Martha Stoddard - World-Herald Bureau wrote: Finding some way to lower property taxes tops the to-do list for many of the newcomers, who are fresh off the campaign trail, where complaints about property taxes abounded. Gov.-elect Pete Ricketts also has named property tax reduction as his No. 1 priority.
Fixing the state’s correctional system is another major priority for most new senators. Problems with overcrowding, inadequate mental health care and prison sentence foul-ups have dominated the news for much of the past year.
Sen.-elect Mike Groene of North Platte said he will propose a measure to narrow the uses of tax-increment financing, which he said have expanded over the years.
104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Moderators: Coyote, nebugeater, Brad, Omaha Cowboy, BRoss
- Coyote
- City Council
- Posts: 33289
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Aksarben Village
- Contact:
104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
New faces, familiar focus in Nebraska Legislature
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Any chance the law eliminating the 2AM bar closing time passes? That would be interesting to see which bars would push to 3 or 4.
- Coyote
- City Council
- Posts: 33289
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Aksarben Village
- Contact:
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Bill would eliminate bar closing timesiamjacobm wrote:Any chance the law eliminating the 2AM bar closing time passes? That would be interesting to see which bars would push to 3 or 4.
Zach Pluhacek: Lincoln Journal Star wrote:
Nebraska bars could stay open 24/7 under a bill (LB330) introduced Thursday by Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill, chairman of the Legislature's General Affairs Committee, which handles liquor issues. The change would also allow retail liquor sales all day and night. Larson said eliminating last call would keep bars from "dumping too many people in the street all at once."
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Meanwhile, Larson co-sponsoring a bill, LB111, to get a voter ID law passed again.
Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
jessep28 wrote:Meanwhile, Larson co-sponsoring a bill, LB111, to get a voter ID law passed again.
-
- Parks & Recreation
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 12:45 pm
- Location: Omaha Metro Area
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
So requiring IDs to cash a check, open a bank account, gain access to a safe deposit box, drive a car, buy smokes or liquor, or get on an airplane is OK, but we should just trust you in the polling place?HR Paperstacks wrote:jessep28 wrote:Meanwhile, Larson co-sponsoring a bill, LB111, to get a voter ID law passed again.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
It seems like we are creating a law to fix a problem that does not exist.bigredmed wrote:So requiring IDs to cash a check, open a bank account, gain access to a safe deposit box, drive a car, buy smokes or liquor, or get on an airplane is OK, but we should just trust you in the polling place?HR Paperstacks wrote:jessep28 wrote:Meanwhile, Larson co-sponsoring a bill, LB111, to get a voter ID law passed again.
Greg
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Exactly! It's been proven that voter fraud is not a problem. It's just a way to inconvenience poor people (who tend to vote democrat) to try to prevent them from voting. Democracy shouldn't try to exclude people or else it no longer is that.Greg S wrote:It seems like we are creating a law to fix a problem that does not exist.bigredmed wrote:So requiring IDs to cash a check, open a bank account, gain access to a safe deposit box, drive a car, buy smokes or liquor, or get on an airplane is OK, but we should just trust you in the polling place?
Greg
-
- Parks & Recreation
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 12:45 pm
- Location: Omaha Metro Area
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
What about the cases in North Carolina?HR Paperstacks wrote:Exactly! It's been proven that voter fraud is not a problem. It's just a way to inconvenience poor people (who tend to vote democrat) to try to prevent them from voting. Democracy shouldn't try to exclude people or else it no longer is that.Greg S wrote:It seems like we are creating a law to fix a problem that does not exist.bigredmed wrote:So requiring IDs to cash a check, open a bank account, gain access to a safe deposit box, drive a car, buy smokes or liquor, or get on an airplane is OK, but we should just trust you in the polling place?
Greg
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
What case are you referring to?
I found an article a while back last year dating that in the last decade, only 9 (I think it was 9... It was a small number) cases of true voter fraud were confirmed. It's a non issue, in my opinion.
It would be pretty nice if they would move along on same sex marriage. I'm sure we'll probably be in the last 5 states to legalize it, if not the last... I would really like to not have to move in order to be able to do something everyone else can do because someone is scared that the gays will ruin the sanctity of Rush Limbaugh's umpteenth marriage.
I found an article a while back last year dating that in the last decade, only 9 (I think it was 9... It was a small number) cases of true voter fraud were confirmed. It's a non issue, in my opinion.
It would be pretty nice if they would move along on same sex marriage. I'm sure we'll probably be in the last 5 states to legalize it, if not the last... I would really like to not have to move in order to be able to do something everyone else can do because someone is scared that the gays will ruin the sanctity of Rush Limbaugh's umpteenth marriage.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.
The Bride
The Bride
- Seth
- Parks & Recreation
- Posts: 1437
- Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:59 pm
- Location: Ford Birthsite Neighborhood
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
I can't believe how much effort has been spent on trying to get these laws passed when not even the strongest supporters can produce evidence of a need for it.HR Paperstacks wrote:Exactly! It's been proven that voter fraud is not a problem. It's just a way to inconvenience poor people (who tend to vote democrat) to try to prevent them from voting. Democracy shouldn't try to exclude people or else it no longer is that.Greg S wrote:It seems like we are creating a law to fix a problem that does not exist.bigredmed wrote:So requiring IDs to cash a check, open a bank account, gain access to a safe deposit box, drive a car, buy smokes or liquor, or get on an airplane is OK, but we should just trust you in the polling place?
Greg
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
A couple interesting beer/brewery bills are up this year. I can find a link when I'm not on the phone.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Here we go.
http://www.starherald.com/news/regional ... 519dc.html
http://www.starherald.com/news/regional ... 519dc.html
I like the idea behind both. The first one would really boost the market in Nebraska for growing beer grains. The second one is even better, there are cool concepts in places like Dallas and Nashville(I am sure lots of other places) where the shop exists purely to fill growlers. It would be awesome to see something in Dundee or Benson that is a small little space with a ton of taps from some of the breweries around the state.One bill aims to boost the market for Nebraska-grown barley and hops by offering a non-refundable tax credit to breweries using Nebraska-grown crops.
Brian Podwinski of Nebraska Malt says the bill would help the state's barley growers keep competitive prices with larger, more cost-effective operations out of state.
The second bill would allow restaurants to sell growlers of craft beers to customers for off-site consumption. Current law only allows for growlers to be sold if the beer is brewed on the premises.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
That would be awesome! Can you imagine rolling in to a place like Krug Park and filling a growler!iamjacobm wrote:Here we go.
The second bill would allow restaurants to sell growlers of craft beers to customers for off-site consumption. Current law only allows for growlers to be sold if the beer is brewed on the premises.
Omaha Skyline Photos, Omaha Aerial Photos, and More.
Website: www.bradwilliamsphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bradwilliamsphotography
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bradwphoto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bradwilliamsphotography
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@bradwilliamsphoto
- Coyote
- City Council
- Posts: 33289
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Aksarben Village
- Contact:
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
I need to find me some real nice growlers! I know breweries sell theirs, but I think I saw some at Beertopia.Brad wrote:That would be awesome! Can you imagine rolling in to a place like Krug Park and filling a growler!iamjacobm wrote:Here we go.The second bill would allow restaurants to sell growlers of craft beers to customers for off-site consumption. Current law only allows for growlers to be sold if the beer is brewed on the premises.
Something that is easily hand washable.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
i really don't care one way or the other, as I think there's many other issues the legislature could waste their time on, but it really is only logical that one must show proof of residence before participating in local elections. "Too poor to get a photo ID", give me a frickin break. That's not being too poor, that's just being lazy. Out of 365 days a year, you mean to tell me that someone cannot find a way to obtain a photo ID? What audacity we have to expect US residents acquire identification.Greg S wrote:
It seems like we are creating a law to fix a problem that does not exist.
Greg
See, things like this are really getting old. We sit back and make excuses for everything, until it comes back to bite us in the a$$.
Also, it's really hard to obtain the proper metrics to determine if voter fraud exists, without even having the voter documentation to begin with.
You know, if the more liberal leaning members of legislature really wanted to burry this issue, why not propose a bill that endorses a method to provide everyone photo identification? It would solve a lot of problems for those "too poor to obtain ID", like help get them jobs, open a bank account, or even purchase a plane ticket.
But it's not about helping the poor, it's about f*cking politics, as always.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. - Winston Churchill
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Bigred listed many "needs" for photo identification. Don't you think the opposition would consider all the benefits over the minor inconvenience it causes, if they really cared about the poor?Seth wrote:
I can't believe how much effort has been spent on trying to get these laws passed when not even the strongest supporters can produce evidence of a need for it.
In fact, I can't think of a better way to keep someone poor; just deprive them of a photo ID. It's foolproof, actually.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. - Winston Churchill
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Brickway (Borgota) has the best caps for sealing in the freshness.Coyote wrote:
I need to find me some real nice growlers! I know breweries sell theirs, but I think I saw some at Beertopia.
Something that is easily hand washable.
As far as washing, get a piece of clear tubing from the hardware store that fits over your faucet. That said, most breweries will wash them for you as well before a fill...,
Omaha Skyline Photos, Omaha Aerial Photos, and More.
Website: www.bradwilliamsphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bradwilliamsphotography
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bradwphoto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bradwilliamsphotography
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@bradwilliamsphoto
- Seth
- Parks & Recreation
- Posts: 1437
- Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:59 pm
- Location: Ford Birthsite Neighborhood
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Growler sales would be awesome.iamjacobm wrote:Here we go.
http://www.starherald.com/news/regional ... 519dc.html
I like the idea behind both. The first one would really boost the market in Nebraska for growing beer grains. The second one is even better, there are cool concepts in places like Dallas and Nashville(I am sure lots of other places) where the shop exists purely to fill growlers. It would be awesome to see something in Dundee or Benson that is a small little space with a ton of taps from some of the breweries around the state.One bill aims to boost the market for Nebraska-grown barley and hops by offering a non-refundable tax credit to breweries using Nebraska-grown crops.
Brian Podwinski of Nebraska Malt says the bill would help the state's barley growers keep competitive prices with larger, more cost-effective operations out of state.
The second bill would allow restaurants to sell growlers of craft beers to customers for off-site consumption. Current law only allows for growlers to be sold if the beer is brewed on the premises.
I'm not such a big fan of the special-interest barley-grower's tax credit, though. It's a perfect example of why our tax code is so unbelievably complicated. We'd save businesses a lot of money each year by having a simple, easily met tax code than meting out buddy bonuses to a random assortment of businesses. We'd also save the IRS and state tax offices a lot of time in sorting through stacks and stacks of complicated forms.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
LOL, Chambers wants a Cougar license plate!
Nebraska Game and Parks says cougar license plates won't fly, but cranes might
http://www.omaha.com/outdoors/nebraska- ... d78e0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Nebraska Game and Parks says cougar license plates won't fly, but cranes might
http://www.omaha.com/outdoors/nebraska- ... d78e0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Joe Duggan / World-Herald Bureau wrote:But Monday, the Omaha senator urged a committee of his colleagues to support his bill to create a specialty license plate for the protection of mountain lions in Nebraska. It marked quite a departure for a lawmaker who once argued that license plates should serve a purely law enforcement purpose rather than display a motorist’s branch of service or support for the Huskers.
Joe Duggan / World-Herald Bureau wrote:Instead, a plate featuring a species with broader acceptance — sandhill cranes, for example — would fly better with the public and generate more dollars, McCoy said. When the agency unsuccessfully sought passage of a wildlife license plate bill in 2007, it estimated that sales could produce more than $100,000 in revenue.
Omaha Skyline Photos, Omaha Aerial Photos, and More.
Website: www.bradwilliamsphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bradwilliamsphotography
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bradwphoto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bradwilliamsphotography
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@bradwilliamsphoto
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
The "oops we recognized gay marriage" bill got dropped for the year. It isn't going to matter what the state has to say once the Supreme Court rules later this year anyways.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Super. If we can't beat 'em, wait for the Supreme Court to do it.iamjacobm wrote:The "oops we recognized gay marriage" bill got dropped for the year. It isn't going to matter what the state has to say once the Supreme Court rules later this year anyways.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.
The Bride
The Bride
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Winner take all bill is basically dead.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
A bill is moving forward to lower the minimum wage for workers under 18 to $8 instead of keeping it with what the state voted on and set at $9.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Lower the minimum wage, what kind of sense does that make?
- Seth
- Parks & Recreation
- Posts: 1437
- Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:59 pm
- Location: Ford Birthsite Neighborhood
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
I don't think the argument that minors need to make a "living wage" could hold up the same as for adults. I think there should be some flexibility in wages for teenagers shoveling popcorn at the movie theater. We don't want to crowd out opportunities for youth to gain life experience by forcing unnaturally high wages.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Yeah I agree.Seth wrote:I don't think the argument that minors need to make a "living wage" could hold up the same as for adults. I think there should be some flexibility in wages for teenagers shoveling popcorn at the movie theater. We don't want to crowd out opportunities for youth to gain life experience by forcing unnaturally high wages.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.
The Bride
The Bride
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
For what they charge for that popcorn in movie theaters, we should see a well-trained gorilla juggling flaming bowling pins while serving the popcorn. Pay them kids!Seth wrote:I don't think the argument that minors need to make a "living wage" could hold up the same as for adults. I think there should be some flexibility in wages for teenagers shoveling popcorn at the movie theater. We don't want to crowd out opportunities for youth to gain life experience by forcing unnaturally high wages.
On a serious note, isn't that income inequality? - treating employees different based upon age, race, sex, religion, blood type, fashion sense, food cravings, or type of bicycle they own?
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. - Winston Churchill
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
So if I was an employer and I wanted to save money.... just hire people under the age of 18S33 wrote:For what they charge for that popcorn in movie theaters, we should see a well-trained gorilla juggling flaming bowling pins while serving the popcorn. Pay them kids!Seth wrote:I don't think the argument that minors need to make a "living wage" could hold up the same as for adults. I think there should be some flexibility in wages for teenagers shoveling popcorn at the movie theater. We don't want to crowd out opportunities for youth to gain life experience by forcing unnaturally high wages.
On a serious note, isn't that income inequality? - treating employees different based upon age, race, sex, religion, blood type, fashion sense, food cravings, or type of bicycle they own?
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Unicam passes 6 cent gas tax increase, Ricketts vetos it.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Well I'm sure when our first bridge collapses Ricketts will divert the blame from him vetoing this and onto something else. I get that people don't want to pay more for a gallon of gas, but are roads and bridges are in terrible condition and the money has to come from somewhere.iamjacobm wrote:Unicam passes 6 cent gas tax increase, Ricketts vetos it.
- Seth
- Parks & Recreation
- Posts: 1437
- Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:59 pm
- Location: Ford Birthsite Neighborhood
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
It's strange how clear it is that we have a deficit in infrastructure spending, which is pretty clear to everyone, but no one wants to pay for it. The "we just need to spend the money we have more wisely" argument is bogus too; the inflation-adjusted transportation funding is steadily declining as we have more and more lane-miles of roads to maintain.Linkin5 wrote:Well I'm sure when our first bridge collapses Ricketts will divert the blame from him vetoing this and onto something else. I get that people don't want to pay more for a gallon of gas, but are roads and bridges are in terrible condition and the money has to come from somewhere.iamjacobm wrote:Unicam passes 6 cent gas tax increase, Ricketts vetos it.
Don't get me started, but the federal funding gimmick they're trying to pull for the Highway Trust Fund is downright stupid. The CBO has already shown it's a net loss in revenue. But, that's how our system works; short-term fixes that get us into ever-deeper problems in the future.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Yes, it is true that transportation infrastructure is underfunded, but the problems are more systemic in the funding model that the state has created, rather than someone in the legislature having little foresight on transportation funding.Seth wrote:
It's strange how clear it is that we have a deficit in infrastructure spending, which is pretty clear to everyone, but no one wants to pay for it. The "we just need to spend the money we have more wisely" argument is bogus too; the inflation-adjusted transportation funding is steadily declining as we have more and more lane-miles of roads to maintain.
Don't get me started, but the federal funding gimmick they're trying to pull for the Highway Trust Fund is downright stupid. The CBO has already shown it's a net loss in revenue. But, that's how our system works; short-term fixes that get us into ever-deeper problems in the future.
When the state is forking out roughly the same amount of funding for welfare as it does for transportation, then you start seeing problems. The transportation to welfare ratio isn't a problem unique to Nebraska, this has become an almost universal figure across the country. I'm not picking on just welfare, but it is an example of throwing good money after bad. You are essentially giving out free money and can only hope to get, maybe, 7% of it back, whereas infrastructure spending and other items of investment, it opens up many different possibilities for ROI, including increased tourism, increased business or business relocations to Nebraska, and possibly creating an environment to give Nebraskans more jobs.
Not trying to get long-winded, but the entire funding system is screwed, and transportation, at least in Nebraska, is one example of how things remain underfunded.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. - Winston Churchill
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Ricketts' veto is overridden, gas tax will go up.
- skinzfan23
- City Council
- Posts: 9257
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:26 am
- Location: Omaha/Bellevue
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Well that stinks for driving, but I think overall it is a good thing. The roads desperately need it. The one thing that drives me nuts is that Iowa just increased their taxes and currently their state gas tax is .32/gallon, while NE is .265/gallon, but the price of gas in Omaha is almost always the same or higher than it is in CB. That doesn't make sense. I was hoping that Omaha would be around .05/gallon less since the gas tax is less. So my guess is that in 4 years after the NE gas tax is in full effect, prices in Omaha will be about .05/gallon more.iamjacobm wrote:Ricketts' veto is overridden, gas tax will go up.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Death Penalty repeal advances with 30 votes. Would be veto proof if that stands.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
And they repeal the death penalty with 32 votes. Govenor has promised a veto. Those 32 could override.
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
I hope it's repealed. I don't really have a problem with it per se, I just don't see the point of it. He'll, half the states who have lethal injection as their capital punishment can't even carry it out because they can't get the right drugs.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.
The Bride
The Bride
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Sounding like the death penalty vote is down two supporters. One more flips and the veto will stand.
- Coyote
- City Council
- Posts: 33289
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Aksarben Village
- Contact:
Re: 104th Nebraska Legislature (2015)
Veto repealed 30-19!