Opinion

There was recently a momentous victory for life when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade decision on June 24, 2022. This marked an amazing day for our nation and a huge victory for the pro-life movement.

Earlier this year, I made it clear that my number one priority in the Legislature was to pass a permitless concealed carry bill. I believe that our laws should allow Nebraskans to exercise their right to keep and bear arms without asking permission, paying a fee, or jumping through other bureaucratic hoops. Civil rights should not come with a price tag from the state.

The importance of a strong agriculture economy to the state of Nebraska and our entire nation cannot be overstated. Often overlooked in policy conversations, the products supplied by farmers and ranchers are fundamental to fueling our lives, filling our plates, putting shirts on our backs, and so much more. Yet, American ag producers currently face a bevy of historic crises which threaten their livelihoods and the long-term health of our economy. This comes at a time when relief for Americans suffering because of inflation and the security of the global food supply depends heavily on the American agriculture industry.

A federal judge’s ruling to temporarily bar the state from enforcing a requirement on petition circulators will likely open the door for several groups to get their measures before voters in November.

Americans are experiencing pain at the pump and sticker shock at the store. Prices continue to soar.

Baseball is America’s pastime. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a hot dog in the stands, hearing the sound of a home run, or watching your favorite player beat the tag at home. Every year in June, Nebraskans look forward to the sights, sounds, and thrills of this beloved game when Omaha hosts the College World Series.

Early last session, my friend Sen. Steve Halloran passed Legislative Resolution 14. This was Nebraska’s application to Congress to call a convention of the states for proposing amendments to the federal constitution. Nebraska became the 17th state to pass this resolution. Since last January, the West Virgina and South Carolina legislatures have passed this resolution bringing the total to 19 states. Six other state legislatures have passed the measure in one chamber, including our neighbors Iowa and South Dakota. Two-thirds of the states, 34, must pass the resolution for the convention to be called.

Recent acts of senseless violence have reignited debate over the best way to protect our communities, and Americans are understandably outraged and concerned. The shootings at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX, at a supermarket in Buffalo, NY, and other devastating and unacceptable acts of violence across the country are heartbreaking. Americans should feel safe and secure, especially in schools and houses of worship. My heart breaks for the victims and their families and, as a father, I share their outrage.

Kudos to the lame duck Ricketts’ administration for embracing another mental health initiative aimed at solidifying the state’s position, according to one publication, as having the fourth-best mental health in the nation.

Two hundred forty-six years ago, our Founding Fathers bravely defied the most powerful nation on earth and put pen to paper to assert an eternal, self-evident truth: All men are created equal. We are endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights that no government can justly take away. This recognition is what makes our country so unique. What unites us as Americans is neither religion, ancestry, nor language. Rather, it’s our shared commitment to the truth of equal human dignity. Every Independence Day, we honor the men and women who started the great American experiment all those years ago. And we celebrate the triumph of the principles we hold dear. America is at its best when we honor our founding principles; our greatest suffering and division have come from neglecting them.