Opinion

We’ve come a long way over the last year. Nebraska has managed the coronavirus pandemic without lockdowns, without statewide mandates, and without vaccine passports. We have the thirdlowest fatality rate from COVID-19 in the country. And we’ve fully vaccinated 87.5 percent of our 65+ population.

It was heartbreaking to learn that Corporal Daegan William-Tyeler Page of the United States Marine Corps was among the 13 American servicemembers killed in last month’s terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Last weekend I attended the funeral of one of my uncles, Mr. Pat Strasburger. He was an icon in the Sheridan County Sandhills ranching community. He passed just a few days shy of his 98 birthday. His funeral truly was a “celebration of life.” Imagine all of the things he saw.

On September 11, 2001, the United States of America was changed forever. The world watched and held its breath as terrorists attacked our nation. In New York City, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, Americans lost their lives at the hands of ruthlessness. While we commemorate that terrible day annually, it is receiving special attention this year, on its 20th anniversary.

You might want to write this on the calendar, I agree with Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts that President Joe Biden’s sweeping new vaccine requirement is overreaching and should be challenged in court.

Agricultural technology has come a long way since farmers used oxen and horse-drawn plows to break the prairie sod. Huge advancements are being made each year in ag tech, and Nebraska’s companies and universities are leading the way. The technologies they’re developing run the gamut from pioneering livestock management techniques, to innovations in the way crops are grown, to advancements in equipment.

With summer coming to a close, I have been spending my time visiting with Nebraskans and traveling our state. The conversations I have at meetings, community events, roundtable discussions, and tours of local businesses are invaluable to me as I work on federal policies to improve the lives of people in our state.

The special session of the legislature for redistricting is here. We began Monday September 13. Every 10 years after the census we redraw all the political maps, adjusting boundaries based on the new census. Even though our unicameral is called a “non-partisan” body, redistricting always creates the temptation for the Nebraska Legislature to make it a partisan fight. Redistricting in the next couple of weeks is going to be very politically contentious. For me, the fight is about making dead sure that we draw districts that are fair to rural Nebraska. Rural Nebraska is still the economic heart of this state. It is also the most beautiful place to be.

LINCOLN – Governor Pete Ricketts issued a statement following news that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. would attempt to mandate coronavirus vaccinations on healthcare workers and private employers, Thursday, September 9, 2021.

Not long ago, I wrote about the unacceptable spending levels set by Democrats in appropriations bills, which annually fund the federal government. Now, just a few weeks later, the Democrats are moving forward with additional spending plans for fiscal year 2022 and beyond. The primary goal for Speaker Pelosi and President Biden is to enact a massive $3.5 trillion wish-list on top of the current federal spending. This is occurring only months after Democrats enacted President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, a major contributor to our economy’s rising inflation.