GRAND ISLAND STATE SEN. RAY AGUILAR FILES FOR RE-ELECTION

GRAND ISLAND- Grand Island State Senator Ray Aguilar officially filed Friday, Jan. 26 with Secretary of State Bob Evnen to seek re-election to represent the people of District 35 in the Nebraska Legislature. Aguilar stated he’s running for re-election to build on his positive record of getting things done for the hard-working people of Grand Island.

“I voted for the creation of the Property Tax Relief Fund to help lower the property tax burden on seniors, veterans, small businesses and working families and for tax reform bills that resulted in $1.7 billion in property tax relief, a 100% state income tax exemption for military retirement benefits, and a 50% state income tax exemption for social security benefits by 2025.”

Working with Veteran’s organizations, community leaders and the Governor, Aguilar introduced LB80 which secures 8 million dollars to build to the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island. Aguilar said among other things, he intends to keep advocating for property tax relief, fighting for quality education for students in Nebraska, and giving veterans and taxpayers in his district a strong voice from their Senator.

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STATE SEN. CAROL BLOOD OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN FOR U.S. HOUSE

LINCOLN- A former rival to Gov. Jim Pillen, State Sen.Carol Blood of Bellevue, kicked off her campaign for Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District seat. Blood has lived in Sarpy County for many years, serving on the Bellevue City Council from 2008-2016 before being elected to the Legislature. In her second major political campaign, Blood will run on the democratic ticket as she did in her 2022 campaign for Governor.

Her campaign kick-off event filled the local Electrical Workers Union Hall with about 70-80 supporters. Several prominent Nebraska progressives were in attendance, including State Senators Jane Raybould, George Dungan, Machaela Cavanaugh, and John Cavanaugh, Lancaster County Commissioner Christa Yoakum, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb, and various others.

Blood will run against incumbent Congressman Mike Flood, a republican from Norfolk. Flood was elected to represent Nebraska’s first congressional district in a special election to fill a vacancy left by Jeff Fortenberry who resigned due to a criminal conviction that has since been reversed. Flood narrowly beat out Democratic challenger Patty Pansing Brooks by a little over 6,000 votes, a 5.4% lead.

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PILLEN PLAN TO 'SWEEP' EXCESS CASH FUNDS GETS BUMPY RECEPTION AT CAPITOL HEARING

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen’s plan to use excess cash reserves to “jump-start” his property tax relief proposal got a rough reception during a state legislative hearing. A long line of representatives of wildlife, hunting, banking, retail, grocers, recycling and affordable housing groups spoke against two bills in the governor’s plan for “transformational” property tax relief.

Officials with natural resources and rural water projects, as well as the state’s major chambers of commerce also voiced opposition. And while Secretary of State Bob Evnen testified “neutral,” he also raised concern about parts of the proposal. Some called the plan to sweep $274 million out of state agency reserve funds for the plan a “bait and switch” because it would use money that was dedicated for programs like litter reduction, workforce training and affordable housing and not tax relief.

But representatives of the Pillen administration said that agency cash funds had become “overbloated” and that agencies can afford to give up the funds. Some contracts might have to be cancelled or postponed, they said, but contracts include language to allow that if money is short. The agencies will still have $2.49 billion in reserve funds, the Pillen administration has said, even after the $274 million “sweep” of those funds.

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US SENS. DEB FISCHER, PETE RICKETTS FORMALLY FILE TO SEEK ELECTION TO SENATE

LINCOLN- Both of Nebraska’s incumbent U.S. senators have formally filed to run for office again, likely ensuring state voters will see familiar names on the November 2024 ballot. Republican Sen. Deb Fischer filed paperwork to run for reelection with Nebraska’s Secretary of State early this week, a formal step in her bid for a third term in the Senate, which she was first elected to in 2012.

“This milestone is a testament to the strong grassroots support for my campaign and our collective commitment to earn each and every vote,” Fischer said in a statement Monday. She will be joined on the ballot by Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, the state’s former governor whom Pillen appointed to the Senate in January 2023.

Ricketts, 59, filed earlier this month to finish the two years remaining in the term he inherited following former Sen. Ben Sasse’s resignation from the body last January. “I’m asking for your vote to continue the fight to hold Joe Biden accountable, secure our southern border, stand up to the Chinese Communist Party and defend our God-given rights and freedoms", said Ricketts.

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NEARLY 60% OF NEBRASKA'S SMALLER RURAL HOSPITALS OPERATE AT A LOSS, HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS. PENDING LEGISLATION COULD HELP

LINCOLN- A new survey of Nebraska hospitals showed that about half were operating in the red, and the share was even more dramatic, nearly 60%, for small rural hospitals. Driving that financial picture, says the Nebraska Hospital Association, which released the survey results, are rising workforce and pharmaceutical costs, along with reimbursement coverage gaps from Medicaid and Medicare.

At risk if the trend continues unaddressed are cuts ranging from patient medical programs to staff support services such as child care, hospital representatives said during a news conference. The association and its members are advocating for the adoption of the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Act, currently before the Legislature as Legislative Bill 1087.

The bill could lead to up to $1 billion more in federal funds for Nebraska hospitals, said Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospitals Association. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Governor’s Office are working with the association to help obtain the higher reimbursement for Medicaid and Medicare patients, said Nordquist.

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NU SEEKS TO PROTECT ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC FUTURE IN BIG TEN, PLEDGING CLOSER UNL-UNMC TIES

LINCOLN- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln took a significant step toward securing its future in the Big Ten Conference, which would preserve its membership in the academically prestigious group and its access to the highest level of college sports. The University of Nebraska system announced that the National Science Foundation has agreed to let UNL and the University of Nebraska Medical Center combine their annual federal research funding when responding to the foundation’s annual survey of national colleges and universities.

Securing this change addresses a key issue that the Association of American Universities cited in 2011 when it took the unprecedented step of kicking out UNL. Iowa State University resigned from the AAU in 2022 to avoid a similar fate. Leaders at UNL and Iowa State have said some AAU leaders had prioritized medical research over agricultural research when evaluating their academic peers.

The NU Board of Regents has pledged to do all it can to help UNL rejoin the AAU, including boosting research ties between UNL and UNMC in Omaha. Interim NU President Chris Kabourek said reporting research as a single University of Nebraska was “a first step.” He called it “a big deal” and said it “instantly makes Nebraska look more like our peers.” But, he stressed, it is one of many steps needed.

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NEBRASKA ANNOUNCES $234 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR NORTH, SOUTH OMAHA ECONOMIC RECOVERY

OMAHA- On Friday, Gov. Jim Pillen announced awards of $234.4 million in North and South Omaha recovery grants, which will go to a wide assortment of nonprofit developers, community organizations, businesses, and the City of Omaha. Pillen announced the awards before crowds of more than 100 people at events held at Metropolitan Community College and the Livestock Exchange Building.

"These awards represent historic, historic investments for our community," said Pillen. Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director K.C. Belitz said his department anticipates the creation of at least 9,250 jobs from the grants. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert joined the governor at the podium, praising the grants. So too did Sens. Tony Vargas and Mike McDonnell, who helped spearhead the legislative efforts to create the grants.

Notably, however, Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney were not at either event. Both lawmakers issued a statement criticizing Friday's awards. "Today's historic investment of over $234 million in North and South Omaha fell short of the transformative promise envisioned by the Legislature," they wrote, "Over 75% of the funds are being channeled into nonprofit projects with little to not economic development and are already being supported by millionaires."

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NEBRASKA GOP FIGHT WITH DELEGATION SPILLS OVER INTO ITS ENDORSEMENTS, 26 STATE SENATORS OFFER SUPPORT

LINCOLN- For the first time in their elected runs, none of Nebraska's five-member, all-Republican congressional delegation received an endorsement from the Nebraska Republican Party. Instead, the party's State Central Committee endorsed Republican challengers to three of the GOP incumbents: Lt. Col. John Glen Weaver, who is running against Sen. Pete Ricketts; Dan Frei, running against Rep. Don Bacon; and John Walz, running against Rep. Adrian Smith.

The central committee, which released its endorsements on Saturday, did not endorse candidates in the two other congressional races involving Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Mike Flood. Nebraska GOP chairman Eric Underwood had no immediate comment on Saturday's endorsements. One Republican attendee, however, said of the endorsements: "You can't win if you don't play."

Tension has existed between the state party and its top elected officials since Nebraska GOP leadership changed hands in the summer of 2022. John Glen Weaver, following the announcement, said it felt great to have active Republicans from across the state back his bid. "People here are passionate about saving our country," said Weaver, "It's not like a bunch of crazy people who got together in a room."

Following the announcement of the Nebraska GOP's endorsements, 26 Republican state senators signed a letter endorsing Ricketts, Fischer, Smith, Flood, and Bacon. "We, State Senators of Nebraska, endorse our current federal incumbents for re-election in 2024," they wrote. "The only message in the letter is unity," said Sen. Rob Dover of the letter. Dover, whom Ricketts appointed to the Legislature in 2022, said the purpose of the letter was not to take a shot at those who think differently of Nebraska's federal delegation.

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PILLEN RALLIES ABORTION OPPONENTS AT NEBRASKA WALK FOR LIFE TO FIGHT AGAINST ABORTION BALLOT INITIATIVE

LINCOLN- Thousands of Nebraska abortion opponents marched on Saturday from the Nebraska State Capitol to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the annual Walk for Life. Gov. Pillen, alongside all five members of Nebraska's congressional delegation, attended the march, focusing much of their attention on a potential ballot initiative to enshrine abortion in the State Constitution.

"Not all of us agree on everything," Pillen told the crowd, "But we have to be together...to win the ballot...to make sure that we save as many babies growing in mothers' wombs as possible." Pillen finished by saying that people trying to end abortion in the state need to do a better job connecting with people on a one-to-one level.

Sandy Danek, of Nebraska Right to Life, told the crowd that many Nebraskans don't understand how much of the work the anti-abortion movement's work the proposed constitutional amendment could erase. She said the amendment would allow abortions up to 22 to 24 weeks gestational age, with the possibility for a doctor to decide if an abortion is necessary past that point. "We have to form a coalition," Danek said, "like we have never done before."

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OPPOSITION LINES UP, AS IN THE PAST, TO THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF TAX BREAKS

LINCOLN- This year, as has been the case several times in the past, a new round of opposition is stirring over Gov. Jim Pillen's call to eliminate sales tax exemptions, and possibly increase the state sales tax by one-cent, in order to shift an additional $1 billion in taxes off property and onto state income and sales tax.

Others have grumbled over the governor's proposal to sweep $274 million from excess cash reserves, which are built up by things like hunting fees, telephone bills, and probationers, to aid his ambitious goal of reducing property taxes by 40%. Normally, discussions about tax policy in the Nebraska lobbyist are pretty calm, but, according to Walt Radcliffe, a Lincoln-based lobbyist, things have changed.

"But the governor has aimed a loaded gun at many people, taxwise. And they're going to speak out," he said. Debate over Pillen's proposals is set to begin this week in the Legislature's Appropriations and Revenue Committees. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan said she's heard a handful of the complaints, but defended the governor's proposals. "We have to tackle this problem," she said, "Everyone's going to have to give a little bit."

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VARGAS AMONG FIRST WAVE OF DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGERS DRAWING NATIONAL INTEREST

OMAHA- An experienced candidate capable of raising funds and a vulnerable Republican representing a House district that voted for Joe Biden in 2020 has raised the profile of Nebraska’s 2nd District with national Democrats. the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee put the Omaha-area congressional race in its top 17 “Red to Blue” races for national donors to follow as the party tries to flip control of the House.

The label signals that the DCCC sees State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha among the Democratic candidates who are most capable of beating a Republican incumbent. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon first faces a primary battle with Omaha businessman Dan Frei. Typically, the first wave of targeted races receive more interest from national donors and outside groups.

Vargas said he is excited the work of his campaign staff and volunteers is being recognized. He said many of his supporters will be energized by his race being identified as one of the best chances for Democrats to pick up a seat. He said his team is focused on talking to Democrats, Republicans and nonpartisan voters who are fed up with the status quo, inflation and a Congress that gets little done.

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NEW UNO REPORT SAYS NEBRASKA COULD AVOID BUILDING A SECOND NEW PRISON, REDUCE OVERCROWDING

LINCOLN- A new report on Nebraska’s prison overcrowding says the state could alleviate crowding, and possibly avoid building a second, pricey new prison, by handling short-term inmates differently. The report recommended that inmates with sentences of less than a year — so-called “short timers” — shouldn’t be sent to prison, but instead serve their time in a county jail or some other alternative.

Short timers now represent over 50% of new state prison admissions. Because of their short sentences, they have little opportunity for rehabilitation programming or work release, according to the report from the Nebraska Center for Justice Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The report suggest that this approach may prevent the need to build an additional prison in all.

Whether or not Nebraska needs to build two new prisons, as a consultant a year ago projected would be necessary, has loomed large as an issue for state lawmakers. Right now, planning is underway for a 1,500-bed, $370 million replacement for the aging Nebraska State Penitentiary, to be built on the north edge of Lincoln. But a year ago, prison consultants said another 1,500 prison beds would be needed by 2030, based on current trends of incarceration.

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PROPOSAL TO FORCE NE TO ACCEPT $18M IN FEDERAL FOOD FUNDS FOR KIDS DRAWS NO OPPONENTS AT HEARING

LINCOLN- At age 55, Dr. Karla Lester said, she is just now able to talk publicly about her childhood shame: hunger. Speaking to a legislative committee, the Lincoln pediatrician was among 17 proponents who urged lawmakers to adopt a proposal — against Gov. Jim Pillen’s wishes — that would require Nebraska to participate in the national Summer EBT food program for kids.

The program, which would provide an estimated $18 million in grocery-buying federal funds to about 150,000 low-income Nebraska youths, has become a high-profile hot potato. Pillen has objected to the state joining the program, saying he did not “believe in welfare.” Sen. Jen Day of Gretna, who introduced Legislative Bill 952, told the Health and Human Services Committee that the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program would cost Nebraska about $400,000 to administer annually.

State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island has made the bill his priority, so it will have a better chance of reaching full legislative debate. No one spoke against the proposal, though four letters of opposition were submitted electronically. Another 153 people sent letters of support. Thus far, 35 states, the District of Columbia and 10 tribes and U.S. territories have opted into Summer EBT.

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GOVERNOR PILLEN TO TRAVEL TO TEXAS FOR BORDER SECURITY UPDATE

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen and Maj. Gen. Craig Strong of the Nebraska National Guard are traveling to Texas on Sunday for a security update on the situation at the southern border, according to a news release from the governor's office. Pillen and Strong will join Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for a 2:30 p.m. news conference at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, following the security briefing.

“The mission to secure the border is critical to the security of Nebraskans as well as all Americans,” Pillen said in the release. Pillen expressed the need for Nebraska’s continued support of "Operation Lone Star" and said he would assess additional resources Nebraska could offer to "secure the border."

Nebraska’s previous support of border security involved deploying drone operators from the State Patrol to assist in surveillance last year, and sending more than 60 members of the Nebraska National Guard to aid Texas authorities in illegal border crossings last summer. Gov. Pillen recently posted a video of himself in Texas receiving a briefing on the status of the border.

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PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE TWO-PERSON CREWS ON TRAINS IN NEBRASKA DEAD FOR THE YEAR

LINCOLN — A filibuster stretching over three days derailed a proposal Friday to require two-person crews on trains operated by major railroads in Nebraska.

State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte — a major railroad center in the state — brought the proposal. He was able to advance it to floor debate in the State Legislature for the first time after years of trying by other senators. But supporters failed to garner the needed 33 votes Friday to halt a filibuster and advance Legislative Bill 31. The vote was 24-19 to invoke cloture.

Opponents argued that lawmakers were interfering in what is a matter for labor negotiations and federal regulation and that Nebraska ought to wait for the feds to act on the controversial issue pitting labor unions against management. Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar said such a bill interfered with interstate commerce, and Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth said there’s no proof that two-man crews reduce derailments. Several countries, she added, have safely switched to one-person train crews. Another opponent of the bill, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, pointed out that Union Pacific is one of the state’s top employers and a top payer of property taxes.

The federal government might soon weigh in on this issue. A ruling from the Federal Railroad Administration is pending on a proposal to require two crew members except “for those operations that do not pose significant safety risks to railroad employees, the public, or the environment.”

COMPLAINTS RISE ABOUT SOUTH, NORTH OMAHA GRANT PROCESS AS FRIDAY ANNOUNCEMENT APPROACHES

OMAHA- Dozens of North and South Omaha groups are expected to be awarded a chunk of up to $234 million in state funds on Friday for a variety of economic development projects. Gov. Jim Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert are among the officials poised to announce the recipients of the grants.

However, even before the winners are publicized, complaints have sprung up over the Department of Economic Development's application scoring process, which was used to determine which organizations would be awarded grants. Bob Pelshaw of the Pelshaw group believes that the Department erred in scoring his application and at one point appeared to mistake his project for someone else's.

After reviewing his proposal, the Department ultimately offered Pelshaw $50,000, far below the nearly $10 million he had asked for to launch The Hub in South Omaha, prompting the organizations to file a complaint with the State Ombudsman's Office. In the filing, Pelshaw asked the ombudsman for help in urging the Department to "correct the glaring and intentional errors and fairly rescore our projects using all of the correct inputs. "

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CONTROVERSIAL GUNS TO BE LOCKED AWAY AT RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION UNTIL TRAINING, PROTOCOLS ADOPTED

LINCOLN- Semi-automatic firearms purchased recently by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission will be locked away until proper training and procedures for their use can be adopted, according to a representative from the commission. Shane Greckel, vice chairman of the commission, said the gambling-centered agency had also explored whether they should return the ten Sig Sauer MPX rifles.

However, according to Greckel, the agency would have to pay a 30% "restocking" fee, which made that option, in the commission's eyes, too expensive. The guns cost the commission $30,350, which the agency had portrayed as necessary to respond to any "active shooter" incidents that might occur at the state's new casinos.

The purchase of the firearms raised concerns after it was unveiled that not all commissioners were aware of the situation, only learning about the purchase after it had broken into the news. Investigators for the commission, who would utilize the firearms, argued that the purchase was necessary to "meet force with force" in active shooter situations.

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REP. MIKE FLOOD FILES TO RUN AGAIN FOR U.S. HOUSE

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood filed to run for re-election just one day after drawing a Democratic challenger in the form of State Sen. Carol Blood. Flood previously won the 1st District seat in a 2022 special election held after former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry resigned following three felony convictions.

Flood won a first full term in November 2022, beating then-State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks both times. He has spent much of his time in Congress discussing taxes, spending, and cryptocurrency, with a more recent focus, in line with the National GOP Caucus, on border security. Flood's Democratic critics argue that he has been straying too far from what they described as his more middle-ground approach.

"In Congress, I've kept my promises to Nebraskans by standing against government overreach, cutting $2.1 trillion from the federal budget, and voting for a comprehensive border security package," Flood said in a campaign statement announcing his re-election bid. Blood, who represents eastern Sarpy County in the Nebraska Legislature, is set to formally announce her bid on Saturday.

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UNL ECONOMIC INDICATOR SHOWS STRONG GROWTH IN DECEMBER

LINCOLN- An index produced and released by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln indicated that Nebraska had its best economic performance in December compared to the previous nine months. "The increase in the leading indicator suggests that the Nebraska economy will grow at a moderate pace in the first half of 2024," said Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research.

The indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity six months into Nebraska's future, has six different components. Three of those components improved significantly in December, according to Thompson. These included an increase in air travel, increased sales and employment, and a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar, which was advantageous for the state.

"An increase in leisure travel implies that households feel confident about their jobs and income, while an increase in business travel suggests that firms are coordinating new activity with customers and suppliers," said Thompson.

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BILL WOULD BAR NEBRASKA SCHOOLS FROM USING COLLECTIONS AGENCIES TO PURSUE SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT

LINCOLN- As the federal government waivers that made school lunches free during the COVID pandemic end, unpaid meal debt in Nebraska has skyrocketed from $2.8 million in 2020 to $14.8 million in 2022. However, many of those who find themselves in debt are from families just outside the threshold to qualify for free and reduced lunches.

To recoup losses, school districts across the state have used a wide variety of strategies, including turning families over to debt collection agencies. In response to this, Sen. Danielle Conrad introduced LB855, which would prohibit school districts from using such agencies to pursue unpaid meal debt, and from charging interest, assessing fees, or placing any other penalties on those families.

"I just think it's wrong from a moral perspective," Conrad told the Legislature's Education Committee on Tuesday. "It stays on their credit report, it impacts their ability to rent, it impacts their ability to pursue other productive areas in their lives," continued Conrad, "and it really spirals and spirals and spirals and spirals."

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