LINCOLN SEN. ANNA WISHART REFLECTS ON 'BEST CHAPTER OF HER LIFE' AS SHE, AND 14 COLLEAGUES DEPART LEGISALTURE

LINCOLN- After eight years as a lawmaker, Sen. Anna Wishart, who represents legislative district 27 in Lincoln, will soon leave her post due to term limits. Wishart is the only Lincoln-area lawmaker representing a slice of the city who will be unable to return to the Capitol in 2025. She said she doesn't plan to return to the body after four or eight years, as some other lawmakers have done, like Sen. Danielle Conrad and former Sen. Ernie Chambers.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee for eight years, Wishart said she was most proud of helping to secure $180 million to develop a second source of drinking water for Lincoln and for successfully advocating for extended Medicaid coverage for new mothers. "Anna is a champion for her constituents, her district, the city of Lincoln, the state of Nebraska," said Sen. Eliot Bostar.

Wishart also became a leading force behind the movement to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska, and prioritized the issue as a lawmaker. Although she'll leave the Legislature without successfully completing that endeavor, she said she will still work to advance a petition drive to place the issue on the 2024 ballot.

Along with Wishart, 15 senators are departing the legislature this year due to term limits or not seeking another term. Of the departing, 10 are registered Republicans, and five are Democrats in the officially, non-partisan Legislature, where 33 of its current 49 members belong to the GOP. The 2024 elections will determine if Republicans retain a filibuster-proof majority. Members of this group navigated the state through COVID-19, as well as the contentious 2023 session.

Those who are term-limited include Senators Joni Albrecht, Carol Blood, Bruce Bostelman, Tom Brewer, Steve Erdman, Steve Halloran, Lou Ann Linehan, John Lowe, Mike McDonnell, Tony Vargas, Lynne Walz, Justin Wayne, and Anna Wishart. Those opting out of running for reelection include Senator Julie Slama and newly appointed Senator Fred Meyer.

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NEBRASKA CASINOS SEE RECORD REVENUE IN MARCH, WHICH MEANS RECORD GAMING TAXES

LINCOLN- The state's casinos had a record haul in March, with the Lincoln and Grand Island operations posting their best months ever.

WarHorse Casino in Lincoln brought in nearly $5.5 million in revenue last month, its best performance in its roughly 18 months of operation. The vast majority of that, nearly $5.2 million, came from slot machines, but the sportsbook also had a strong month.

WarHorse brought in more than $325,600 in sports betting revenue — second only to the more than $383,000 it generated in January, a month that featured a full slate of NFL playoff contests and New Year's Day bowl games. The Grand Island Casino and Resort also had a record month, bringing in nearly $3.7 million in revenue. The casino saw a strong performance in all of its gaming categories, except for sports betting, which lost money for the third month in a row.

Lance Morgan, CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., the parent company of WarHorse Gaming and the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, said that at this point, the sports wagering numbers pale when compared to other gaming totals. The caveat to that is if and when mobile better becomes a reality, which will cause that small piece of the casino's bottom line to grow as much as tenfold.

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NEBRASKA GIVEN MORE TIME TO REACH SETTLEMENT WITH ALTEN AS CLEANUP EFFORTS CONTINUE

MEAD- A Saunders County District Court judge agreed last week to give the state of Nebraska more time to reach a settlement with a defunct ethanol plant that is the subject of a major environmental cleanup. Judge Christina Marroquin issued a stay of proceedings in Nebraska's lawsuit against AltEn, which will allow the remediation effort of the biofuel refinery near Mead to continue uninterrupted in the coming months.

The 97-page complaint faulted AltEn, which used pesticide-coated seeds to produce ethanol, for improperly disposing of the tens of thousands of tons of solid waste and millions of gallons of liquids contaminated with agricultural chemicals it created. Attorneys for both the state and AltEn asked Marroquin to stay the proceedings while "confidential settlement discussions" regarding the lawsuit and other legal matters facing the former ethanol plant continued.

"The parties agree a stay would be in the interests of justice and will not harm the parties given the mutual desire to engage in confidential settlement discussions with the goal of a global resolution," the request for a stay indicated. Marroquin agreed to delay the case until Dec. 1, and set the status hearing for Dec. 2 in Saunders County District Court.

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HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS TOP NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS' SPENDING IN 2024

LINCOLN- Spending for health care proposals will top the charts for spending in 2024 as Nebraska lawmakers finished the 2024 legislative session this week. Lawmakers set aside $755 million in state funds either from Nebraska’s main pocketbook or various cash funds and reserves. The state could receive about $1.5 billion in federal funds, most for health care programs.

This comes out to $2.2 billion in state and federal spending, over 95% of which is allocated toward health care programs, while raising $672 million in state funds. Proposals ranged from tapping into a larger federal pool of funds for Medicaid support for hospitals and partnering with an Iowa-based nonprofit for prescription drug donations to exempting National Guard income from state income taxation.

The largest proposal passed and already signed into law is State Sen. Mike Jacobson’s LB1087, the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Act, which calls to create a fee on Nebraska hospitals based on their quarterly net patient revenue that would, in turn, unlock federal funds that most states already have access to. The second costliest was LB130 which increases a quality assurance assessment imposed on licensed nursing facilities.

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NEW DATA SHOWS THOUSANDS OF GRADS LEAVING NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- According to new data, young people with a college education are fleeing the state in the thousands. "Brain drain has long been an issue in Nebraska," said interim NU president Chris Kabourek of the situation. In an attempt to keep young, newly graduated people here, the University of Nebraska launched the President's Scholarship.

This new scholarship, which includes full tuition, room and board, general fees, books, and a $5,000 yearly stipend, is valued at nearly $150,000 per student. "It's a really freeing thought," said Lillias McKillip, a senior at Lincoln Southeast High, of the scholarship, "It allows me to go into the next four years and get a degree that'll set me up for success without worrying about the cost of college."

According to the report from Nebraska's Coordinating Commission on Postsecondary Education, the state is "losing graduates at about 3,000-plus per year." Between 2013 and 2022, the number of people in Nebraska with a Bachelor's Degree dropped by around 31,000, according to the report. "It's a concern," said Paul Von Behren, chair of the commission, "We've invested a lot in their education and we'd like to have them remain and contribute."

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SOME FINANCIAL CLOUDS ON NEBRASKA'S HORIZON, SAYS CREIGHTON ECONOMIST

OMAHA- Despite some indicators that prompted optimism about the state's economy, not all economists agree that good times lie ahead. The latest monthly Mid-American Business Conditions Index, conducted by Creighton economist Ernie Goss, showed that 68% of supply managers surveyed in March expect an economic recession this year.

Specifically, those supply managers anticipate orders being delayed or going unfulfilled, a slowdown in overall sales, and general uncertainty in the market. "It's going to get tougher before it gets better," argued one of the managers surveyed. According to Goss, factors such as inflation, high interest rates, and debt concerns point to such an economic downturn.

On top of that, according to Creighton's Rural Mainstreet Index, Nebraska's agricultural economy has taken a hit. Compared to previous years, Nebraska's 2023 agricultural exports declined, totaling $870 million, a 35% decrease over 2022. Goss expects those ag numbers to remain largely flat this year.

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NEBRASKANS, NOT STATE, WILL GET MORE CHILD SUPPORT UNDER RECENTLY PASSED BILL

LINCOLN- Last week, LB233, introduced by Sen. John Cavanaugh, passed on a 46-0 vote. The bill will allow more child support that otherwise would have gone to the federal government or several state programs to be placed directly in the hands of struggling parents. Over the past decade, the state has collected $15.7 million in child support due to people in its welfare system, called Aid to Dependent Children.

Right now, a single parent who qualifies for the Aid to Dependent Children assistance is eligible to receive a maximum of $464 per month if they have one child. However, should they receive this assistance, they will not get some or all of their owed child support money. That lost money, usually around $240 per month, can significantly affect a family's budget, said Diane Amdor of Nebraska Appleseed.

Sen. Cavanaugh's bill originally would've allowed all due child support to go to families, but that was predicted to cost the state $1 million annually. As amended the final bill will allow parents enrolled in Aid to Dependent Children to receive $100 of child support for one child or $200 for two or more children. According to a spokeswoman from Gov. Pillen's office, this ensures that Nebraska won't have to reimburse the federal government for its share of collections.

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UNPACKING 2024: HOW NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS AVOIDED THE DYSFUNCTION OF 2023 SESSION

LINCOLN- After the rancor of last year's legislative session, Sen. Danille Conrad's prediction that things would be better in 2024 was dismissed as wishful thinking. However, as this session wraps up, Conrad says she was right, as the Legislature was able to increase productivity and reduce animosity significantly. Conrad described the sessions as one of the "most significant turnaround stories in American politics."

Hyperbole or not, the improved legislative climate in 2024 was tangible, and stemmed from the strategic scheduling of bills, intentional efforts to improve cross-party relationships, and behind-the-scenes efforts to improve the way measures were heard and debated. Speaker of the Legislature John Arch said he purposefully saved the most contentious bills for the end of the session, including Sen. Kauth's LB575, which, had it passed, would have limited access for transgender K-12 students to sports teams and bathrooms based on their sex assigned at birth.

Arch said his intent this year was to have the Legislature pass noncontentious measures early in the session to help senators develop and remember some "muscle memory" for how constructive debate should be handled. Sen. Wendy DeBoer pointed out that, despite several filibusters this year, many ended short because opposing lawmakers reached a compromise. That, she argued, is how the Legislature os supposed to operate.

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FELON VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION PROPOSAL FROM WAYNE BECOMES LAW BUT FACES POSSIBLE LEGAL CHALLENGES

LINCOLN- On Thursday, after deciding not to sign it last Wednesday, Gov. Pillen announced that he would allow Sen. Wayne's LB20, which immediately restores voting rights to Nebraskans convicted of a felony once they've completed their sentence, to become law. In a letter to the Legislature, Pillen said that Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Secretary of State Bob Evnen "identified significant potential constitutional infirmities regarding the bill."

"Although there are potential constitutional issues with LB20 and related provisions of existing law," wrote Pillen, "I will allow LB20 and LB20A to become law with neither my signature nor my endorsement of LB20's constitutional validity." The Nebraska Constitution allows bills to become law without the governor's signature five days after they are passed by the Legislature, so long as lawmakers are still in session. Pillen encouraged Hilgers and Evnen to "promptly" take the appropriate steps to address any potential issues.

Barring any legal hoops, LB20 will take effect this summer, just in time for the November election. Clerk of the Legislature Brandon Metzler said the last time a governor allowed a bill to become law without signing it was in 2001, when former Gov. Mike Johanns didn't sign a bill because it pertained to a legislative employment benefit decision. Wayne said he is not concerned with the constitutionality of the proposal. "If it is a court challenge, I have all faith that the Supreme Court will hold this to be constitutional," he said.

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STUNNING LAST-MINUTE DEFEAT OF PILLEN TAX SHIFT BILL LIKELY ENSURES SPECIAL SESSION

LINCOLN- Gov. Pillen's much-amended and contentious plan to raise sales tax in an attempt to decrease property taxes went down in flames on Thursday, the final day of the 2024 legislative session. Sen. Julie Slama had led the final-round filibuster of the plan, which was housed in Sen. Linehan's LB388, and argued that it was a tax increase that Nebraskans overwhelmingly opposed.

On top of that, Slama argued, the bill might've contained an unconstitutional clause related to taxes on digital advertisements. She continued by stating that the only Nebraskans who would see tax reductions under LB388 are those who aren't already taking a tax credit on their property taxes. "I would much rather handle this particular issue, the state tax code, in a special session," she said.

Sen. Steve Erdman was far more blunt in his opposition. "This bill doesn't mean squat for anybody...bring on a special session," he said. Pillen had previously promised to keep lawmakers in session until Christmas, if need be, to reach his goal of reducing property taxes by 40%. Because LB388 failed, a special session is almost guaranteed later in the year.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS ADJOURN, BUT BREAK WILL BE SHORT-LIVED AS SPECIAL SESSION LOOMS THIS SUMMER

LINCOLN- Lawmakers are gearing up for a special session later this year but on Thursday they celebrated the end of a session in which they “successfully hit the reset button,” according to Speaker Arch. The Legislature sent more than 370 bills to Gov. Jim Pillen this year, including “good government policies” to grow Nebraska’s workforce, economy and communities; support families and K-12 education; reform the criminal justice system; and improve Nebraskans’ physical and mental well-being.

Pillen similarly applauded lawmakers for approving a health care proposal that could bring about $1.4 billion to Nebraska hospitals as well as enhancing child care options, creating incentives for businesses to attract out-of-state workers and authorizing small school districts to better protect students “by training good guys with guns to stop bad guys with guns.”

Much of Pillen’s speech to the full Legislature, however, focused on what he described as late-stage failures in declining to take a final vote on property tax relief. He said senators offered “not a penny” more of relief; the bill was pulled from the floor earlier in the day after it appeared to be in jeopardy of failing. The governor sought to reduce property taxes by 40% this year, and he said that’s still the goal, vowing to call “as many sessions as it takes” to get tax relief in 2024. He marked the period as halftime, with the second half to go.

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STATE LAWMAKERS PASS UPDATED 'OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP' BILL

LINCOLN- Lawmakers gave final approval to an updated bill that will devote $10 million a year in state funds for scholarships to attend K-12 private or parochial schools. The 32-15 approval of LB1402 on the final day of the 2024 legislative session would end Nebraska’s distinction as one of only two states that don’t allow some form of school choice. Gov. Pillen has pledged to sign the bill into law, but the measure faces an almost certain challenge, either in the courts or at the ballot box.

LB1402 has been described as “an end run” around a planned referendum on the November ballot over a school choice law passed last year, LB 753. Jenni Benson, the president of the Nebraska State Education Association, called the passage of LB 1402 “a slap in the face to voters,” who signed petitions to place the issue of school choice, as designed under LB 753, on the November ballot.

The NSEA, in a press release after Thursday’s vote, pledged to either challenge the new law in court or mount another petition drive to force a referendum on it.“We will continue the fight to ensure voters’ wishes on this issue are heard and respected,” Benson said. If LB1402 is challenged in court and ruled unconstitutional because it allocates public funds to non-public education, it would render the entire bill void, and thus leave LB 753 in place.

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U.S. SEN. RICKETTS CALLS FOR STRONGER IRAN SANCTIONS, DEFENDS OPPOSITION TO UKRAINE AID

WASHINGTON D.C.- U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts called for stronger enforcement of American sanctions against Iran in the wake of its unprecedented air assault on Israel last weekend. “When (Iranians) chant ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America,’ they mean it,” Ricketts said in a conference call with reporters. “So we should take them very seriously.”

Israel said it was able to intercept 99% of Iran’s rockets and drones. But Iran still has many more such weapons in its arsenal, Ricketts said. He said that’s why it’s important for President Joe Biden and his administration to strengthen sanctions as a deterrent against Iran’s leaders. Ricketts said Israel also needs to be measured in its response to Iran’s attack to avoid further escalation.

On another security matter, Ricketts continued to defend his opposition to additional U.S. defense aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, despite recent Ukrainian territorial losses and lack of air defense missiles that led to the destruction of a major power plant serving Kyiv. Like many Republicans, Ricketts argues that the United States needs to first shore up its own southern border with Mexico to stop illegal crossings.

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NEBRASKA REGENTS APPROVE SALE OF ALCOHOL AT HUSKER BASEBALL, SOFTBALL GAMES

LINCOLN- The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the sale of alcohol during Husker baseball and softball games this week. Following the 5-2 vote, the taps will be turned on in time for the Huskers' first pitch against the University of Maryland. Omaha Regent Barb Weitz and Regent Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City voted against the proposal.

Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice, the board chair, repeated what he has said when the issue of alcohol sales at Husker contests have come before other regents. "I believe strongly in treating adults like adults," Schafer said. And Lincoln Regent Tim Clare said putting the profits from alcohol sales into improvements at Haymarket Park was a "positive thing."

The board's vote to allow for the sale at alcohol at baseball and softball games is the latest expansion of the amenity at Husker events following a two-decade prohibition. Interim NU President Chris Kabourek said the revenue will help "chip away" at a list of facility needs at the Huskers' home fields.

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LAWMAKERS REJECT TAX CUTS FOR FEDERAL RETIREES, PARTIALLY DISABLED VETERANS

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, state lawmakers voted to reinstate income taxes on federal retirees, saying that they made a mistake in eliminating them last year. They also ditched a proposal to provide homestead exemptions for partially disabled veterans, a move made to reduce the budget impact of a large tax package.

These actions came as lawmakers debated Sen. Linehan's LB1317, which brought together ten tax-related bills. The repeal of the federal retiree tax exemptions is expected to increase state revenues by $12 million annually. Sen. Carol Blood attempted to revive the exemptions, but her amendment failed.

Blood said lawmakers were sending the message to voters that "we're going to give you something, then take it back." Sen. Linehan argued that her intent last year had been to exempt retirement income only for federal employees who had started before 1984 and were not able to participate in Social Security. However, the actual law that passed applied to every federal retiree in the state.

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PILLEN STAFFER CONFIRMS CHARLIE KIRK'S TALK OF WINNER-TAKE-ALL SPECIAL SESSION

LINCOLN- According to a spokeswoman from Gov. Pillen's office, a special session will be called later this year if the Nebraska Legislature says it has enough votes to shift the state into a winner-take-all system, which would allow all five of the state's Electoral College votes to be awarded to the winner of the popular vote.

"The Governor looks forward to partnering with legislative leaders to move winner-take-all forward in a special session when there is sufficient support in the Legislature to pass it," said Laura Strimple, a Pillen spokeswoman, "Gov. Pillen is an enthusiastic supporter of winner-take-all, has been from the start, and will sign it into law the moment the Legislature puts it on his desk."

Pillen's now-public embrace of a winner-take-all system were prompted by comments made by Charlie Kirk, a conservative pundit who spoke in Omaha on Tuesday. Kirk called for every Republican in Nebraska who supports former Pres. Donald Trump to call and write to their state senators. "You have to just keep the pressure on to the Legislature," said Kirk, "Once we get this taken care of in Nebraska, we have a much easier path to the presidency."

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STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT APPEARS AFFLICTED WITH 'LONG COVID,' SAYS STATE AUDITOR

LINCOLN- According to a recent state audit, the Nebraska Department of Labor may have mishandled unemployment insurance benefits that put as much as $13 million at risk over the past fiscal year. State Auditor Mike Foley said the department is likely still adjusting to the deluge of work and unemployment claims it handled during the height of the pandemic.

"The Labor Department still has Long COVID," said Foley, "The symptoms have not been fully resolved." According to the report, Foley and his team tested a random sample of unemployment insurance payments made by the department in 2023, and found that, of the $62.5 million paid out, up to $12.67 million might have put "potential dollars at risk."

This was due to the fact that the department either did not follow up with an employer to get necessary information about a termination or did not document such follow-ups. In one situation, highlighted in the Auditor's report, an insurance claimant got another job while receiving unemployment benefits and apparently underreported wages.

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SOURCES SAY TRUMP SOUGHT TO DIRECTLY PRESSURE BREWER OVER WINNER-TAKE-ALL PROPOSAL

LINCOLN- According to anonymous sources, former Pres. Donald Trump picked up a phone last week to personally pressure Sen. Tom Brewer, chair of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee, to revive a bill that would implement a winner-take-all electoral system in Nebraska. Trump, according to the sources, urged Brewer to take action on the bill before the Legislature adjourns for the year.

Brewer allegedly responded that it doesn't work that way, as the deadline to vote a bill out committee and advance it through the Legislature has passed. In addition, Speaker of the Legislature John Arch said Friday that it's too late to amend a bill into a package. Trump then reportedly told Brewer that his political career was over.

When asked about the call, Chris LaCivita, the co-manager of Trump's campaign, said Trump "absolutely, 110% did not speak with anyone in the State of Nebraska in the last six weeks." Brewer, when asked, said it was a private conversation and that he would not comment on it. Three state senators, who asked to remain anonymous, said they heard the story of the call directly from Brewer.

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FROM RED CLOUD TO FREMONT, SEVEN NEBRASKA TOWNS SHARE $4M IN AWARD TO PERK UP COMMUNITY APPEAL

LINCOLN- Seven Nebraska cities are poised to share around $4 million in state grants to help develop recreation and civic improvement projects in their communities. Selected and announced by the Department of Economic Development, the recipients' awards come from the Civic and Community Center FinancingFund, which was created from a turnback of state sales tax generated by arenas and retailers.

"People attraction is a top priority for Nebraska, and these awards are helping communities strengthen their appeal," said K.C. Belitz, director of the Economic Development Department, "We're investing funds to support the development of state-of-the-art recreation." Belitz added that the projects will help create gathering places that enhance local quality of life and pride.

The recipients include, McCook, Beatrice, Fremont, Norfolk, North Platte, Red Cloud, and Seward. While several of these cities plan to build new recreation projects, the funds can also be utilized to convert or rehabilitate historic structures.

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NEBRASKA'S ECONOMY COULD GROW RAPIDLY THIS SUMMER, ACCORDING TO UNL ECONOMIST

LINCOLN- According to a metric developed by UNL's College of Business, Nebraska's economy would see a boom this summer. This leading indicator showed a 3.48% rate of growth in February of this year, up substantially from December 2023's 1% and January's 0.58%. UNL economist Eric Thompson said the indicator is designed to predict economic growth six months out.

The February increase is one of the largest indicators of growth seen since the metric was established in 2021. "This sharp increase suggests that Nebraska's economy will be growing rapidly in the summer of this year," said Thompson, adding that a variety of economic changes contributed to these projections.

In a February survey of 100 Nebraska businesses, 42% of those responding expected sales to increase and about 20% expected to hire more employees. Thompson called those percentages "larger than normal." Thompson also noted that manufacturing is up and the state is seeing more airline passengers coming in and out of Nebraska, reflecting the confidence people and companies have with their financial situations.

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