Opinion

Dear Editor, We serve as elected Public Service Commissioners representing Nebraska. Our job is to regulate industries that are natural monopolies such as taxis, natural gas, telecommunications companies, grain warehouses as well as manufactured homes and the next generation 911 service.

W Nearly a week prior to the first day of winter, we have already seen snow, ice, and freezing conditions across the Third District. While precipitation is needed to relieve Nebraska’s fourth driest year on record, and the snowfall may have many dreaming of a white Christmas, colder than average temperatures are expected to accompany already historically high energy costs this winter.

WashingtOn d.C . Top agricultural states like Nebraska help to feed the world.

My friend USAF General Tom Bussiere departs his position next week as Deputy Commander of USSTRATCOM to take the four star commander’s position at U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command in Barksdale, LA. I’m very excited to extend a warm Big Red welcome to USAF General Tony Cotton as the new commander of USSTRATCOM.

There will be 18 women sworn in as state senators in January, the most ever in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature. Half declare as Republicans and half as Democrats in the officially nonpartisan body.

g OVernOr In Nebraska, the crops we grow, livestock we raise, goods we manufacture, and innovations we develop make an impact far beyond our borders. Nebraskans have long known that.

During the last legislative session, I introduced a bill to stop treating social security payments as income, and exempt them from Nebraska income tax. A similar bill was introduced by Senator Lindstrom. I chose not to pursue my bill so Senator Lindstrom could pass his LB 64. He has been introducing bills to un-tax social security since before I came to the Legislature. I felt the measure had a better chance of passing if the bill was carried by a senior senator; LB 64 passed 41-8 last May.

W A month from now, we will welcome a new year and a new Congress with a new majority. For the 118th Congress House Republicans have put forward our Commitment to America agenda.

g OVernOr The family unit plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s life. A loving home is a tremendous blessing – it’s easy for many of us to take that for granted.

Unless you’ve been out of the country or living off the grid in a cave, you probably know by now that the University of Nebraska Lincoln football team has a new head coach, Matt Rhule, who is making more money than is humanly possible to spend.