Opinion

nOte frOm d.C . Last weekend, the United States shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that entered our airspace.

W A recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected our nation will add nearly $19 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years. CBO projects the debt will equal 118 percent of gross domestic product 2033.

His predecessor spent eight years pushing property tax relief. Now, Governor Jim Pillen wants to clearly tie said property tax relief to school finance. It’s up to the Legislature to figure out how to make that work.

g OVernOr LINCOLN – February 14, 2023, Governor Jim Pillen and state leaders announced a labor contract agreement between the State of Nebraska and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). The FOP represents teammates within protective services classifications, including corrections officers at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) and safety and security specialists at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

I introduced two bills this session that I think address the two most important rights Americans have. These rights are protected by the First and Second Amendments of the Federal Constitution, and article one, sections one and four of the Nebraska Constitution.

I am a defender of the Second Amendment. I firmly believe it is the one constitutional amendment which guarantees all the others. The first role of government is to defend our rights, not pass laws that further infringe upon them. The Second Amendment is already the only constitutional “right” we have to ask permission to use.

This week, as the nation listened and watched, President Biden gave the second State of the Union address of his presidency. Over the last year the American people have struggled under historic inflation, rising crime rates, and severe economic uncertainty.

Families, schools, and teachers do a lot to support Nebraska kids, but sometimes they need more. That is where mentors fill the gap.

“They’re trying to build a prison They’re trying to build a prison For you and me to live in Another prison system Another prison system For you and me.” --The Prison Song by System of a Down (2001) To the surprise of none and the consternation of many, me included, a new report says that before 2030, Nebraska will need another 1,500 prison beds, even after building a $350-million, 1,500bed replacement for the aging State Penitentiary in Lincoln. We have been expecting the Facility Master Plan for the Nebraska Department of Corrections to side with the staunch law and order advocates who think it best to just “lock ‘em up.” The ringer is the report says after the new prison is open, the state will be short about 1,300 prison beds, given the expected growth in state inmates.

I am always working to ensure that federal policies make sense for communities in Nebraska.