Opinion

D.C . Over the last several days, we have been reminded how quickly life can change.

NOTE FROM D.C . Nebraskans deserve elected officials who will put their communities’ interests ahead of their own personal interest.

If you’re like me, you were sickened to read about the wildfires running amok across sections of Nebraska in mid March. Thousands and thousands of acres, as far as the eye could see in areas of the Sandhills, in bluffs and hills southeast of North Platte and south of Kilgore, and (once again) in areas near the Nebraska National Forest in Halsey.

W Over the past week, smoke has filled the skies across central and western Nebraska as wildfires have torn through more than 826,000 acres—destroying homes, infrastructure, and forcing families to evacuate with little notice. This is the worst wildfire crisis Nebraska has ever experienced and for many families the hardship is far from over.

Last week the Legislature began debate on the first major revenue proposal of the session: raising the tax on cigarettes by $1.00/pack. In November, I made a very public pledge that I would not support tax increases, along with three of my colleagues, so our vote should have been the least surprising issue of the day, yet tempers flared with frustration that we would not support this tax increase. Together, we committed to opposing tax increases on Nebraskans and to pursuing responsible solutions that focus on spending discipline rather than higher taxes. When we announced this pledge ahead of the 2026 session, the commitment was clear. Any legislative tax proposal should not increase the total tax burden on Nebraskans. If a tax rate is increased or the tax base expanded, it should be paired with a direct dollar for dollar reduction in another tax so that taxpayers are not asked to pay more overall.

nOte frOm d.C . We’re in the middle of tax season.

WashingtOn d.C . This week, Nebraska lost one of our own.

W On March 1, Nebraskans celebrated 159 years of statehood. It was a moment to reflect on the people and values that built our state and the pioneer spirit that continues to define us today.

One of my favorite political slogans of all time is “a solution in search of a problem.” It’s used frequently in debates at the Nebraska Legislature to describe a proposal or idea that imposes new rules and restrictions to address a problem that doesn’t exist. You might call it “government overreach,” too.

W U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith (NE-03) and Mike Flood (NE01) joined their colleagues on the Congressional FFA Caucus in introducing a resolution to designate February 21-28 as National FFA Week.