A few years ago, the Nebraska Legislature debated on how to help families access a school that best fit their needs no matter the zip code where they reside. On the floor sat a bill aimed at creating tax credit scholarships to pay for low-income students to have the choice to attend a private school. Both sides of the aisle agreed that not every family felt their needs were met, there was more work to be done, and while committed to doing so understood that struggling education systems don’t get cleaned up overnight. 

One Senator who opposed the bill said in his speech that it would take half a decade to fix the challenges in Omaha Public Schools. Senator Justin Wayne, a Democrat who represents families in OPS and proponent of school choice, asked “So what are we going to tell parents in the meantime, when they are looking for a choice?”.

The Senator could only reply, “I mean, honestly, I don’t know”.  That singular and short interaction represented the larger debate about school choice. 

Two years later, the Legislature finally passed LB 1402 creating school choice in Nebraska. The bill offered taxpayer-funded scholarships prioritizing students of low income, students with disabilities, students who have been denied option enrollment, students who have experienced bullying or harassment, and children of military families. It was significantly smaller than previous attempts, allocating a reasonable $10 million. Compared to the $4.7 billion in taxpayer funds that were allocated to Nebraska public schools from 2022 to 2023,  LB 1402 made up only 0.2 percent, or two-thousandths, of our total education spending. The bill was incredibly humble- especially considering that Nebraska was one of only two states without any form of school choice law. In many ways, the bill did not do enough to support families who want more of a choice.

Regardless, to the students who needed it the most, Nebraska could finally give those families a choice. If a family felt their needs were not being adequately met, whether this be the rigor of education, disciplinary issues, disagreements with curriculum, or safety concerns, they would not have to feel stuck by their zip code and relegated to a singular school. Instead, if these needs were not met, they could apply for a scholarship and have the option to explore other school systems. Parents, not government, would finally have the opportunity to be empowered to have a say in their child’s education. Upon creation, nearly half of all applicants were families from rural Nebraska. Families across the State, rural and urban, were given choice in their education.

Unfortunately, after finally delivering such a monumental win for Nebraska families, school choice quickly has come under attack in our State. On the ballot will be Referendum Measure 435, seeking to repeal LB 1402’s funding and destroy the scholarship opportunities for underprivileged children that Nebraska fought so hard to create. If the law were to be repealed, families who felt their needs were not met and were finally feeling the relief of having a choice in their child’s education would have that choice ripped away. If the law was to be retained, Nebraska voters would send a message to the big-money interests who have fought so hard to destroy school choice that parents, not government, are the ultimate decision-makers of their children’s education and that a families’ zip code should not determine the quality of their education. Because of this, I respectfully urge you to vote “retain” on Referendum Measure 435. 

Last year I had the privilege of being elected by the Nebraska Legislature to serve as the chair of the Education Committee. This is a role that I have not taken lightly. Parents across the State rightly care deeply about their children’s education and have valid concerns about how our schools are funded, what students are learning, safety, teacher shortages, ensuring quality pathways from an education to a career, and more. I’m pleased to say that the Education Committee has made improvements in all of these regards. 

The State has made major improvements towards funding our schools. Nebraska has created foundation aid that adds $1,500 to schools per student and created the Education Future Fund- a $1 billion investment fund for our public schools. The Legislature has rightly recognized that a student’s zip code shouldn’t determine the quality of their schools but instead, the State has a responsibility to fund public education. The committee has also done great work in increasing financial support for special education students. 

Nebraska has also made solid advances toward creating more transparent schooling. The Education Committee has heard repeatedly from parents about wanting more transparency and involvement in their child’s education. Because of this, we’ve worked to require districts to create stronger transparency and parental involvement policies. 

Another concern has been school safety. The Education Committee has worked hard to allocate funds to improve school infrastructure, improve mental health resources, and ensure first responders have the resources, such as updated building map software, to respond to various emergencies quickly. Keeping kids safe is our highest priority. 

One of the major challenges in education, both nationally and in Nebraska, is a teacher shortage. The Education Committee has worked to create additional teacher certification programs available to allow those who already have a degree, but not specifically in education, to be able to receive their teaching certificate with a lower-cost simple training process. The Committee also funded grants for first-time and student teachers to recruit and retain the best talent in our schools. 

Finally, the committee has worked hard to create better pathways from education to a career. One of the ways we’ve worked towards this is through the creation of the career scholarships program which helps students receive higher education and pairs them with an internship or apprenticeship in certain high-demand career fields such as nursing, engineering, and education. This program has been good news for our students, our community colleges and universities, the STEM fields, and the future Nebraska economy.

To conclude, Nebraska has a proud history of great education, great schools, and great teachers. The Education Committee has been working hard to ensure that our schools have the funding, guidance, and support they need to ensure that every student in Nebraska receives a quality and safe education that meets their individual needs and prepares them for the future. In my first session as chair of the Education Committee, we’ve made great progress, and I look forward to continuing that progress even more. 

On Thursday, July 25th, Governor Pillen will bring the Nebraska Legislature back to Lincoln for a special session with the important goal of taking on Nebraska’s out-of-control property taxes. From the farmer to the homeowner alike, property taxes are frequently referred to as a top, if not the top, issue that they are facing. And while we have been able to pass some relief, with each year comes skyrocketing valuations which turn the relief into only a small decrease in the increase of property taxes. For true foundational tax reform, the Legislature will need to examine each leg of Nebraska’s “three-legged stool” or the three primary sources of tax revenue, income, sales, and property taxes. Key to this reform are two important fixes: cutting wasteful spending and broadening the sales tax base.

To identify wasteful spending, Nebraska recently contracted the consulting group Epiphany to identify ways to make government agencies more efficient and spend less. When the group was hired in Utah, the State saw an estimated 35% increase in efficiency across executive agencies. Based on Nebraska’s initial report, Nebraska is looking at over $530 million in potential savings. Cleaning up spending while safeguarding our most important priorities like education and agriculture would be great progress.

But cutting spending is still only a piece of the puzzle. Compared to many of our neighbors, Nebraska offers a rather long laundry list of sales tax-exempt products and services. While everyone may enjoy a tax-free service initially, every time the state makes one item tax-exempt while another remains taxed, the Legislature is ultimately picking favorites or even picking winners and losers. And when the list of sales tax exemptions grows longer and longer, the State must of course make up funds elsewhere and the biggest loser ends up being the Nebraska property owner.

The principles of sound and fair sales tax policy are simple- broaden the base with a low tax rate. Barring a few necessary exemptions including groceries and medical services, the consumer can budget and shop around for the typical product or service. In other words, in many purchases with sales tax, the consumer has a choice in what they pay. But when someone buys a home or even farmland in a once-affordable area and then faces skyrocketing valuations, they face the option to either pay more and more without necessarily making more income or sell the property and move.

To conclude, Nebraskans statewide grapple with property taxes but Governor Pillen has called the special session to take action. By cutting wasteful spending and rebalancing our three-legged stool of taxes, Nebraska may finally be able to take on our out-of-control property taxes.

It’s well known that higher education can serve as a stepping stone to a career. As Nebraska, and especially rural Nebraska, sees a workforce shortage of important careers such as healthcare professionals and educators, higher education is quite important. But for many young Nebraskans, the price tag simply seems too high. Despite this, there are some great opportunities here in Nebraska that equip students to better take on the cost of education.

This year, the Legislature worked to strengthen Nebraska’s Career Scholarships program which provides scholarships to students studying to take on high-demand careers in our workforce such as healthcare, engineering, computer science, and education. The scholarships connect students with an internship, apprenticeship, or clinical position while in school to allow students to learn hands-on in their field and have a foot in the door for a new career.

Additionally, the University of Nebraska offers the Nebraska Promise scholarship which covers tuition for students with family incomes up to $65,000. The University has also announced the Presidential Scholars Program. To qualify, if a student can achieve a 36 on the ACT, not only will that student receive a full-ride scholarship, but also a yearly $5,000 stipend. Achieving a 36 is no easy task, but the ACT can be taken as many times as desired. For our best and brightest students, this is a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of.

Finally, serving in the Nebraska National Guard provides students with tuition or credentialing assistance covering the cost of tuition at the University of Nebraska rate. This can be combined with the GI Bill which offers an extra monthly stipend, and if a student enrolls in ROTC while in school, is eligible for the minuteman scholarship which provides another $12,000 per year. Not everyone is called to service, but to those who are, the National Guard provides top-level financial assistance for college or trade school.

It’s also worth noting that not everyone wants to go to school for four years and certainly doesn’t have to do that to have a rewarding career. Some of our highest-demand careers we need right here in Nebraska such as truck drivers, electricians, mechanics, carpenters, welders, and plumbers, just to name a few. These programs can be enrolled at a competitive and affordable rate at your local community college such as Central Community College or Mid-Plains Community College. High school students can even take advantage of community college courses to get a jump-start on their higher education. Another exciting new opportunity is Tallgrass Energy’s partnership with Southeast Community College with full-ride scholarships being offered for students to learn to be qualified operators or technicians through the Energy Generations Operations Program.

To conclude, when looking at the cost of education, the sticker shock can be very real. Despite this, Nebraska offers a variety of pathways to enable students to take on the high cost of education. If you are a student or a soon-to-be student, consider researching these programs to take on education without going into major student loan debt.

Recently, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB 1402, an appropriation bill that would allow low-income, special needs, and other students denied option enrollment the opportunity to attend a private school of their family’s choosing. LB 1402 is a slimmed-down measure compared to last year’s school choice legislation, LB 753.  Almost immediately, falsehoods and misrepresentations spread across the State about what this bill meant for Nebraska. Those who oppose school choice have stooped to the levels to claim that this bill subverts democracy, defunds public schools, and is even unconstitutional. None of these claims are true.

Some have argued that because there was a petition to repeal last year’s LB 753, the Opportunity Scholarships Act, LB 1402’s replacement of 753 denies the option to vote on school choice. In reality, to say LB 1402 was nothing more than a replacement of LB 753 is inaccurate. LB 753 was a $25 million scholarship program that received dollar-for-dollar tax credit donations. LB 1402 was a $10 million state appropriation with no tax credit system. In short, not only is LB 1402 significantly smaller, it does not even use the same funding mechanism. If LB 1402 was nothing more than a way to get around voting on LB 753, then it would not have needed to make any significant changes. Instead, the old system has been entirely thrown out for a new, simpler, and smaller one.

Others have argued LB 1402 defunds public schools. Those who make this claim either haven’t done the math or simply know they are lying. In the 2022-2023 year, K-12 schools received about $4.7 billion in taxpayer funds. Since my time as chair of the Education Committee, we have additionally appropriated over $1.6 billion for our public schools. Compare this spending with the $10 million cost of LB 1402, and we see that it is only about 0.2 percent, or two one-thousandths, of our total education funding. Compared to most school choice programs across the country, LB 1402 is amongst the humblest and most meager in the nation.

Finally, some have called LB 1402 unconstitutional. Their explanation is based on Article VII, section 11 of the Nebraska Constitution, which states that “No appropriation or grant of public funds or property shall be made to any educational institution which is not owned and controlled by the state or a governmental subdivision thereof”. Article VII section 11 is also known as the Blaine amendment based on Congressman James G. Blaine who opposed the increase of Catholic immigrants in the country and wanted to keep the United States protestant. In other words, the Blaine amendment was based entirely on discriminatory views and it’s a shame it’s still part of our State Constitution today. Even if we were to ignore the anti-Catholic bigotry of the Blaine amendment, LB 1402 is still completely Constitutional. Why? Because LB 1402 is not an appropriation of public funds to private education institutions, but instead an appropriation of public funds to students themselves through scholarships. This function is no different than when our low-income students receive taxpayer-based Pell Grants to attend Creighton University, or when our veterans and service members receive the GI Bill to attend Hastings College. Both of these examples are ultimately public dollars being used by students to attend private schools. No one seems to dare say that we should deny our low-income students or our veterans these opportunities, so why is K-12 different?

Ultimately, opposing LB 1402 was never really about these things. LB 1402 didn’t overrule any vote of LB 753 because LB 753 was replaced by a far humbler piece of law, it won’t bankrupt our public schools when the cost is minuscule compared to our total education spending. And finally, LB 1402 is perfectly constitutional because it funds students, not systems. To many, opposing school choice was never about these arguments. Instead, the teachers union and education lobbyists have taken a “my way or the highway” approach. They tell struggling families that the one-size-fits-all solution of government schools is their only choice. I understand that every family has different needs, different values, and different goals. Because of that, my goal is to support an education system that gives parents, not government an option to choose the education that works best for them.

On Thursday, April 18^th, we hit day sixty of the Second Session of the 108^th Legislature bringing the short session to an end. We passed some great legislation including protecting our farmland from potential foreign adversaries like China, strengthening school security, investments in high-demand college programs, protections of religious freedom, and my personal priority bill, protections for minors from online pornography. I am happy to say Nebraska is now the fifteenth state to stand up to the big pornography industry and protect our kids.

Unfortunately, the plan to pass major property tax relief stalled by a few votes. The original plan involved an increase in sales taxes (which involved provisions to pause that increase if revenues were high) to try to balance out our three-legged stool of tax revenue: income, sales, and property tax. Currently, Nebraskans know that stool is far out of balance with property taxes hitting harder and harder every year with each valuation. Despite the opposition this plan faced, I remain committed to fighting to rein down property taxes.

It is expected that soon the Governor will call for a special session of the Legislature with the sole goal to cut property taxes. In years past, we have passed property tax relief, but the harsh truth is that as valuations skyrocket without a corresponding reduction of levies, the relief only acts as a small decrease in the total increase. My hope and goal for the likely upcoming session is not basic relief but comprehensive property tax reform. I believe part of the solution is taking a hard look at the laundry list of special tax exemptions Nebraska currently has. When government creates long lists of tax exemptions for certain products and services, they are in effect creating an economy of winners and losers- not a fair system where everyone plays by the same rules.

It is hard to say what the outcome of the special session will be. Our recent session is proof that achieving a filibuster-proof majority to agree on any comprehensive change is going to be difficult. Regardless of the outcome, I am ready to work to deliver meaningful property tax relief to you, the Nebraska taxpayer.

In his 1796 farewell address, our first President George Washington said, “Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle”. In short, the very survival of our nation relies on the survival of our public faith. Our founding fathers created a brilliant system of government with checks and balances, but that system was based upon a nation that practiced their freedom of religion. With this upcoming primary election, we must remember to look deeper than flashy social media ads and commercials. Instead, it’s important to ask: will this candidate support our nation’s founding values?

Let us not forget that the government’s job is not to create rights for its people, but to protect the rights every man and woman naturally possesses from their Creator. The founders summarized these rights best under the categories of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore we should always keep these rights in mind when we cast our vote. Life is the first of the unalienable rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence for a reason. But we can’t truly be a nation that values life until we elect leaders who are willing to protect life from conception until natural death.

Our nation was also founded on the principle of religious freedom- a right so important that our founders enshrined its protection in our very first amendment. We all know the treasured history of the New England colonists who, when told by their government how to practice their religion, packed up and left, creating their own “City on a Hill” where their community could worship and pray to God without government interference. It’s easy for a candidate to say they support religious freedom- pretty much every candidate does! But when common sense proposals are brought to the Legislature to protect medical providers’ religious consciences, these proposals are met with hostility. James Madison put it well in 1785, saying, “The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man: and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate”.

But valuing basic religious freedom is not enough on its own. With the right to free expression of religion equally comes the responsibility, and especially for our leaders, to use that religion for good. John Adams didn’t mince words when he made it clear what our society would look like when that responsibility is not acted on. As Adams put it, “Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company: I mean hell”.

So, in this upcoming primary election, and all future elections for that matter, our values matter. Religious freedom, protecting life, and the promotion of Christian values were considered necessary for the survival of a free nation in 1776 and they continue to be necessary today.

This election I encourage you to vote for candidates who are truly committed to upholding our founders’ revolutionary vision. But supporting our nation’s founding values does not end at the ballot box either; it will take a culture built by families, pastors, and community leaders alike.

As the chair of the Education Committee in the Nebraska Legislature, I’ve always been a major believer in public schools. I believe firmly that every K-12-aged child in our state deserves access to a well-funded, competitive, safe education. I also believe that every family has unique needs and values in which a one-size-fits-all approach may not always be best. Because of this, I also support increasing school choice in the State of Nebraska.

Before last year’s historic legislative session, Nebraska was one of only two states that did not have any form of a school choice program. As a state, the majority of the Legislature knew we could do better and become more competitive. The idea that 48 other states were ahead of us in the race was simply unacceptable. So last year Nebraska finally took a step in the right direction and passed LB 753, the Opportunity Scholarships Act. Compared to most other school choice programs across the country, LB 753 is generally quite humble. It allows a tax credit scholarship to be given out to students who wish to attend private schools with prioritization given to low-income students, exceptional needs, students who have experienced bullying, foster children, military families, and children who have been denied option enrollment.

Critics of the Opportunity Scholarships have been quick to sow misconceptions across the State in hopes of repealing LB 753. Many have argued this is a way of defunding public education. The reality is that in the same year Nebraska passed LB 753, Nebraska passed a historic $300 million increase and a $1 billion Education Future Fund for our public schools. In total Nebraska spends nearly $5 billion in K-12 education. Compare this to the $25 million spent through LB 753 and it’s easy to see that their claim is wrong. Not only have we not defunded public education, but we’ve funded it more than ever.

Supporting school choice does not mean opposing public education. In reality, school choice is all about putting parents back in charge. If a parent wants a child to receive a public education, Nebraska should be there to do that. If a parent wants a child to receive a private education, Nebraska should be there to do that. If a parent wants to homeschool their child, Nebraska also should be there to do that. Every family is different- different values, different religions, and different needs. A system with no school choice makes it difficult to cater to every single family.

Some will say that school choice has always existed- that those who wish to send their children to private schools can already do so. This comes from a place of privilege. Private schooling can be incredibly costly. Many Nebraskans and Americans alike are living from paycheck to paycheck. The reality is that currently, private schools are only a viable option for the portion of Nebraska that can afford them. When it comes to getting a child a top-tier K-12 education, income shouldn’t be the deciding factor. Nebraska Opportunity Scholarships give all families, as the name implies, an opportunity.

Recently I had the privilege to join the Governor, various leaders of Nebraska religious groups, and my fellow Senators in the tradition of declaring January 16th as Religious Freedom Day. Religious Freedom Day was first signed by proclamation by President Bush in 1993 and has continued to be proclaimed by every President each year after. President Bush chose January 16th as the date based on Thomas Jefferson’s draft bill for Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia.

In John Winthrop’s famous 1630 City on a Hill sermon, he described his goal for the New England colony to “hold conformity with the rest of His world, being delighted to show forth the glory of His wisdom in the variety and difference of the creatures”. In short, the goal of the colonists who would soon create the model of our nation was seeking freedom to practice their religion in their own way. Their goal was noble. A government was telling them how to practice their religion their way, so they packed up and left, creating their own community to freely worship and pray to God in a way they thought was the best fit.

Most are familiar with our Constitution’s First Amendment which includes the right to free exercise of religion but Nebraska’s State Constitution also includes protections of our religious freedom. Article I-4 of the State Constitution reads, “All persons have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences”. Both our nation and our state recognize our long-held and treasured right of religious liberty.

Our founding fathers were wise to recognize religious liberty as the bedrock of our Republic. To some, their idea of religious freedom seemed radical- but these ideas went on to become the blueprint of our Constitutional rights. Religious Freedom Day serves as a reminder to Nebraskans that no Government has the right to demand we pray or worship in a certain way, instead, these privileges are given to us by God. January 16th is an opportunity for Nebraskans and Americans to celebrate and give thanks to God for our great freedom.

Across the state of Nebraska, the colors of the Christmas lights are gleaming across the roads. On our radios, carols of reindeer and snowmen play spreading the joy of Christmas. In our homes, the trees are being set up adorned with ornaments and twinkling lights filled with the scent of cookies coming out of the oven. Our Children are anxious to look under the trees to see presents wrapped in bright colors and ribbons. The gifts of the Christmas season do much to spread joy into the hearts of old and young alike. But all of these gifts, no matter how fun or special, compare to the greatest gift of all- our Savior Jesus Christ.

Our world is certainly full of sin and brokenness but the true meaning of Christmas gives us a reason to celebrate. The Gospel of John tells us that God did not send his Son to condemn the world, but to save it. Christ came to us as a baby in the humblest of beginnings. After traveling nearly a hundred miles, there was no room for the expecting Mary and Joseph at the inn. With no other option but a manger, God chose the most meager of all cradles to be the throne for the King of Kings. Baby Jesus’ birth was celebrated by a heavenly choir of angels and humble shepherds alike. They celebrated with great cause because the newly born babe would grow to become the savior of all. Jesus Christ was tried, crucified, and died redeeming all believers of their sins. He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, but God’s story is not finished. He will come again to judge the living and the dead bringing redemption to our world.

The true meaning of Christmas is more joyful, exciting, and meaningful than any present laid under the tree. All of our other traditions that so many families enjoy are wonderful, but they are only signs and symbols of our great holiday. The presents under the tree are of this world, and when our time is over, we can’t take them with us. Instead, this Christmas Jesus Christ offers his followers an everlasting gift of priceless value- everlasting life.