSIONER

LINCOLN- After seven years in the state tax commissioner role, Tony Fulton has announced his return to the private sector. Fulton announced his last day will be December 30th. Fulton is a former state senator from Lincoln before taking the up the role of state tax commissioner in 2016.

Governor Ricketts, also in his final days in office,  thanked Fulton for being a “wonderful teammate” and delivering “excellent” service as the state as tax commissioner and head of the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Ricketts added. "I am grateful for his service to the state and wish him well as he returns to the private sector." 

Fulton previously ran a small Nebraska-based business before entering the political realm. With Fulton exiting, Deputy Tax Commissioner Glen White will presume the role of the interim tax commissioner. Glen White has been in the deputy role since 2017 and has worked closely with Fulton over the past 6 years.

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GOVERNOR-ELECT JIM PILLEN: TAXES, SCHOOL, FINANCE TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY LIST

LINCOLN- Gov.-elect Jim Pillen has highlighted his top priorities for his first legislative session that begins a day before the takes office on January 4th. Gov.-elect Pillen has listed a number of priorities that he looks to check of the list over the coming months. 

Pillen first noted that school funding reform is a main priority and talks have already been underway. He noted that the second piece of that equation is property tax reform. Pillen said, "We can focus on the high value to make sure we provide the value of the services in a better way to Nebraska." In the big picture, Pillen said he wants to focus on making sure the state provides equalization aid to every student. 

On the topic of taxes and spending, Pillen said, "The key for us to cut property tax and cut income tax is to make sure we don’t spend more money." Pillen believes there are ways to improve Nebraska and its services without forcing people to sell their farm. Pillen did note that spending will need to occur in areas like mental health and caregiving as they are developing issues.

On the topic of prisons, Pillen said he is going to be aggressive in the legislature. He said that the body must appropriate money for a new prison, and doing so is key in the search for the new Director of Correctional Services. For the location of the prison, Pillen said it needs to be near people and near areas that can properly staff it.

On the topic of abortion, Pillen said the thinking process is still underway, but the plan needs to save as many lives as possible. Pillen said he is pro-life and that has not changed since day one. He said he will work very hard to find the 33 votes needed in the legislature. 

Pillen spoke on a number of additional topics such as higher education, the environment, immigration, and affordable housing. 

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NEBRASKA'S GOVERNOR MANSION MAY BE USED AFTER ALL

LINCOLN- Gov.-elect Pillen announced that he is going to use the governor's mansion more than he originally said. Pillen clarified his previous comments about his living arrangements, saying he plans to spend much of the work week at the mansion when the Legislature is in session. He said he will spend weekends at home but will be in Lincoln overnight regularly. 

There will be exceptions, he said. He may spend some weeknights at home when he finishes a travel day closer to Columbus, for example, or when his family gets together. During his first legislative session, which starts Jan. 4, Pillen expects to spend weeknights at the mansion alone while his wife, Suzanne, stays in Columbus with their youngest child, Izic, a high school senior.

After Izic graduates, First Lady Suzanne Pillen will spend more time in Lincoln, Pillen said. “Next year, you know, she’ll be with me three, four nights a week during session,” he said. “We’re … going to be there. But we’re still keeping home, too.” Governor Ricketts faced backlash for his lack of use of the mansion that has not been occupied since Governor Heineman. 

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NEBRASKA WORKERS LOOKING FORWARD TO MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE STARTING JANUARY 1

LINCOLN- On Jan. 1, the state’s minimum wage will rise from $9 per hour to $10.50 per hour. It’s the first increase in a series of gradual raises that will take the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 in line with a ballot initiative that passed in November. Initiative 443 passed in November with 58.6% approval.

The state’s minimum wage will shift to $12 an hour in 2024, then $13.50 an hour in 2025 before reaching $15 an hour in 2026. A report from the National Employment Law Project said more than 147,000 Nebraska workers make under $15 an hour. For employees who regularly work 40 hours a week, the $1.50 difference will add more than $3,000 to their annual income every year.

Opponents of Initiative 433 largely argued that raising the minimum wage would hurt small businesses, and lead to rising costs amid record-breaking inflation. Though supporters, including several small-business owners, have argued that raising wages is key to offsetting the effects of inflation.

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NEBRASKA COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS TICK UP

LINCOLN- After dipping last week, Nebraska Covid cases are on the rise as the numbers continue to fluctuate from week to week. The state recorded 3,892 cases for the week ending Dec. 21, up 42% from the 2,739 reported the previous week, according to data from the federal CDC. 

Case counts are widely considered to be underreported, with many people either not testing or using at-home tests that aren’t reported to health departments. Experts are awaiting the numbers from holiday gatherings and travel that will likely add to those case counts. Dr. James Lawler, a co-executive director with the UNMC Global Center for Health Security, noted last week that test positivity rates nationwide had increased 60% and hospitalizations 55% since mid-October.

 In Nebraska, an average of 261 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 last week, up from 255 the week before. That’s the highest level since March, when the state was coming down from last winter’s omicron peak. Cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, still were high but continued to slowly trend downward last week after hitting a peak in early November. 

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GRAND ISLAND TEMPORARY CASINO OPEN FOR BUSINESS

GRAND ISLAND- The temporary casino in Grand Island is open and alive in Fonner Park. Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said he was most excited about how the casino could affect the Grand Island area and thoroughbred horse racing at Fonner Park. Kotulak said he thinks the casino will elevate all parts of the community, and employ many in and outside the county lines. 

The temporary casino, which includes 300 slot machines, already has more than 100 employees. Table games are anticipated to be added in June, said Vince Fiala, general manager of the casino resort. Dealers are currently being trained. 

Construction of the permanent casino is slated to begin Fall 2023. It is touted to feature a 24-hour Vegas-inspired casino experience, which will include sports wagering. A 116-room hotel, first-class spa and multiple dining options will also be part of the completed facility. Grand Island Casino and Resort is under the umbrellas of Iowa-based Elite Casino Resorts. 

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RICKETTS LOOKS BACK AT LAST YEARS, EXPRESSES OPTIMISM ABOUT BRIDGING POLITICAL DIVIDE, SAYS HE RAN GOVERNMENT LIKE A BUSINESS

LINCOLN- As he approaches his final days as Nebraska's governor, Pete Ricketts expressed optimism that the United States will begin to bridge its political divide. "This is not the first time in history where we've had political contention--think about the 1960s," said the Governor, "We just have to hold on."

When asked about his fitness for the U.S. Senate, Ricketts said, "If you look at our record here over the last eight years, we've done some fantastic things. And I would put that record up against anyone else who wants to be the next U.S. Senator." Gov. Ricketts sidestepped a question about whether he'd be worried that some people might not see his potential appointment as legitimate after he gave $1.4 million to Pillen's campaign.

Ricketts instead responded by saying, "I supported Jim Pillen because he was the best candidate to be the next governor of Nebraska. He's a business man, he's created over 1,000 jobs and I believe he's going to take what we've done to the next level." Gov. Ricketts went on to state that "supporting candidates is a matter of free speech. Can you have too much free speech?"

Ricketts, who will be leaving the Nebraska governorship after serving for eight years, has faced several new and pressing challenges that were yet unseen in the state, including a deadly pandemic and record flooding. Ricketts also helped enact historic and major tax cuts, and said that he is most proud of his efforts to improve state government services to Nebraskans. 

Prior to being elected Governor, Ricketts worked as the Chief Operating Officer at Ameritrade, the financial giant built by his father, Joe Ricketts, where he learned to "run government like a business." The tax cuts Gov. Ricketts helped enact will be felt for years to come, and by 2027, will amount to around $12.7 billion in reductions. 

Gov. Ricketts was also proud of the fact that his office "kept spending low," resulting in a 2.8% state budget growth that will help fund additional tax relief next year. However, despite his successes, Gov. Ricketts acknowledged that there are still problems to be fixed, saying, "There's work yet to be done on the Perkins Canal and replacement of the Nebraska Penitentiary. I was against building a new penitentiary at the beginning, but you learn on the job." 

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PILLEN APPOINTS UTILITIES ADMINISTRATOR AS NEBRASKA'S NEXT FIRE MARSHAL

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Gov.-elect Jim Pillen announced that Metropolitan Utilities District administrator Shane Hunter, who currently serves as the Vice President of Safety, Security, and Business Continuity, will replace current Fire Marshal Doug Hohbein, who was named interim Fire Marshal by Gov. Ricketts. 

According to a press release from Pillen's office, Hunter has more than 25 years of experience in fire and emergency response services, including with the Omaha Fire Department where he served as an assistant fire chief, battalion fire chief, and fire captain. Previously, Hunter also served with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, where gain wildfire fighting experience.

"I am looking forward to working with Shane to lessen the undue burdens facing our volunteer fire departments and paramedics serving Nebraskans," said Pillen in the release, "Our job is to inspire our volunteers, not burden them, so they can continue their work to keep us safe."

Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, who has served as adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard since 2013, will retain his position, according to a release from Pillen's office. "General Bohac is a man of character who leads the Nebraska National Guard with integrity," said Pillen, "Our National Guard has played a key role in our state's flood and pandemic response these past couple of years."

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LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT ABORTION IN NEBRASKA EXPECTED BUT DETAILS UNCLEAR, AND TWO POLLS FOUND MAJORITY OF NEBRASKA RESPONDENTS OPPOSE MORE ABORTION RESTRICTIONS

LINCOLN- Several proposals to further restrict abortion in Nebraska are expected to be put forward after the State Legislature reconvenes in just over a week, but the specific details and parameters of the legislation are unclear thus far. Last session, Republicans tried and failed several times to strengthen Nebraska's abortion restrictions, but failed each time.

This year, the Legislature's political landscape has changed, and aggressive abortion restriction legislation and its likelihood of success may have increased, but it remains unclear. Scout Richtersm senior legal and policy council for the ACLU of Nebraska said that "anything is on the table" when it comes to abortion legislation this year, and believes that such proposals will be determined by a "razor-thin margin."

"It's not clear that we have the votes we need to oppose abortion restrictions," continued Richters. Past abortion restriction proposals ranged from trigger bills that would ban all abortions in the state, to banning abortion past 12 weeks from fertilization. Although Republicans are just short of the 33 legislators necessary to end the filibuster, some have noted that there are anti-abortion Democrats in the body this upcoming session. 

Over the weekend, two polls were released that suggest Nebraskans aren't quite ready to ban abortion in the state after the overturning of Roe V. Wade, and a majority might even oppose it. One poll, from the ACLU of Nebraska, found that 59% of 604 registered voters polled last month either "somewhat opposed" or "strongly opposed" more restrictive abortion bans in Nebraska. 

Furthermore, the ACLU poll found that those who "strongly opposed" abortion bans outnumbered those that "strongly supported" them by a margin of 48% to 24%. "months since the end of Roe, we are seeing the horrifying impact of extreme abortion bans in other states, and Nebraskans do not want that here," said Scout Richters, the ACLU's senior legal and policy counsel.

Similarly, the Holland Children's Movement released a poll indicating that 67% of 600 registered voters polled in mid-October opposed a total ban on abortion in Nebraska. Both polls were released just weeks before the start of the next Legislative session, and it remains unclear whether or not an abortion ban will pass this year. 

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LATHROP SAYS NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE CHANGED SO HE'S MOVING ON

LINCOLN- State Sen. Steve Lathrop, who has served in the Nebraska Legislature for three full terms, said that the body has "slipped more and more into partisanship," a far cry from the nonpartisan and more independent body that he served in during his first eight years. For this reason, Lathrop said, he had decided not to seek reelection. 

"When I got here in the first class of term-limit replacements, there were a lot of folks still here with years of experience," said Sen. Lathrop. He went on to state that these more experienced and hardened Senators were happy to mentor newcomers, and stressed "the importance of preserving its nonpartisan traditions."

"Now," said Lathrop, "It's less about solving problems and more driven by partisanship." One of the most important functions of the Legislature is to provide oversight of the executive branch, but according to Lathrop, "we haven't seen much of that going on lately." The failure of the Legislature's carefully constructed package for prison, programming, and sentencing reform, which was heavily supported by Lathrop, was "purely political" according to the Senator. 

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CLERK CLOSING OUT 45-YEAR CAREER AS STEADYING FORCE IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell, who has served in that role for 45 years, will retire Friday. O'Donnell has held the body's top administrative position through 14 Speakers, eight Governors, and hundreds of State Senators. For the past several years, O'Donnell has been the nation's longest-currently-serving legislative clerk.

Outgoing Speak of the Legislature Mike Hilgers, who will assume the role of Nebraska's Attorney General, said O'Donnell's departure marks a major change for the legislature. Hilgers stated that, over the past 45 years, countless Senators have leaned on O'Donnell for advice and legal counsel. 

"He's been a significant part of the institution," said Hilgers, "There's no one in the state who knows the process like Patrick. He was one of a kind." Other lawmakers described O'Donnell as a steadying force for the body, including State Sen. Ray Aguilar, who said, "I'm going to miss his glare. He was able to control a lot of things with his icy cold stare."

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NEBRASKA FARMERS FRUSTRATED BY MEXICAN PLAN TO STOP BUYING GMO CORN FROM U.S.

LINCOLN- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced plans to stop allowing imports of bioengineered corn by the end of January, arguing that the ban is necessary to protect Mexico's native corn varieties from genetically modified seeds. According to the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, around 90% of American corn used in the country and imported to others is genetically modified.

State agriculture statistics show that Nebraska exported more than $348 million worth of corn to Mexico, the state's top export market. Because of this, Nebraska's corn growers and other American agricultural organizations called on President Biden to use upcoming trade talks to change Lopez Obrador's mind. Andy Jobman, president of the Nebraska Corn Growers, said he was "baffled" by the administration's "lack of action on this issue."

The coalition of corn growers urged President Biden to file a trade dispute under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to stop this export cutoff. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, alongside a group of 25 other Senators, signed a letter criticizing Mexico's move, arguing that their "action are unsupported by science and a breach of USMCA."

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TWO OMAHA POLICE OFFICERS PLACED ON LEAVE AFTER FBI CONDUCTS SEARCHES

OMAHA- Early Tuesday morning, FBI agents and troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol began a three-hour search of the South Omaha home of City Council member Vinny Palermo, who is serving as Omaha's acting Mayor while Mayor Jean Stothert and Council President Pete Festersen are out of town. 

The federal probe was started after PACE, a police officer-run charity organization that offers free sports activities to youths, was suspected of criminal activity. Two officers, Johnny Palermo and Daniel Torres, were placed on paid administrative leave by Omaha Police Chief Todd Scmaderer for their involvement with PACE, and an internal investigation will be conducted.

In a statement, Schmaderer said, "I am concerned that PACE may have been used for criminal activity. Heightening my concern is the possibility that a few current and former Omaha Police officers may have been involved." Mayor Jean Stothert and Schamderer confirmed that a criminal investigation of PACE was underway, but neither they nor the FBI could share any details. 

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SET TO ARRIVE AT KEARNEY AIRPORT: $6.28 MILLION GRANT TO GROW FACILITY

KEARNEY- The Kearney Regional Airport is set to receive a $6.28 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for the expansion and its facility, announced U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer on Tuesday. "Nebraska's airports ensure our communities can stay connected and help our state's world-class products make it to market," said Fischer.

The federal funding specifically allows for an additional 4,325 square feet of space, as well as renovation of the main airport terminal. Plans have been laid out to enhance passenger seating and baggage services, and the airport is expected to grow to around 11,000 square feet. 

The funds stem from the CARES Act, which Fischer voted for, and was enacted in 2020. An intent to fund the grant has been set since 2020, when the Office of the Secretary of Transportation expressed interest in expanding the airport. 

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