Sen. Les Seiler
Sen. Les Seiler
District 33

Welcome

January 14th, 2012

Thank you for visiting my website. It is an honor to represent the people of the 33rd legislative district in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature.

Please feel free to contact me with any issues or concerns you may have regarding public policy or your state government, and let me know how I may assist you. My staff in my State Capitol office in Lincoln look forward to hearing from you and assisting you. Please feel free to contact me using the contact information on the right.

Sincerely,
Sen. Les Seiler

Posted in Welcome |

An Update from the Nebraska Legislature

February 3rd, 2012

Greetings from the Nebraska State Capitol. We have completed the third week of the One Hundred Second Legislature Second Session. I must reiterate my statements from last week by thanking everyone for the friendly reception I have received. I am thoroughly enjoying my time at the Nebraska Legislature and am learning a lot.

Legislative bill 996, introduced by Senator Wightman, is a bill that has gained a lot of attention from the constituents in District 33 and Nebraskans from across the state. Currently Nebraska’s compulsory education law requires children to stay in school until they turn 18 or graduate from high school. However, there is a provision that allows 16 year olds to drop out of school if they have permission from their parents. LB 996 would repeal that provision making it mandatory for all children until the age of 18 or if they obtain a degree to stay in school.

This bill is well intentioned, I believe Senator Wightman’s goal is to help keep children in school. Every child in Nebraska is deserving of a quality education that will help them achieve their goals and lead them down a path to success. Even so, it is up to each individual child and their parents to take advantage of the education available. While I agree that its important for all Nebraskans to encourage children to attend school and graduate, removing the parent consent provision will not guarantee a kid will be successful.
I am also worried about the impact this bill will have on the other students who want to be at school and are there to learn and succeed. If this bill passes, a child who has no desire to be in school will be forced to attend. A disruptive child in a classroom is not conducive to all the other students.

I also foresee unintended consequences with this bill, among them a child violating the truancy laws, which could hinder a child’s transition from youth to an adult. While I am a firm believer that education is a gateway to success, forcing a child to stay in school is not the solution to the problem. The child wanting to be in school is the answer. How to accomplish this goal is the question.

The Education Committee held a public hearing on this bill earlier this week. We heard from many educators, parents, and concerned citizens. The number of testifiers during the hearing is proof this bill has generated strong opinions. I will continue to monitor LB 996.

As always I welcome hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact my office at (402) 471-2712 or lseiler@leg.ne.gov.

Posted in Column, Opinion |

Inheritance Tax

January 27th, 2012

The second session of the 102nd Legislature is well underway. Bill introduction concluded on January 19, with 468 bills and six proposed constitutional amendments introduced. My first week in the legislature was spent debating carry over legislation in the morning followed by committee hearings in the afternoon. This schedule will continue through the month of February.

I want to thank the constituents of District 33 for the warm welcome I’ve received since my appointment by the Governor. I have enjoyed hearing from all of you and appreciate your opinions and input on the legislation that is before us.

In the first week of session, the Governor articulated his legislative priorities in his State of the State address. His top priority this year is tax relief for the citizens of Nebraska. The Governor’s plan will provide an overall $327 million tax relief over a 3 year period starting next year. This will come in the form of lower rates, expanded brackets, and lowering the top corporate tax rate. In addition to the tax cuts, the Governor proposed eliminating the inheritance tax, which is commonly referred to as the “death tax.” Currently, Nebraska is one of only eight states that has an inheritance tax. This tax is paid to counties by those who inherit property, cash or other assets from deceased relatives or friends. Senator Abbie Cornett introduced LB 970 on behalf of the Governor to end the county inheritance tax.

I am well aware of the financial implications this bill would have on Adams and Hall counties. Both counties rely on more than $1 million of the inheritance tax to balance their budgets and offset property taxes. In addition to that, counties are still reeling from last year’s legislation that eliminated state aid to cities and counties. I have heard from residents and elected officials from the district expressing their disdain for this legislation. Many have conveyed their concerns that an elimination of the inheritance tax will result in an increase in property tax. While I don’t agree with an outright repeal of the inheritance tax, I do believe this tax needs reform.

LB 1102 introduced by Senator John Wightman also addresses the inheritance tax, it is a bill that I support. This bill gradually phases in a reduction in the inheritance tax based on the relationship of the beneficiary. Class 1 beneficiaries, which includes parents, grandparents, siblings, and children, has no increase in the rate of tax, it will remain at 1 percent. The inheritance tax exemption would increase over time from $40,000 to $100,000. Class 2 beneficiaries, which includes aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and lineal descendents, will see a reduction in the inheritance tax rate from 13% to 9%, the exemption amount for that class would increase over time from $15,000 to $30,000. Finally, class 3 which includes non-relatives and all other beneficiaries, will see a decrease in the rate of inheritance tax, from 18% to 13%, with an increase in the inheritance tax exemption from $10,000 to $20,000. Each change would be phased in over 3 years. I believe this slow and gradual change will lessen the financial impact on county budgets. It will allow enough time for counties to adjust to the decrease in funding.

Both bills were referenced to the Revenue Committee, the public hearing for LB 970 was held on Thursday, January 26. Dozens of people testified in both support and opposition of the Governor’s tax initiative as a whole, but the majority of the testifiers focused on the inheritance tax. No public hearing has been scheduled yet for LB 1102. I will continue to monitor both bills and plan to be active once they are debated on the floor of the legislature by the entire body.

I look forward to hearing your input as we address this important issue and many others. Please do not hesitate to contact my office in the State Capitol. My phone number is (402) 471-2712 and my email address is lseiler@leg.ne.gov.

Posted in Column, District Info, Opinion |

Legislative Update

January 23rd, 2012

With a strong sense of duty and commitment, I am proud to introduce myself to the people of District 33 as your new state senator. My excitement to serve my community is tempered by a heavy heart. The passing of my good friend Dennis Utter was a tremendous loss for our state, and its important that we recognize his dedicated service in the Nebraska Legislature. He will be sorely missed, and I will do my best to serve with the same diligence, determination, and responsibility.

Philosophically, Senator Utter and I have a great deal in common. I am a strong fiscal conservative and believe that holding the line on spending and lowering the overall tax burden are top priorities. To increase the economy which will keep the budget balanced, we should remain focused on economic development and job creation, to help existing businesses and attract new employers with new jobs for District 33. A strong and diverse economy is necessary to keep our young people in the district and I think we must continue to invest in those opportunities.

Tuesday, January 17 marked my first official day as your Senator, and I am working hard to hit the ground running. This is the Second Session of the One Hundred Second Legislature, also known as the ‘short’ session. In even-numbered years, the Legislature conducts business for 60 legislative days. Bills that were not settled during the “long” session are carried over and remain active for debate and passage. This week, the legislature finished the introduction of new bills, and committee hearings started. I will jump in with both feet and absorb as much information as I possibly can.

Given that the session had already begun prior to my appointment, I will not be introducing any legislation at this time. A great deal of my early work will be focused on getting familiar with the legislative process and researching the bills that are important to the people of District 33. I have been appointed to the Education and the Government committees, and I look forward to representing your interests as a member of those committees. Obviously your input is a valuable part of this process, and I am interested in hearing about legislation that is most important to you. Please communicate your interests at our town meetings or to my office in Lincoln.

While I have been active in Hastings and the surrounding communities for many years, I wanted to share a little about my personal and professional background for those interested in knowing more about me. I was born in Red Cloud and grew up in Madison, Nebraska. I attended Hastings College, graduated from Wayne State College in 1963, and received my law degree from UNL in 1966. From 1967 until 1977 I proudly served in the United States Army Reserve and the Nebraska National Guard, as a Captain in the JAG, and I believe that experience has had a great influence on my life and career. I have been practicing law since January 1, 1970, and continue to do so through the law firm of Seiler & Parker, in Hastings, Nebraska where I specialize in estate planning, probate tax litigation, corporations and real estate.

In June 2011, I celebrated 45 years of marriage to my wonderful wife Jo. We have three grown children, Stephanie, Greg, and Brad, along with 5 wonderful grandchildren.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with my staff or me at the Capitol if you have questions or comments regarding a bill or just simply want to introduce yourself. My office phone number is 402-471-2712 and my email address is lseiler@leg.ne.gov.

It is an honor to have been chosen by Governor Heineman to follow in the footsteps of my friend Senator Utter, and it is my privilege to serve the great people of District 33.

Posted in Column, Opinion |