Gov. Jim Pillen was the lead speaker at a Legislative Kick Off Dec. 4 in Grand Island. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Gov. Jim Pillen, State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island, and State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City spoke at a 90-minute Legislative Kick Off Dec. 4 in Grand Island, sponsored by the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp. (GIAEDC) and Chamber of Commerce.
GIAEDC and Chamber of Commerce President Mary Berlie said that Grand Island has grown in population in the last 10 years. She mentioned items including LB 600 and the Good Life District program that have benefited Grand Island. She said that state support is a lifeline for Grand Island to grow and prosper.
“We’re committed to building a stronger Nebraska with you,” Berlie said.
Pillen said that the Legislature will need to cut $500 million from the state’s budget during the Legislature’s next “short” session, which starts Jan. 7 and runs for 60 days.
Pillen first spoke about the closure of the Tyson meatpacking plant in Lexington. He said that Lexington has been an All-American City for 60 to 70 years. Pillen said that people wil be pulling together and solving problems to address the plant closure in Lexington.
He said that efforts were being encouraged to use the Lexington plant for another reason. He mentioned having a case-ready meat plant located there. He noted that Tyson has facilities in Omaha and Madison.
“We’re going to work very hard to make sure that plant doesn’t go dark,” Pillen said.
Pillen said that it is forecasted that Nebraska will have a $400 million shortfall in revenue. He said that in the last 75 days, Nebraska officials have spent 80 hours reviewing the state budget. He said that government should be run like a business.
Pillen said that he opposes “Christmas tree” bills. That is a nickname for bills that have many amendments attached to them.
“I’m going to veto every one of them,” he said.
He mentioned a situation in Grand Island Public Schools affecting teachers in kindergarten through second grade and their ability to discipline students with negative behaviors. He gave an example of students “flipping off” teachers.
LB705 from 2023 prohibits suspension for students in pre-K through second grade except in very limited circumstances.
“We’re going to repeal that,” Pillen said.
Pillen said that if a student can’t read at the third-grade level, the student should have to go through third grade again.
Pillen said that Nebraska ranks third highest in the country in property taxes.
“We have to broaden the sales tax,” the governor said.
Pillen noted that community colleges are now funded by the state. He suggested that K-12 education should be funded by the state rather than through local property taxes.
Pillen said that South Dakota has no income tax and compensates by having a broad-based sales tax.
The governor said that Nebraska ranks top in the country in raising and processing cattle. He said that a beef processing plant in Hastings is the only plant in the country providing kosher beef to Israel.
Pillen emphasized the importance of the ethanol industry in the state.
He said he met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently. Pillen said that he fights anti-Semitism. He described how he stopped having an anti-Semitism protest on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. He told university officials that the state owned the university’s property. He said that Nebraska State Patrol troopers would arrest any students who set up tents on university property. The governor said a protest never occurred.
Pillen said he follows a mantra of following God’s will, having a proactive attitude, and working hard.
The governor noted that Union Pacific, based in Omaha, will have the country’s first transcontinental railroad. People from other railroad office locations will be moving to Omaha, he said.
State Sen. Dan Quick pointed out positive things occurring in Grand Island, including development of the Prairie Commons District and the Good Life District program. He said after he first served in the Legislature, he served on the Central Community College Board of Governors for two years.
Quick said that earlier in his career, he needed to learn a new welding skill for his job. He received training at Central Community College. Quick said that he serves on the Urban Affairs, Special Affairs, and Health and Human Services committees.
Quick said that he most recently introduced 20 bills and legislation concerning development of Camp Augustine.
Quick said that he is involved in potentially bringing a tattoo convention to Grand Island. One thing that will be needed is the ability to provide temporary licenses to tattoo artists who come from other states to the convention. He said that the conference could attract 20,000 to 30,000 people.
Quick said that he wants to continue to promote efforts to grow Grand Island.
State Sen. Loren Lippincott said that the country is a constitutional republic, not a democracy.
He said he agreed 100 percent with Pillen about stopping “Christmas tree” bills.
Lippincott said that he is chairman of the Legislature’s Rules Committee. He wants to change Nebraska legislation to allow a vote of 30 senators to stop a filibuster, rather than 33 senators.
Lippincott said that the forecasting board had predicted a $288 million upcoming deficit. There could be a $451 million deficit in two years, he said.
Lippincott noted that fewer people are attending four-year colleges, and more people are attending community colleges, where they can study trades.
He noted that Nebraska’s population is shrinking. Currently, he said, there are 1.92 children per family. To break even, that figure needs to increase to 2.11 children per family.
Lippincott said that he had spoken to Grand Island real estate developer Ray O’Connor. After O’Connor had served in Vietnam and returned to Grand Island, there were 900 homes on the market. Lippincott said that now there are fewer than 20 homes on the market that cost less than $200,000.
“We do have a housing shortage,” Lippincott said. He said that the average age of first-time homeowners is increasing because of the cost of housing.
A woman in the audience who wished to remain anonymous said she worked for a non-profit organization that did not provide health insurance. She noted problems she encounters with wanting to have children. She would have to pay the medical cost for having a child out of pocket. After that, a concern is paying for child care.
Quick said that providing child care is important.
“That’s an area that needs to be addressed,” he said.
One issue is the low pay for child care providers. They may not work in a child care center for very long because they can find higher-paying jobs elsewhere.
Pillen mentioned that there is an opportunity for businesses to provide child care.
Grand Island financial advisor Will Armstrong asked whether any changes would be made to Good Life District provisions. In the last session of the Legislature, some changes were made in legislation for the program.
Pillen responded that provisions for the Good Life District would remain as they are.
“The plate’s set,” he said.
Hall County Commissioner Gary Quandt asked whether there would be a tax shift from the state to cities and counties.
Pillen said that the Legislature needed to cut $500 million from the state’s budget.
