Nebraska’s budget funds for services at the core of the Good Life. In fact, more than 90 percent of the state’s general fund budget goes to fund education, health and human services and public safety. As such, the budget decisions our policymakers have serious implications for all Nebraskans.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress in 2021 provided Nebraska and other states with a historic influx of federal funding to help in the response to economic and public [...]
80,000 Roughly 80,000 children in Nebraska families with low incomes would benefit from the proposed expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit. If approved, a married couple – with one parent earning [...]
As proposals emerge to meet the Governor’s goal of a 40% decrease in revenue generated from property taxes, let’s be clear that sales taxes are the most regressive tax category. In the [...]
Access to quality health care is a key element of “The Good Life” we live in Nebraska, as it keeps our state’s residents working and thriving. And for many Nebraskans, Medicaid and [...]
https://youtu.be/PnNaR7m7JYU As we await formal proposals in the fledgling Legislative session, OpenSky shared an overview of the state’s fiscal picture with participants in a virtual briefing on Wednesday. Nebraska is [...]
Nebraska’s tax system is upside-down, with affluent Nebraskans paying less than their fair share of household income in taxes relative to low- and middle-income families. Last year’s personal and corporate income tax [...]
155 Nebraska lawmakers introduced 155 measures in the first two days of the legislative session. Bill introduction continues through January 17 (Day 10). Among the bills introduced on Thursday was a proposal [...]
As senators reconvene today, OpenSky Policy Institute will support policymakers to make measured, evidence-based decisions that work to achieve a Nebraska where prosperity is not an exclusive privilege but a reality for [...]
Ahead of the 2024 legislative session, Dr. Rebecca Firestone listed priorities for OpenSky Policy Institute in an Op-Ed published in the Omaha World-Herald. "As we embark on the 2024 legislative session," Firestone [...]
91,000 Thanks to a successful ballot initiative, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that 91,000 workers – 9.5% of Nebraska’s workforce – will see a wage increase when the state’s minimum wage [...]