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To Sign or Not to Sign - EPIC Option


To Sign or Not to Sign: EPIC Option

Over the next few months, Nebraskans may be approached by petitioners asking for signatures in support of the following two Amendments to Nebraska’s Constitution:

1.     “A Constitutional Amendment to restrict governmental entities in Nebraska to imposing only retail consumption taxes and excise taxes. This amendment will eliminate Nebraska personal and real property taxes; personal and corporate income taxes; sales taxes and inheritance taxes.”

2.     “A Constitutional Amendment allowing the Legislature to authorize governmental entities to impose consumption taxes on services and new goods with the limitation that only grocery items purchased …


Bennington Schools Bond Proposal

See ballot issue to read actual wording of the proposal as it will appear on the ballot, as well as information about mail-in voting.

As its student population grows, Bennington Public Schools projects the need for increased capacity for their high school students. Bennington currently has one high school; however, accounting for growth in the lower grades, BPS projects that the high school will be approximately 200 students over capacity by the time current 5th graders reach 9th grade—assuming no major further community growth.

Last time, Bennington voters rejected a proposal to purchase bonds in the …


To Sign or Not to Sign - Marijuana

That is the Question


The right of Nebraska citizens to add issues to the ballot by petition is one that is embedded in the constitution, with historical precedent of over 100 years. While this is a common right across the United States, Nebraska’s unicameral again makes us unique in this area. In effect, the petition process grants voters the role of the “second house” of the legislature. And though this line is cliche, we should appreciate the responsibility that accompanies this power. Being an informed signer (or non-signer) is of similar importance to being an informed voter.

In this election cycle, there are eight …


Plattsmouth School Board Member Recall Election

Deliver to county office or put in Dropbox by January 9th

Simplistically speaking, this Recall election demonstrates the clashing of worldviews.

#1)   Some people want children/adolescents free to investigate sexuality, including wondering about being different from their birth assignment.  They may think the culture already exposes adolescents to sexuality issues at young ages and schools could serve as a place to correct misunderstandings from culture. They want to listen to educational professionals trained in the universities.  Stereotypically speaking, these people support the Recall.

#2)   Other people want children/adolescents protected from sexual exposure at too young an age. Believing parents have a greater vested interest in their own children, they …


Speaker of the Legislature

Interview


In last month’s article, we explored the role of United States speaker of the House. The corresponding newsletter promised that we would bring it to a more local level in November. To help make good on that promise, VIP interviewed Nebraska’s speaker of the Legislature, Senator John Arch. We covered a few different topics in our interview, but the main focus was, “What makes the Nebraska State Legislature and, more specifically, what makes the role of speaker distinct from other states?” And that will be the emphasis of our November article.  

While the operation of each state government differs slightly, …


Importance of House Leadership


Speaker of the House is a very familiar title to Americans. Being that the position is the third highest-ranking in the country, the names of past speakers are almost as easy to recall as the Presidents that they served with. And with the unprecedented removal of Kevin McCarthy from the position of House Speaker, there has been more attention on the seat than ever. But it might be helpful to take a look at the responsibilities of the Speaker to understand why the position is so important.


Electing a Speaker
Electing a new Speaker is the first order of business …


Local vs. National Politics: Weighing the Importance


If you spend any time watching (or reading) the news, you will quickly realize that national politics and politicians get the lion's share of television, online, and printed attention. The seemingly large decisions coming out of Washington get constant coverage by the media. This coverage has made our national politicians household names all across the country.

While it is good to know what is happening on Capitol Hill, the truth is that these decisions affect our daily lives much less than the decisions made at your very own City Hall. Or even closer to home, your local school board. The …


Party Platform Comparison - Part 4

Healthcare and Abortion


Party Platform Comparison Part 4: Healthcare and Abortion
It comes as no surprise to see that these are two more issues on which there is a wide gap between the different platforms. The different parties have, for the most part, diametrically opposed views on healthcare and abortion. In this article we will compare the views to give you a better understanding of where our political candidates stand.


Healthcare
 

Democrat
The Nebraska Democratic position on healthcare is based on their position that “access to affordable, quality health care is a right for all.” Some of their main goals are to expand …


Party Platform Comparison - Part 3

Education


Party Platform Comparison Part 3: Education

This month we tackle one of the most important areas of government administration. The policies that govern the way the next generation is educated can have enormous consequences for the future. So take a look at what each party has to say about this topic.

Democrat
The Nebraska Democratic platform includes many more statements on education than we can summarize here. They see education as more of a public endeavor, rather than only the parents having an interest in their children’s learning. Because of this, their positions on education are generally in favor of …


Party Platform Comparison - Part 2

Labor and Economy


Party Platform Comparison Part 2:  Labor and Economy

 

We continue this series with a look at a topic that hits close to home for nearly everyone. Whether or not you are interested in politics, the laws that govern your workplace and finances are most likely important to you. So in this article we will help you better understand where each party stands on this crucial area of Labor and Economy.

There’s one thing to mention before we jump into the article. Throughout this series, you will notice quite a disparity between the parties in the amount of information provided under …