“This is one of the most significant pro-life issues we have been faced with during my time in the Legislature. When prenatal care is denied, as a result of inaction by this Legislature, it is the unborn baby who bears the full cost of this tragic decision,” said Senator Jeremy Nordquist. “It is a moral imperative to give every Nebraska baby a chance to be born healthy.”

“Effective legislators can accomplish much and serve their constituents well in two-four year terms.  In just my first term, I have been a leader in balancing the budget, prioritizing education funding, and keeping our state public pension plan solvent.”

Under Governor Heineman’s proposal:¹

• The top 5% of filers receive more from the Governor’s giveaway than the bottom 60% of Nebraskans.
• The top 1% of filers will receive an average tax giveaway that is more than 14 times the amount given to the middle 20% of taxpayers.

“The Governor’s handout to the wealthiest in our state will drive our state budget off a cliff by creating a $637 million budget shortfall in the next couple of years,” said Nordquist. “This budget reality that the Governor is refusing to address will require deep cuts to the budget, and it will likely be cut from K-12 education, higher education, and job training programs that keep our state’s workforce competitive and make Nebraska a great place to live for middle class families.”

1Open Sky Policy Institute analysis of data provided by Nebraska Department of Administrative Services Budget Division and Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy.

Lincoln – Today, Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha introduced LB 952 to stop the implementation of cuts to the Medicaid program that would significantly weaken safety net health services for Nebraska’s most vulnerable populations.

“The cuts proposed by the state’s Medicaid program reflect a significant policy change by eliminating critically important services for our most vulnerable citizens – the elderly, the disabled, and low-income children,” said Senator Nordquist. “The elimination or limitation of health care services that will impact over 170,000 Nebraskans is not a decision that should be made unilaterally by this Administration, whose record of caring for and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable is less than satisfactory.”

As required by law, the Director of the Division of Medicaid & Long-Term Care of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services provided notification of proposed cuts to legislators in a December 1 letter. Among the proposed potential changes to the Medicaid program:

• Limiting home-based services and medical assistance that Nebraskans can receive, which services are intended to keep Medicaid recipients in their home and out of more costly institutions;
• Limiting the number of mental health and substance abuse therapy visits;
• Limiting hospital days, prescription drugs, and physician visits; and,
• The complete elimination for adults of dental services, eyeglasses, hearing aids, occupational, physical and speech therapy.

LB 952 was co-sponsored by: Senator Bill Avery, Senator Kathy Campbell, Senator Tanya Cook, Senator Brenda Council, Senator Annette Dubas, Senator Mike Gloor, Senator Gwen Howard, Senator Bob Krist, Senator Amanda McGill, and Senator Heath Mello.

Lincoln – Today, Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha introduced LB 882 that ensures that oral chemotherapy medications are covered by health insurance in a manner similar to intravenous chemotherapy.

“LB 882 will put cancer treatment decisions back in the hands of treating physicians and their patients, rather than insurance companies,” said Nordquist.  “No person battling cancer should be forced to go against the recommendations of their doctor or forgo the most appropriate treatment because the cost-sharing provisions of their insurance favors one treatment over another.  LB 882 will allow families to focus all of their energy on recovery, not whether or not they can afford to follow the doctor’s orders.”

IV and oral cancer medications typically fall under different benefit plans. Insurance policies typically cover most, if not all, costs related to IV chemotherapy as a “medical benefit.” Oral chemotherapy is often classified as a prescription drug benefit and often requires much larger copayments. Since many oral anticancer medications can cost several thousand dollars per prescription, this increased cost sharing can potentially equate to several hundred dollars per month.

“Ultimately, LB 882 would ensure that patients battling cancer can afford the drugs that best suit their course of treatment—a decision best made by a physician and their patient, not an insurance company,” said Nordquist.

LB 882 was co-sponsored by Senator Gwen Howard and Senator Norm Wallman.

Senator Nordquist introduces Health Care Exchange legislation

Senator Nordquist has introduced LB 835 which would create a state-based health insurance exchange marketplace to give Nebraska individuals, families and small businesses more choice and competition in the health insurance market. This new marketplace would be developed – through an open and transparent process – by a board of consumers, businesses, health care providers and insurance representatives. This bill has strong bipartisan support.

I hope this website will allow me, and my staff, to communicate with you about the issues you care about. Please, let me know what’s on your mind by contacting my office, and check back often for important news and information.

Working for you,

Senator Jeremy Nordquist

LINCOLN, Neb. – A bill proposed by State Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha would provide an incentive for public power districts to invest in renewable energy resources.

“Today, as President Obama articulates his vision for our country, it’s more important than ever to demonstrate our commitment to moving forward and to finding real solutions to our energy and economic problems,” said Nordquist. “An investment in renewable energy will bring a cleaner environment, a sustainable industry, and good, high-paying jobs to our state.”

LB 455 provides a tax credit of 1.9 cents for each kilowatt-hour generated from renewable sources. Because Nebraska’s public power districts do not pay income taxes — making them ineligible for the vast majority of federal renewable energy incentives — the money will be credited towards sales tax paid by qualifying power districts. The bill also proposes a sales tax exemption for all equipment needed to generate and transmit power from renewable sources.

“Nebraska cannot afford to continue to be left behind in renewable energy production,” said Nordquist. “LB 455 provides our state with a path to long-term economic prosperity and energy sustainability without raising rates or taxes on Nebraskans.”

LB 455 is cosponsored by Senators Annette Dubas, Ken Haar, Steve Lathrop, and Heath Mello, and Ken Schilz.

LINCOLN, Neb. — State Senator Jeremy Nordquist introduced legislation on Thursday that would gradually phase out state income taxes levied on Nebraskans’ Social Security benefits.

“As the Governor presents his budget to the Legislature today, it is important to keep in mind that many of Nebraska’s seniors are struggling to make ends meet. And by taking a cut of their Social Security checks, state government isn’t making things any easier for them,” Nordquist said. “We shouldn’t be leveling taxes on Nebraskans who have landed in — and who rely on — the federal safety net.”

Under LB 303, Nebraskans receiving Social Security benefits would be able to exempt up to $15,000 of their income when filing their state tax returns for 2009. That exemption, which is doubled for couples filing jointly, would increase steadily to $75,000 in 2013 — effectively ending state taxation of Social Security benefits.

Iowa and Missouri have recently passed similar plans. Missouri’s phase out will be completed in 2012; Iowa’s will be finished in 2014.

Of the 41 states with broad-based income taxes, 26 states do not tax Social Security benefits. Only five states, including Nebraska, currently tax Social Security benefits to the same extent as the federal government. [Source: AARP Issue Brief 84]

LINCOLN, Neb. — South Omaha Senators Jeremy Nordquist (LD 7) and Heath Mello (LD 5) introduced a legislative package today targeted at one of Omaha’s growing concerns: graffiti.

“Graffiti doesn’t only cause property damage. It depresses community morale, and is often visual evidence of gang-related criminal activity,” Nordquist said. “It’s time we treated graffiti as a serious crime and it’s important we give law enforcement tools to fight it.”

Nordquist’s proposal, LB 276, provides stronger and more comprehensive punishments for those who commit criminal defacement, including graffiti. It also enhances penalties for graffiti that is found to be gang-related. Mello’s bill, LB 277, makes it more difficult for would-be perpetrators to obtain materials — such as spray paint — commonly used to deface property.

“We hope that these bills send a message to those who insist on defacing Omaha homes and businesses,” said Mello. “Our community won’t tolerate graffiti, and we will do what it takes to put a stop to it.”

Bill summaries for LB 276 and LB 277 are available from each Senator’s office upon request.