Opinion

Remember the Christmas bonus? Probably a thing of past given the changed face of the workplace. Perhaps your “bonus” allows you to work from home.

WashingtOn d.C . There are a lot of ongoing policy debates in Washington, D.C.

Last week, House Republicans took action to push back on proposals by President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) effectively forcing consumers to drive only electric vehicles (EVs) by 2032. The EPA’s out-of-touch policies are unworkable for the Third District because of our winter weather and expansive driving distances. Furthermore, China, which holds 78 percent of the world’s EV battery cell manufacturing capacity, recently implemented export controls on raw EV battery materials. In the interest of consumer freedom and minimizing dependence on China, the federal government should reverse course on heavy handed EV mandates.

The chickens are coming home to roost. Several tax watchdog groups say the Legislature, at the behest of the Governor, has gone overboard in depleting state revenue by earmarking too much for property tax relief.

Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do in Nebraska. Our farmers and ranchers feed and fuel the world. Ensuring the strength of our agriculture sector is critical for Nebraska, but also our country. Food security is national security. Supply chain disruptions during the pandemic reinforced the need to prioritize food production at home. As Senator, I am working to ensure we pass a comprehensive Farm Bill that supports this.

As my final session in the Nebraska Legislature looms large on the calendar, my office is busy preparing proposed legislation for introduction in January. One of the projects that I hope to complete before leaving office is reforming how we approach school security in Nebraska.

Last week, we celebrated the 150th birthday of one of Nebraska’s foremost literary icons: Willa Cather. Cather, who died in 1947, was born on December 7, 1873. One hundred and fifty years after that day, her legacy lives on through her poignant novels — including American classics O Pioneers! and My Ántonia — and her profound influence on our country.

WashingtOn d.C . As Americans, we’re fortunate to live in the greatest country in the history of the world.

W Serving on the House Committee on Ways and Means, my work covers a wide range of policy issues. The longest running committee in Congress, Ways and Means derives its authority over all tax, revenue, and trade matters directly from Article I, Sections VII and VIII of the Constitution, which place jurisdiction for the origin of revenue-raising bills in the House of Representatives and the “Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises” before the federal legislative branch.

Governor Jim Pillen wants all state government employees at their desks in their assigned departments beginning next month. He said the pandemic-era remote is over, although both empirical and anecdotal evidence nationwide show a workplace change that was pandemic caused has become the new normal.