Opinion

In the remaining days of the 2022 Legislative Session, we must work together to strike the appropriate balance between managing government spending and returning excess revenue to the people. That is how we responsibly steward taxpayer money.

For many Nebraskans, Lent means two things: a time for personal reflection, and a time for weekly fish fries. My daughter-in-law comes from a big Catholic family who have called Omaha home for generations.

LB 873 passed and was sent to the Governor last week. As far as tax relief in Nebraska goes, this is the biggest tax cut I have seen since I first came to the legislature in 2017. LB 873 passed because the senators in the revenue committee reached a compromise. There are a lot of different pieces to this bill from Senators Linehan, Friesen, Briese and Lindstrom.

According to a new Bloomberg Economics analysis, the average American family will spend an additional $5,200 this year because of our record-high inflation rate. Polling data show that a majority of Americans are seriously concerned about inflation, a sign Americans already burdened with higher costs at the grocery store and gas pump are bracing for additional financial pressures. As our nation struggles to overcome the economic damage caused by COVID-19 shutdowns, the unnecessary stimulus bill President Biden signed last year and continued efforts by congressional Democrats to continue the spending spree have deepened our economic troubles.

With lawmakers log-jammed inside the State Capitol during the waning days of the short 2022 legislative session, the political intrigue outside is bubbling over. State senators are trying compromise and downright bullishness to move along big ticket items favored by the Governor such as: tax cuts for corporations and the rich; a big ditch in Southwest Nebraska to take a fair share of allocated water from Colorado's stretch of the South Platte River; building an Okoboji-size lake between Lincoln and Omaha; building a new prison; and providing continuing property tax relief.

As we approach the final days of the 2022 legislative session, the Nebraska Unicameral has the opportunity to deliver smart criminal justice reforms that will enhance public safety and benefit all Nebraskans. These changes will allow us to better manage our inmate population and provide modern resources to prepare offenders for life after time served—without compromising public safety.

As we mark one month since Putin began his invasion of Ukraine, keeping America safe is our priority. In just one month, Putin has displaced millions of Ukrainians from their homes, killed thousands of innocent people, including at least 120 children, and made troubling statements about Russia’s nuclear weapons.

National Agriculture Week provides a great opportunity to recognize the strength and resiliency of Nebraska’s agriculture producers. The Third District is the nation’s leading congressional district in both total number of farms and market value of products sold. Nebraskans’ dedication and ingenuity are second to none; however, all Americans are currently facing historic inflation. Rising costs, especially when it comes to fertilizer and fuel, are hitting the agriculture community particularly hard.

It’s almost over but the shouting. What, exactly, has the 2022 Nebraska Legislature accomplished so far? While debate over equitable distribution of pandemic relief funds, tax cuts for the rich and prison reform have grabbed the headlines; lawmakers have also passed some noteworthy legislation that will impact Nebraskans for years to come.

For decades, the abortion industry has pushed the mantra that abortion is a human right. They’ve tried their best to normalize a culture of death, where the most vulnerable among us have fallen victim to the lie that one person’s so-called right to privacy trumps the right of another to life. The infamous Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade gave false credibility to their movement. But in less than four months, the Supreme Court could finally overturn Roe v. Wade.