Senator Tom Brewer
43rd District
2-21-2020

As I write this, hundreds and hundreds of citizens are gathering in the hallways of our state capitol. The line wraps all the way around the inside of the building, and more are pouring in. The vast majority are here to testify against LB 816, a bill to more heavily regulate the right of Nebraskans to purchase most semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. I have never seen anything like this in my time as a senator. My heart swells with pride to see so many of my fellow citizens willing to stand up and defend against this assault on our constitutional rights. I am confident LB 816 will be swiftly dispatched into the “bad idea” file. If nothing else, this incredible display by the “second house” of our state legislature will signal to future politicians how serious Nebraskans take their constitutional rights.

In other news, the fight continues over LB 974, a property tax relief bill. It has had its first three hours of debate on General File. A second three hour bloc will be put on the agenda when the bill introducer, Senator Linehan, can show the Speaker she has 33 votes for “cloture.” This is a motion that ends a filibuster and allows a vote to be taken. This vote will be incredibly close without a single senator to spare. I am hopeful Senator Linehan can round up the needed support so we can continue moving this bill forward. Right now, it is too close to call.

Some of the bigger schools and many organizations who lobby on behalf of schools are opposed to this bill. Most school districts dislike the idea of spending limitations on schools, however modest. The bill does provide full funding for schools while lowering property taxes. Depending on the school district you live in, the bill lowers property taxes by 20 to 25 percent. I wish we could do more, but this bill would be a promising start. It is the best chance the Legislature has to address the property tax crisis this session. I think it is the most important thing my colleagues and I can do this year.

Lastly I want to touch on an issue I am helping a constituent with. Sandhills Beef is a small business in Mullen. The owners are trying to grow their business and bring badly needed jobs and economic development to Western Nebraska. They are having a tough time getting the USDA to give them the inspection the government requires. My office is working to find a solution to this problem. I am hopeful that we will get to share a success story about this in the weeks to come.

Please contact my office with any comments, questions or concerns. Email me at; tbrewer@leg.ne.gov. Mail a letter to; Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1101, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509 or call us at (402) 471-2628.