LINCOLN, NE – Appropriations Committee Chairman Heath Mello (District 5, South Omaha) issued the following statement following the passage of the biennial budget bills earlier today:

“The passage of the biennial budget by wide, bi-partisan margins today reaffirms the hard work of the Appropriations Committee in crafting a consensus budget that invests in Nebraska’s priorities and provides significant property tax relief over the next two years.

“From our additional investments in early childhood education to increased funding for the University of Nebraska and Nebraska State Colleges to enable a two-year tuition freeze, the budget represents a strong commitment to education on behalf of the Legislature. The budget also includes $230 million in continued funding for the Property Tax Credit Act, providing Nebraska taxpayers with significant local property tax relief.

“Finally, the budget transfers an additional $53 million to the state’s Cash Reserve Fund, ensuring that the state is prepared for any future economic uncertainty and for recommendations that may come from the Legislature’s pending Tax Modernization Commission study.”

Cumulative votes for the seven bills comprising the budget package, LB 194 through LB 200, totaled 331 in support, 6 opposed, and 6 present not voting.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2013

For More Information:
Senator Heath Mello, (402) 471-2710

LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska State Senator Heath Mello (District 5, South Omaha) issued the following statement in response to former Senator and University of Nebraska Regent Lavon Heidemann:

“I add my voice to the chorus of congratulations in support of my friend, now Lieutenant Governor Lavon Heidemann. While in the Legislature, Lieutenant Governor Heidemann was always there to support me, and it is an honor to return the favor today.

“I look forward to working with Lieutenant Governor Heidemann on behalf of all Nebraskans to ensure our great state continues to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2013

For More Information:
Senator Heath Mello, (402) 471-2710

Bills would expand opportunities for wind development, other renewables

LINCOLN, NE – Earlier today, Nebraska State Senator Heath Mello (District 5, South Omaha) and State Senator Jeremy Nordquist announced the introduction of LB 402 and LB 411, respectively, legislation that would expand opportunities for renewable energy development in Nebraska.

LB 402 – Mello:

Under the existing Rural Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) Act, the equipment and supplies used to construct a wind energy project are exempt from sales tax if at least one-third of the revenue from the project flows to Nebraska residents or the local community. Since the Act’s adoption in 2007, however, only one utility-scale wind project has been able to utilize the exemption.

“Despite ranking among the top states in wind energy potential, Nebraska continues to lag behind in large-scale wind development,” said Mello, “LB 402 is the next logical step in helping make wind projects in Nebraska competitive with projects in neighboring states like Iowa and Kansas.”

LB 402 would expand the thresholds under the C-BED law, allowing wind projects of all sizes to be eligible for the existing incentives. The bill would also allow renewable energy projects that used biomass or landfill gas to qualify for the sales tax exemption.

By expanding the C-BED law to include component parts manufactured in Nebraska and services provided by Nebraska companies, LB 402 incentivizes not just the wind facilities themselves, but the creation of supporting industries as well. By encouraging the manufacture of wind turbines and other components here in Nebraska, the bill maximizes the economic development impact of wind energy in our State.

LB 411 – Nordquist:

LB 411 provides a renewable energy tax credit for each kilowatt-hour of renewable electricity, including wind, solar, biomass or landfill gas, that is generated by a facility within the state. The implementation of the Nebraska renewable energy credit is designed to ramp up as the federal production tax credit phases out, so as to provide consistency and predictability in our incentives, giving our state a substantial competitive advantage in attracting renewable energy investment.

“The Renewable Energy Tax Credit will create more clean, home-grown energy, more jobs in our local communities, and significant economic development for our state,” said Nordquist. A utility-scale wind energy generation facility can increase a county’s property tax base by ten percent or more in one fell swoop, which goes a long way towards addressing another of rural Nebraska’s significant challenges.

“Nebraska has an exceptional opportunity to be a leader in renewable energy – particularly as a wind resource – and this tax credit will give us a substantial advantage in attracting clean energy investment and clean energy jobs to our state, and in turn ensuring our state’s strong economic future.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2013

For More Information:
Trevor Fitzgerald, Sen. Mello’s Office (402) 471-2710

Tiffany Seibert, Sen. Nordquist’s Office (402) 471-2721

LINCOLN, NE – Earlier today, Nebraska State Senator Heath Mello (District 5, South Omaha) announced the introduction of the Buy Nebraska Act (LB 372), a bi-partisan legislative proposal that would give Nebraska-based companies an advantage over out-of-state companies when bidding on state contracts.

Currently, 46 states have some type of resident bidder preference either in statute or in the rules and regulations governing their procurement processes. These preferences vary widely, from provisions that award tie bids to in-state companies to more comprehensive policies like those included in the Buy Nebraska Act.

“Last year, a South Omaha-based business lost out on a contract with the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission by just $20,” said Mello. “If the Buy Nebraska Act been in place, those jobs would have stayed in Nebraska, and the state would have ultimately brought in more revenue that it saved when it shipped jobs out of state.”

In addition, Mello also introduced a companion measure, the Transparency in Government Procurement Act (LB 371). Under the bi-partisan proposal, state agencies would have to track the origin of goods and services purchased by the state, including whether those goods and services come from in-state sources.

“The State of Nebraska awards more than $2 billion in contracts for goods and services each year, but we have no idea how many of those contract dollars are flowing out of state, or even out of the country,” said Mello. “Nebraskans deserve better from their state government, and there is simply no excuse for failing to track these taxpayer dollars.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2013

For More Information:
Trevor Fitzgerald, Legislative Aide, (402) 471-2710

LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska State Senator Heath Mello (District 5, South Omaha) spoke out in response to the disclosure of e-mails proving that Douglas County Election Commissioner Dave Phipps helped draft and was aware of the potential impact of LB 449, legislation that allowed him to drastically reduce the number of polling places in Omaha:

“The recent news article in The Omaha Reader about the development and implementation of LB 449 is both serious and disturbing,” said Mello. “For two Election Commissioners and the Director of the Department of Administrative Services to be plotting behind the scenes to pass legislation designed to cause political chaos by dramatically altering voting precincts violates both the public trust to carry out elections fairly and the oath they all have taken to serve the best interest of the State of Nebraska.”

Earlier this morning, Mello sent a letter to Senator Bill Avery, Chairman of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee requesting a legislative investigation into the drafting of LB 449 and the polling place changes made by the Douglas County Election Commissioner earlier this year.

“In order to ensure our electoral process remains fair and free of partisan influence, it is crucial that the Legislature investigate the actions that led to the polling place closures in the first place, and begin the process of seeking serious election reforms that focus on accountability and transparency,” Mello said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2012

For More Information:
Senator Heath Mello, (402) 471-2710

LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska State Senator Heath Mello (District 5, South Omaha) today joined numerous civic, elected, and neighborhood leaders in dedicating a new historical marker celebrating the people of South Omaha.

“The dedication of this new historical marker, as well as the rededication of the existing packer monument, is recognition of the countless contributions of the hardworking Nebraskans who helped build and shape South Omaha,” said Mello. “I and many others are grateful for former State Senator Don Preister’s leadership in making these projects a reality.”

The South Omaha people historical marker honors the history and diversity of the Americans who immigrated to South Omaha beginning in 1883 and the rapid growth that earned the once small village the nickname “The Magic City”. Today, only the 1926 Livestock Exchange Building remains of the stockyards and meat-packing district that was at the center of South Omaha’s growth for much of the twentieth-century.

“While the historic South Omaha Stockyards District has changed over the years, it is vital that we remember the perseverance and hard work of the people who made South Omaha a community of opportunity,” Mello said. “Together, these monuments will serve as a permanent reminder of the workers and families who built South Omaha and the many sacrifices made over the years to build a better future for the community.”

The dedication event was made possible through a partnership between South Omaha Historical Grants Committee, Nebraska State Historical Society, Q Merchants Association, South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance, Metropolitan Community College, AFL-CIO, and the Packers Industry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2012

For More Information:
Senator Heath Mello, (402) 471-2710

LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska State Senator Heath Mello (District 5, South Omaha) issued the following statement in response to comments by Governor Dave Heineman claiming that LB 599 was a fiscally irresponsible decision by the Nebraska Legislature:

“As a pro-all-of-life Catholic State Senator, I care deeply about the health and life of unborn children. LB 599 was always a pro-life issue because it will protect the health and lives of little Nebraskans and ensure that unborn babies have every opportunity to be born healthy. Governor Heineman’s latest shameful attempt to connect LB 599 to an unrelated issue is politics at its worst.

“Any attempt by Governor Heineman to claim that LB 599 was fiscally irresponsible should be completely disregarded in light of the Governor’s exclusive priority of giving tax cuts to millionaires last session.

“LB 970, as originally introduced on behalf of Governor Heineman, would have given a tax break of over $10 million to the wealthiest 1% of Nebraskans, which is more than 15 times the state’s costs for prenatal care for unborn children under LB 599. Similarly, LB 970′s tax break for the wealthiest 5% of Nebraskans would have been $24 million, more than 37 times the annual cost of LB 599 to the state.

“Quite frankly, after trying to ignore the inconvenient truth that he introduced legislation to provide a $10 million giveaway to millionaires last session, Governor Heineman has lost significant credibility to talk about fiscal responsibility.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2012

For More Information:
Senator Heath Mello, (402) 471-2710

OMAHA, NE — State Senator Heath Mello (District 5, Omaha) called on both Governor Heineman and the Nebraska Legislature to take long-overdue action on improving the state’s energy efficiency policies in response to a report that continues to rate Nebraska among the bottom ten states in the country for energy efficiency.

Today, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard report, which ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their state’s energy efficiency policies. This year, Nebraska fell two spots in the rankings, from 40^th down to 42^nd. Additionally, the state continues to lag well behind other Midwestern states like Minnesota (9^th), Iowa (11^th) and Colorado (14^th).

“Midwestern states continue to adapt to the emerging energy efficiency economy with public policies that not only incentivize energy conservation for both homeowners and businesses, but require that their state governments lead by example,” said Mello.

“It is long past time that both Nebraska’s executive and legislative branches recognized that there are other key state rankings, like ACEEE, which have a significant impact on our state’s business climate in a changing energy-driven economy. I look forward to working with Governor Heineman and other interested lawmakers over the next year to improve Nebraska’s energy efficiency competitiveness and to begin to make our state government a leader in conserving energy by 2020.”

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Nebraska Scorecard:
http://aceee.org/sector/state-policy/nebraska

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2012

For More Information:
Senator Heath Mello, (402) 471-2710

OMAHA, NE — Today, State Senator Heath Mello released the following statement in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated September 15th through October 15th:

“As Hispanic Heritage Month events continue taking place across the state, is it important that we take the time to reflect on the many contributions of Nebraska’s vibrant Hispanic community. Hispanic-owned businesses in South Omaha and throughout the state have helped bring new life to our shopping districts and revitalized historic main streets and business districts in countless communities across Nebraska.

Throughout our nation’s history, leaders like César Chávez have led the way in expanding civil rights for all Americans and fighting for working families’ economic future. As members of Nebraska’s Hispanic community reflect upon their native cultures and heritage this month, I join them in reflecting on and honoring the contributions that César Chávez and those who followed in his footsteps have made in helping build a better Nebraska and a stronger nation.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2012

For More Information:
Senator Heath Mello, (402) 471-2710