Recapping the 2022 legislative session
Dear Friend, When I was hired last fall, I was contacted by many people who expressed how much respect and admiration they have for OpenSky. In my first few months on the [...]
OpenSky’s Executive Director in the World-Herald: Legislative action didn’t match rhetoric; Fall Symposium date set
In this morning’s Omaha World-Herald, OpenSky Executive Director Dr. Rebecca Firestone writes that when it came to getting money into the hands of everyday Nebraskans who need it coming out of the pandemic, the [...]
LB 121 helps vulnerable Nebraskans, increases self-sufficiency and equity
Today’s Legislative agenda includes second-round debate for LB 121 – which would end Nebraska’s harmful lifetime SNAP ban for those with certain drug-related convictions. If passed, the bill would help provide food security for some [...]
Switching to a consumption tax would be a regressive tax change
Replacing all other taxes with a consumption tax like that proposed in LR 264CA – a measure presently being discussed by lawmakers – would be a highly-regressive tax change that no other state has [...]
Tax-cut package advances, second-round debate set for Tuesday. Consumption tax to be discussed, too
After eight hours of debate, lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a tax package that would ultimately cost the state more than $900 million – roughly one-fifth of the state budget – annually while [...]
Tax-cuts amended into LB 873, back on the Legislature’s agenda today
A tax package that will ultimately cost the state about $900 million annually while largely benefiting the wealthy and corporations is back on the Legislature’s agenda today after being rejected by lawmakers [...]
Former Kansas lawmaker: Learn from our experience with tax cuts
In today’s Nebraska Examiner, former Kansas legislator Jim Karleskint urged policymakers around the nation to remember the Sunflower State’s experience with tax cuts as they consider their own revenue packages. After large income tax cuts [...]
Amendment on ARPA bill would put public dollars toward private schools
The Appropriations Committee on Tuesday placed its amended version of LB 1014 on the first round of debate. The bill contains several provisions to allocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars throughout the state. [...]
Bill on Tuesday’s agenda would eliminate SNAP ban for those with drug felonies
Along with continued debate on the use of cash reserve funds and second-round debate on a measure to cut income taxes, Tuesday’s legislative agenda includes LB 121, which would end Nebraska’s lifetime ban on federal food [...]
Briefings on direct-payment amendment to LB 939 set for Friday and Monday
A legislative amendment to provide direct payments to Nebraskans will be the focus of Friday and Monday briefings sponsored by OpenSky Policy Institute, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, the Coalition for [...]