Senator Seiler Recovering from Surgery

(Lincoln, NE) District 33 State Senator Les Seiler is back home recovering from triple bypass heart surgery and is doing exceptionally well.

Senator Seiler underwent triple bypass heart surgery at the Nebraska Heart Institute on Wednesday, March 21. There were no complications from the surgery and Senator Seiler is considered to be in excellent condition post-surgery. Seiler will be monitored at his home in Lincoln over the next few weeks.

“As I regain my strength I plan to be at the Nebraska Legislature no sooner than 2-3 weeks, but I realize my recovery is very important,” Senator Seiler said. “My office will remain open, and I will be meeting with staff regularly and constituents are more than welcome to continue contacting my office during this time.”

Senator Seiler would like to express his gratitude to everyone for their support. “The amount of phone calls, messages, and emails I have received have been overwhelming, thank you everyone for keeping my family and I in your thoughts and prayers during this time.”

Seiler will also be temporarily suspending his weekly newspaper column while he is away from the Legislature.

LINCOLN, NE — State Senator Les Seiler will meet with constituents of District 33 on Monday, March 12, 2012. He will hold a town hall meeting in Kenesaw at the Senior Center, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Members of the media are welcome to attend.

WHO: State Senator Les Seiler
WHAT: Town Hall Meeting
WHERE: Kenesaw Senior Center; 110 W. Maple Avenue. Kenesaw, NE 68956
WHEN: Monday, March 12, 2012; 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In early January, the University of Nebraska announced a $450 million Building a Healthier Nebraska initiative. This initiative included 4 projects, a $110 million cancer research center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, a $55 million new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a $17 million nursing facility at UNL, and a $18 million new nursing and allied health professions college at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Due to the uncertainty in the economy there was some concern as to how much funding from the State these projects would receive. This week the Appropriations Committee finalized their 2012 budget recommendations by advancing 3 budget bills totaling $7.2 billion to be debated by the body of the Legislature. In the recommendation, the committee appropriated $15 million to the University of Nebraska at Kearney initiative. The remaining $3 million will be raised privately and the $15 million in state funds will not be rewarded until that $3 million is raised. This is great importance for central Nebraska and is positive news.

These funds will support two projects that are needed in rural Nebraska. This would include a 30,000 square foot addition to the already existing UNK-based UNMC nursing facility. The expansion would be able to accommodate about 40 more nursing students to its already 124 nursing student population.

It would also create the UNK-based UNMC allied health profession program that would accept around 46 students when it is fully implemented. The current School of Allied Health (SAHP) on the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus is only able to accept 25% of its applicants. Allied health programs include physical therapy, physician assistant, clinical laboratory science, diagnostic medical sonography and radiography. The area hospitals, Mary Lanning, Good Samaritan, and St. Francis Medical, will be used for clinical experience for these students if the hospitals agree. Creating a program at UNK would provide access to students from central and western Nebraska along with a greater opportunity for these students, once they graduate, to stay in the tri-city area.

There is a great need to expand both of these programs in the central part of Nebraska. There is a demand for medical professionals in rural Nebraska and this will allow those students to stay close to home. It will expand the pool of health professionals in an area that is desperately needed. We know as the number of older citizens increases and the focus on wellness and prevention continues to grow there will be a greater demand for more people in the health care field. This is the perfect opportunity to make sure that Nebraska medical specialist stay where they are needed in the State. I am excited for this project and the great impact it will have in our area.

As always please do not hesitate to contact my office if I can be of any assistance to you or your family. My State Capitol office number is (402) 471-2712 and you can always reach me by email at lseiler@leg.ne.gov.

LINCOLN, NE — State Senator Les Seiler will meet with constituents of District 33 on Saturday, February 25, 2012. He will hold a coffee with the Senator in Hastings at the OK Café, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Members of the media are welcome to attend.

WHO: State Senator Les Seiler
WHAT: Coffee with the Senator
WHERE: OK Café; 806 West 16th Street, Hastings
WHEN: Saturday, February 25, 2012; 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Legislative bill 970 has received a significant amount of attention since the Legislature convened, in particular the elimination of that tax. In a previous column, I articulated my thoughts on the elimination of the inheritance tax. However, the bill also contains another crucial element, $327 million in tax relief for Nebraskans.

LB 970, introduced by Senator Abbie Cornett on behalf of the Governor, would reduce individual and corporate income taxes. Under LB 970, each individual tax bracket would have a lower rate, the range of income would also be spread out more evenly. To put this into perspective, the Governor cited some examples that I would like to share with you. If you are a family of four with an adjusted gross income of $30,000, under LB 970, you would receive a 29.5% tax cut. If you are a single mom with two children and an adjusted gross income of $40,000, you will receive a 10.5% tax cut. If you are a family of four with an adjusted gross income of $75,000, you will get a 10.9% tax cut. If your adjusted gross income is $100,000, your tax cut will be 7.2%. However, if your adjusted gross income is $1,000,000, you will only receive a 2% tax cut. Cutting the individual income tax is beneficial to both Nebraskans and the State. Allowing the people of Nebraska to keep more of their hard earned money, will help grow the economy. If LB 970 passes, Nebraskans will have the ability to save more money for the future, to invest or spend it.

The corporate tax rate would be reduced to 6.7 percent. Currently, Nebraska has the highest corporate tax rate compared to all the states that border us, excluding Iowa. Both South Dakota and Wyoming do not even have a corporate income tax. I believe this places Nebraska at a disadvantage. A lower corporate tax rate would attract more businesses to the state, resulting in more jobs for Nebraskans and drawing in more employees to Nebraska. I believe this would also help current corporations and their employees. In most cases, costs associated with the corporate tax are passed on to workers through lower wages. It also affects the consumers who are buying the product, often times this tax is reflected in higher prices for those products. If a business is able to retain more money they are more likely to invest in their company and expand and hire new employees.

Lowering taxes will ultimately help Nebraska’s economy grow. It will attract new people to the state along with new businesses. It will allow for the expansion of current businesses and give people the ability to spend their money more freely. Nebraska is a great place to live. Ultimately, more people living in the state and paying taxes will generate more revenue for the state and local budgets.

If passed LB 970 would go into effect next year. Over the next 3 years, this would result in a $327 million tax relief for the citizens of Nebraska. I believe now is the time to implement tax relief for the hardworking people of this State. I commend the Governor and Senator Cornett for their diligence on this important issue.

As always if I can be of any assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact my office. My office phone number is (402) 471-2712 and my email address is lseiler@leg.ne.gov.

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.

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.

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.

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