Columns

By Ricketts

Tax policy is a big area of focus for senators this legislative session for a good reason: It is key to building a pro-growth climate in our state.

Right now, Nebraska’s tax system is in need of an overhaul. According to the Tax Foundation, Nebraska has the 11th highest property taxes in the United States and the 26th highest income taxes. When you look at it another way on a per capita basis, we do not do any better. Local property tax collections rank 12th highest at $1,757 per capita and state income tax collections rank 16th highest at $1,128 per capita. This makes us uncompetitive with surrounding states.

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By Schmidt

You get what you pay for.

In the case of Nebraska’s Legislature, several senators and some constituent groups say they don’t think lawmakers are getting paid enough. It’s hard to disagree since the last pay raise was 30 years ago when voters approved an increase from $400 a month to $1,000 a month. Arizona and Nebraska are the only two states to require voter approval.

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By Fischer

Recently the Senate had a state work period, which meant I could travel across Nebraska and visit with fellow citizens to listen to what’s on their minds. These conversations are what I take back to Washington, and they help me bring our state’s common sense to Congress.

I started my week by stopping by the Nebraska City Public Schools Pioneer Career Academy. It was great visiting with students and seeing the fantastic work they are doing. The highlight of the tour came when the students presented me with two wooden plaques that they had made. It’s great to see these young people refining their skills to become successful and contribute to their community.

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By Keuhn

Although public hearings and floor debate dominate the media coverage of the legislative process, what happens in the committee setting ultimately dictates the direction of bills introduced at the beginning of the legislative session. In Nebraska’s unicameral system, committees, and especially committee chairs, are allowed a level of discretion and control over bills unlike any other legislative body. Every bill introduced is required to have a public hearing. However, that is where equal treatment of a piece of legislation ends. The scheduling of the bills for hearing, the consideration of a bill by the committee in executive session for advancement, and the development of any committee amendments to a bill are all controlled by each individual committee chair.

By Ashley D. Swanson

This little piggy went to the market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy had none. And this little piggy went wee, wee, wee all the way home.

Most, if not all, people know the nursery rhyme “The Little Piggy;” the one where your parents or grandparents would move from one toe to the next and then tickle you until tears fill your eyes because you’re laughing so hard.

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By Tory Duncan

Winter sports is quickly drawing to a close, which on one hand is not a bad thing, as on the positive side, maybe that means winter weather will soon make way for spring.

It’s always a rat race at the end, and as Jordyn and I head to games Tuesday night, one at Grand Island Central Catholic and the other at Centennial High School, I reflect on some things that I soaked in over the winter season.

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BY Tory Duncan

Well, for the ninth straight year, I embark on the trek to Omaha to follow Clay County wrestlers that have qualified for the Nebraska State Wrestling Championships at Omaha’s CenturyLink Center.

The state meet, which runs this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, will feature 11 county grapplers, including five from the South Central Unified squad for Sandy Creek and Lawrence-Nelson. Sutton will send four matmen to the big show, while Harvard advanced two out of the D-3 District meet in Elm Creek.

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By Ashley D. Swanson

In my eight—or so— years of being a journalist, I’ve been to a few meetings. Meetings that were pretty boring; meetings that flooded attendees with information; meetings I regret attending; and meetings where people’s big mouths got the best of them.

In attending a meeting, there is a level of respect one must have for the meeting, those running said meeting, and those sitting around you.

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By Tory Duncan

There are many topics that were flowing through my mind this week, some perhaps much stronger than the Super Bowl, but it’s the Super Bowl I will share.

It was a great game to watch as a spectator but the outer lying impacts of the game were less than desirable. A halftime show that left me wondering why they spent that kind of money for it and commercials that left lots of companies spending a lot of money with no impact!

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By Ashley D. Swanson

Facts are some of my favorite things. I love facts about animals, nature, insects, humans, and everything in between.

Facts give me that small hope that I’ll actually be able to teach somebody something one day because I know a little about a lot of useless information.

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