NE-Pol: Cornfed Politics and Government: February 2013

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Taxes, Oh Taxes

View the story "The Intricacies of Nebraska Tax Reform" on StorifyThe Intricacies of Nebraska Tax ReformIt began with the Governor, now it's in full swing and everyone is ducking for cover.Storified by Jay William Grote· Thu, Feb 28 2013 13:28:51Governor Heineman's 2013 State of the State Address | netnebraska.orgAnd there it was. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman said that this was the year to being looking at new ways to change taxes, maybe even eliminate the income tax. His rational was to enhance business opportunities in the state.Income tax elimination bills introduced : PoliticsOmaha Sens. Beau McCoy and Brad Ashford introduced bills Tuesday aimed at a tax reform discussion that McCoy said the state has tackled o...Two bills were introduced. The main parts goals of both were to kill the income tax by removing exemptions and raising sales taxes. A hearing was called to see what those with significant stake in the state's economy had to say.Not many people liked the bill. Companies from all over the state said they need the exemptions and being charged with too much sales tax may make them leave. Other Nebraskan's said the sales tax only option would take more money away from consumers too.OPINION: Tax reformGov. Dave Heineman's plan to kill Nebraska's income tax and replace the revenue by eliminating expensive sales tax breaks appears to be g...And eventually the bill(s) were killed, by the asking of the Governor himself.Governor’s bid to end Nebraska income tax runs into opposition. I will update story as testimony continues: http://shar.es/YbnTjDeena WinterBut, that's not all of the story.

Omaha Senator Ernie Chambers is still on his march to be a pain in this change process, though admittedly he is careful to ensure that the people he represents have a fair voice and that due process is followed to ensure that tax reform is taken with appropriate weight.

Chambers: Repeal sales tax option or I'll fight tax reform studyBy Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog LINCOLN - Nebraska Sen. Ernie Chambers warned Nebraska lawmakers Wednesday that if they don't like hi...And yet, there is still much more to be done in terms of tax reform. This topic itself should, at the end of it, define this and possibly the next few legislative sessions.Revenue draws up amendments to Tax Modernization billBy Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog LINCOLN - The Legislature's Revenue Committee has drawn up amendments to the bill setting up a Tax Mo...Next up on the docket for debate...Medicare solutions! Stay tuned.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

And Now About Me

Here's a quick video of me. I'll put it on the "About Me" page. More posts coming soon!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Nebraska Government Website Reviews

Yes, this is my 20 minute long confession bear roar...or quiet grunt.

Howdy political fans! Right about now, my government website reviews video is being uploaded so it will be up soon for all of you to watch.

Below is the video. It will be playable when it's done uploading.

Be careful on yourself, it's 20 minutes long. I'll be adding time coded links to each website when Youtube lets me.

Into - 0:00
What is RSS? - 0:38
Sen. Mike Johanns - 1:37
Sen. Deb Fischer - 4:22
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry - 7:36
Rep. Lee Terry - 10:22
Rep. Adrian Smith - 12:18
Gov. Dave Heineman - 15:06
Nebraska Legislature - 16:59
NE Sen. John Harms - 18:46
Conclusion - 19:50

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Government in the Digital Age

I feel that it's long overdue that I do an audit of all the websites listed under "Sources" in my sidebar.

So, probably during this weekend, I will provide a screen-cast and review of each of the official's pages that I list. I hope to go in depth and adequately judge each page on its features and other information sharing abilities.

This will be fun for me since I'm and IT major anyway and I know that people just dig digital stuff. So, check in and be informed.

Lavon Heidemann Inauguration Report

From UNL
Lt. Gov Lavon Heidemann

Earlier today the Governor announced the inauguration of Lieutenant Governor Lavon Heidemann.

During the conference that Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman called, the governor introduced Heidemann and his wife Robin.

At the inauguration, which was followed with a question and answer session with the press, Heineman appeared happy with the events at hand.

Heidemann is a rancher from Elk Creek, Nebraska who has served in the Nebraska Legislature in the Appropriations Committee and a former school board member for Elk Creek.

Heineman New Lt. Gov Live Blog

Conference live stream http://www.netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/government/governors-news-conference-gov021313-1530

After multiple tests, the microphones seem to work.

One minute late and no sign of the Governor.

Secretary of State Gale will be signing in the new Lt. Gov.

New Lt. will have family present.

3:33 The Conference beings

Credit New York Times and the White House
Seriously, look at the way he's holding the gun.
He may shoot, but he's got a pretty weird form.

I've been thinking about the possible solutions to ways to try to introduce some type of law that could curb crimes.

Given President Obama's call during last night's State of The Union Address where he said "They deserve a vote!," and the gallery countered "We deserve a vote!," I think I should tackle this issue right now.

Granted things are in a bad state of affairs, even close to home. Omaha is quickly becoming as bad as Chicago. But when I think about Diane Feinstein's list of weapons that she would like to ban, it seems like she wants to ban all the guns listed in modern video games.

Now, I'm no gamer, but I know that in the beginning levels you get some pretty crappy guns. And some should rightly not be banned. Other should.

Developing Gering Nebraska

From Pinterest
If there is ever a photo that is needed to depict
ScottsbluffGering this is the one all editors use.
All the time.
Period.

My hometown of Gering is in a pinch. Its population is aging and the economic development there is nearly nil.

The reason for this is because Gering is just across the North Platte from the economic center of the Panhandle, Scottsbluff.

Now Scottsbluff is a great town, it's got two theaters, a school that's doing much better lately, and its industry in cattle and farming, railroads, health care, and finance are doing well, but what about the bastard city of Gering?

Gering, by origin, is older than the neighbor across the platte, Scottsbluff. The city of about 9,000 combined with the dork-child of Terrytown, 1,200, and Scottsbluff, 15,000, make the area a considerably good sized market in Nebraska of 25,000.

I'm Calling You Out Terry!

Modern day pop-ups. Ugh! Ain't no Nebraskan
got time for that! Then again it is Omaha.

Don't worry Representative Lee Terry it's nothing too big, but it is an issue.

Represenative Lee Terry's website is a darn good looking site, granted the popup is really not what I'm looking for and personally I don't think it's effective. But if one were to look on his press page, like I have linked in the side, you'll notice that it shows the most recent press update from Terry is in 2011.

Immediately, I thought this was my own fault for linking to some old news. So here's what I did, I went to his base URL and clicked on "Newsroom" right on the menu bar. Traditionally I thought this should take me to a base page for all of his newsroom stuff; nope I just got a menu.

Sheehy End of Day Summary

Image from Omaha World Herald.
The only person to really come forward in all
of this was Dr. Hatcher which makes us men
look spineless. Why is no one in Nebraska
good at publicity and damage control?

Everyone was expecting that the Nebraska gubernatorial race was going to be a slick transition to Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy. The question that only a few were asking was "Will his skeletions be able to stay underground for such a high office?"

This is all turning out like a 48 Hours Mystery episode. Sheehy doesn't do any measurable policy or presiding work, gets bored of putting on the miles and hardly seeing his wife and kids so he needs an outlet. Enter 4 women. He begins his finagling with a Central Nebraska woman, a Bellevue Dr. Theresa Hatcher, a Texas woman, and a Colorado woman.

The OWH's inspection of the records, on the Scottsbluff Star Herald's page (seriously why can't I find this on the front page of the OWH?) uncovers that two of the anonymous women were not sexual but more platonic. The Central Nebraska woman couldn't be reached. Mrs. Hatcher on the other hand was the one that Sheehy wanted to be with to "start a new life"...lolwut?

Heineman Sheehy Resignation Press Conference

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman held a press conference this morning to comment on the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy.

"I was very surprised. Like I say, I trusted him and that trust was broken." Heineman said about Sheehy's resignation in connection with phone records obtained from the Omaha World Herald.

The World Herald obtained records that thousands of late night phone calls to women had been made from Sheehy's government issued cell phone.

Live Blog: Heineman Press Conference on Sheehy Resignation

Just sat down this morning to catch up on plenty of Nebraska blogs when my twitter stream shows that the Omaha World Herald announced that Sheehy is going to step down. Live televised Heineman speech here.

Heineman accepted Sheehy's resignation, Heineman became aware last night.

"He's resigned, I've accepted it, we're moving forward." - Heineman

"He's done a lot of good things for the state." - Heineman

NE-Pol: Cornfed Politics and Government

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