February 18, 2022

Cutting taxes. This is a perennial issue that most senators promise to address in the legislature. They campaign on this issue and make promises, usually with good intentions. But then, year after year, little, if anything, is accomplished.

Much time on the floor this week was spent on an income tax cutting bill, LB 939. This bill is sponsored by Senator Lou Ann Linehan, who is chairperson of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee. The intent of LB 939 is to reduce the top individual income tax rate from 6.84% to 5.84% over a three-year period. This will bring parity between the top rate for both individual and corporate income taxes.

Much of the debate centered on the fact that, with the exception of Iowa, most of our neighboring states have a more attractive tax structure than Nebraska (Wyoming and South Dakota have no individual income tax). With a tight labor market, this bill would make Nebraska more competitive.

I sit on the Legislature’s Education Committee which heard the following bills this week:

• LB 1158, introduced by Senator Rita Sanders of Bellevue, is a proposed update to Nebraska’s Parental Involvement and Academic Transparency statutes to address policies of each district regarding transparency, to provide for public input on these policies, and to add an accountability mechanism;
• LB768 comes from Senator Joni Albrecht of Thurston. The purpose of this bill is to clearly define the guidelines for health education standards and to establish that no additional education standards can be created or distributed by the Nebraska Department of Education without the authority of the Legislature;
• LB888, brought by Senator Jen Day of Omaha, adds the Holocaust and other acts of genocide to Nebraska’s existing statute that requires multicultural education in public schools; and
• LB1112 was introduced by Senator Terrell McKinney of Omaha. This bill would create the Computer Science Technology and Education Act. The intent is to address the tech talent workforce crisis by affording public school students the opportunity to access and learn critical computer science and digital literacy fundamentals during early and secondary education. The goal of LB 1112 is to prepare Nebraska’ K-12 public school students to compete and thrive in a 21st century workforce; ensuring the opportunity to learn computer science skills before high school graduation is fundamental to reaching that goal.

The issue of property and income taxes steers us back to the importance of elections. Much time was taken this week by senators filibustering LB 939. We need to populate the unicameral with fiscally conservative senators who believe as I and others do, that excess tax money does not belong to the state but to the taxpayers. Many legislative seats that are term-limited or term-expired have promising candidates running.

I welcome any comments, questions, or ideas you may have on this or any other issue.  Please feel free to email me at dmurman@leg.ne.gov or call my office at 402-471-2732.

February 11, 2022

There is a proposal before the legislature this session to fund the Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (STAR WARS) project. This project proposes to build a lake between Lincoln and Omaha. It also intends to fund projects in other parts of the state, including Lake McConaughy and the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area.

After learning of the specifics of this proposal, I was disappointed that some of the other large lakes in the state were left out. Since it is important to support tourism at other lakes that have been affected by the pandemic, I have proposed a bill, LB 1262, to include projects at the next four largest lakes in the state (lakes at least 3,000 but no more than 20,000 surface acres in size). These include Harlan County Reservoir (13,250 acres), Calamus Reservoir (5,200 acres), Swanson Reservoir (5,000 acres) and Sutherland Reservoir (3,017 acres).

As a child, I fondly remember going to Harlan County Lake with my grandfather and also with my family on fishing expeditions. Harlan County Lake was the closest thing to an ocean that I was able to experience at that time. Later as a youth and as a young man, I enjoyed visiting the lake and water skiing.

On Tuesday, February 3^rd, my bill was heard before the Natural Resources Committee. I was pleased that several letters from the Harlan County area had been submitted in support of the bill. I was especially pleased that Cindy Boehler, chairman of the Harlan County Board of Supervisors, as well as Emily White, Harlan County Tourism Director, were able to testify in person.

LB 1262 asks for 8 million dollars of ARPA (federal COVID-19 relief) funds to administer and carry out the following projects at eligible recreation areas in the state:

• Provide new or refurbished boating docks;
• Improve access roads and related infrastructure;
• Improve Internet access and telecommunications services;
• Promote the use of the recreation area and related tourism attractions; including, but not limited to, splash pads, dog parks, and dog runs;
• Create recreational trails;
• Promote fishing and create fish cleaning stations;
• Create tourist attractions;
• Create kayak landings; and
• Create and improve camping and recreational vehicle sites.

These types of projects are comparable to the projects envisioned for Lake McConaughy and Lewis and Clark Lake, although on a smaller scale.

The travel, tourism and hospitality businesses associated with these recreational areas have suffered negative economic consequences as a result of the pandemic and the projects identified in LB 1262 would assist in making these recreation areas more attractive to visitors, thus boosting those businesses that have suffered. Such projects are reasonably related to the negative economic impact and will provide an incentive for people to visit the recreation areas by expanding and improving water access and recreational opportunities.

Additionally, because of the pandemic and a trend towards a remote workforce, individuals are reconsidering where they want to live and raise a family. Funding these projects will not only help the businesses that have suffered but also make these areas more attractive places to those considering moving to rural communities, such as Harlan County and the surrounding area in Nebraska and Kansas.

I welcome any comments, questions or ideas you may have on this or any other issue.  Please feel free to email me at dmurman@leg.ne.gov or call my office at 402-471-2732.

SENATOR MURMAN’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

January 21, 2022

This year, I have designated LB 723 as my priority bill for the session. Each senator is allowed one priority bill during each session. This bill was introduced by Senator Tom Briese of Albion, District 41.

LB 1107 from 2020 created the refundable income tax credit, and as Senator Briese has stated, LB 723 intends to protect at least $173 million dollars in property tax relief in 2024 by eliminating the requirement that the available dollars be lowered to $375 million.

Since we’ve seen a growth in state tax receipts, the amount of tax credits available to Nebraska taxpayers should not be restricted. It would not be prudent for us, as collectors of the taxes, to restrict this credit now with tax receipts coming in much higher than expectations and the cash reserve more than fully funded.

Valuations on family homes, businesses and family farms are going up, and the property taxes citizens are forced to pay are also increasing. With inflation and the cost of everything going up, this tax relief is of extreme importance to Nebraska taxpayers. When the state has sufficient funds, excess money needs to be returned to the people.

Senators have been elected for decades promising property tax relief as a top priority. LB 1107 last year finally achieved measurable relief. A broken tax system has continued to get more out of whack as a confusing Nebraska Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEEOSA) formula dramatically increased taxes; first on farmland over ten years ago, and then to family homes the last two years or so. The result is that now both agriculture and homeowners are overburdened. We should be talking about increasing property tax relief, not just trying to maintain the relief that has finally been achieved.

I welcome any comments, questions or ideas you may have on this or any other issue.  Please feel free to email me at dmurman@leg.ne.gov or call my office at 402-471-2732.

(LB 723 advanced to Select File on January 27th.)

SENATOR MURMAN’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

January 14, 2022

On Wednesday, January 5th we kicked off the second session of the 107th Nebraska Legislature. We welcomed Governor Ricketts and First Lady Susanne Shore to the Norris Chamber this past Thursday for the governor’s State of the State address. I have some important legislation that I am proposing this session, and I plan to share information about some of the bills I am introducing over the coming weeks.

The unfortunate closing of the Arapahoe nursing home has highlighted the need for more healthcare providers in greater Nebraska. The difficulty in maintaining adequate staff was certainly a major factor contributing to the closure.

I have proposed a bill this session to modify the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act. My objective is to bolster rural healthcare by bringing in doctors, nurses, dentists, etc. Under the act, a healthcare professional may have their educational loans and other financial assistance repaid if they agree to practice in a “designated health profession shortage area” for at least three years. Currently, a local entity within this area is required to provide equal funding for the repayment of a recipient’s debt. The bill amends the act by saying a match would not be required by a local entity unless required by federal law. This change would allow the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA-federal funds) to match. My goal is to enhance the objectives of the act to promote rural health.

I would welcome any comments, questions or ideas you may have on this or any other issue. Please feel free to email me at dmurman@leg.ne.gov or call my office at 402-471-2732.

As 2021 draws to a close, I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year for 2022.

The next session of the Nebraska Legislature will begin Wednesday, January 5^th.  This will be a “short” 60-day session that is scheduled to end on April 20, 2022.  A number of bills from last year that did not pass will “carryover” to this next session, and senators will have ten legislative days to introduce new bills.

A big area of interest for the coming session will be the use of federal stimulus dollars provided to Nebraska under the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” (ARPA) through multiple funding streams.  While the total money eligible to be awarded to all 93 counties, 4 metro cities, 525 localities and the state is approximately $1.7 billion, the state has already received $520 million, with a similar payment to be made in 2022.  The federal government requires that the funds be used to meet one of the following eligible uses: to support the public health response to COVID-19; to respond to negative economic impacts; to provide additional support/pay for essential workers and to improve water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.  There have been a lot of ideas floating around as to how to spend this money, and I anticipate much of the time and energy of the upcoming session will be devoted to this topic.  My thinking is that we must be careful to spend this money wisely.  Since this represents a one-time transfer of funds, we must also be careful to spend the money on one time projects or programs that will sunset, rather than committing the state to funding various programs for years to come.

I will be honored to continue to serve on the Legislature’s Education and Health and Human Services Committees.  Both of these committees do important work and face a multitude of challenges.  With regard to the Education Committee, we need assurance that parents, as the primary stakeholders, have a strong say in their child’s education and are aware of what is being taught.  The emphasis with the Health and Human Services Committee should be on children, the disabled, the elderly and veterans.

For Nebraska to succeed, a strong and growing workforce is essential.  We need to incentivize everyone to work and provide opportunities for that to occur.

As always, I welcome any comments, questions or ideas you may have on this or any other issue.  Please feel free to email me at dmurman@leg.ne.gov or call my office at 402-471-2732.

  https://www.1011now.com/2021/11/19/nebraska-state-senators-climb-mount-kilimanjaro/

https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/senators-descend-from-mount-kilimanjaro-safe-and-sound/article_5eb7fb38-58fb-55d0-865a-d55622069e7f.html?fbclid=IwAR2WSt20zMA5odZSQBX9gpvVWeW9-MpqwGkoayK3aBlK7iXpUkgy37DXslc

Read the story…

https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/midlands/page-b4/page_488a4b51-6223-5953-a972-b739991b81f1.html

  Fall is here. Crisp autumn evenings, the changing of the leaves, and the mad dash to get the crops out of the field. It can’t be said often enough—there is no place like Nebraska.

  Some of the discussion during the recent special session on redistricting brought up what appears to be a growing divide between urban and rural areas of our state. In this frame of mind, Lincoln and everything east is considered “urban” and everything west of Lincoln is “rural”.

  In order for our state to be as prosperous, efficient and successful as it has all the potential to be, this is a counter-productive way of thinking. A symbiotic relationship must be maintained with all of the industries in our state, whether they are agricultural, financial, industrial, insurance, technological, etc.

  All of us in the state benefit from reasonably priced food, cheaper fuel through the use of renewables, and from the byproducts of production agriculture. According to the 2017 Economic Impact of the Nebraska Agricultural Production Complex from UNL’s Department of Agricultural Economics, “…between one-fifth and one-fourth of Nebraska’s economy can be attributed to the agricultural production complex. Few other states have an economy with this degree of agricultural prominence.” The study also found that “The total employment impact of the agricultural production complex was estimated to be 320,642 jobs in 2017, or 23.3% of total Nebraska employment.”  

  I can’t account for all of the reasons why Western Nebraska is diminishing in population. Our quality of life rivals, and I think in many areas exceeds that of the urban centers of any state. There are good people, great schools, exposure to the arts, access to technology and industry, and recreational opportunities. Common sense and traditional values are treasured in Nebraska, especially in rural Nebraska.

  Often times when we send our children for higher education in a bigger city, they are drawn to the pace, culture and amenities urban life has to offer. Plus, television, movies and other media lay out the tantalizing allure of “bright lights and big city.” Many economic developers in central and western Nebraska are proactively recruiting new businesses and industries, and are working to combat the so-called “brain drain.” I wish them success in their endeavors. Additional efforts to enhance broadband telecommunications and other technologies will also help. We must make every effort to insure that citizens living great distances from Lincoln are not disenfranchised.

  I would welcome any comments, questions or ideas you may have on this or any other issue. Please feel free to email me at dmurman@leg.ne.gov or call my office at 402-471-2732.

I think it is important to tell my constituents where I stand on Covid-19 vaccine and mask mandates. As you might imagine, I have received numerous calls and emails lately on this topic. There is great concern about federal overreach and the idea of being forced to do something that violates personal choice and possibly religious beliefs.

On September 9^th, President Biden issued an executive order mandating Covid-19 vaccinations. According to the Associated Press:

• All federal workers and contractors must get vaccinated, with limited exceptions.
• Private employers with 100 or more workers will have to require them to be vaccinated or tested weekly. Employers must provide paid time off for vaccination.
• About 17 million health care workers in hospitals, clinics and other facilities that accept Medicare and Medicaid payments must get vaccinated.
• Some 300,000 employees of Head Start early childhood education and other federal education programs must get vaccinated.

Some employers such as Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha and 3M in Valley are saying they will lay off employees that choose not to get the vaccine. People have contacted me about tough decisions they may be forced to make regarding doing something that they do not want to do versus leaving a job they have held for years.

In the first session of the 107^th Legislature, Senator Ben Hansen of Blair introduced LB 643. I am a cosponsor of this bill. The intention of the bill is “To maintain the individual liberty, parental rights, and free market principles of the citizens and businesses of Nebraska during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, or anytime thereafter, it is the right of each citizen, the right of parents with respect to their dependents, and the right of each business with respect to its employees, to accept or decline a mandatory vaccination directive by the Nebraska

state government. Declining a mandatory vaccination directive will deliver no implication, penalty, litigation, or punishment by the state to the citizen, parent, or business.” This bill was introduced early in the session, and we had no way of envisioning the subsequent actions of the Biden administration. The bill has been referred to the Health and Human Services Committee, of which I am a member. The language of the bill will likely be updated to reflect mandates from the federal government as well.

As you may have seen, there is talk of calling a special session to deal with this issue. I am in favor of this. However, the realities of a single-house legislature come to bear. Proponents of the mandates will likely filibuster any bill calling for personal choice, religious exemption, or any other proposal limiting the mandates. It takes a vote of 33 senators to end a filibuster. At this point, neither Governor Ricketts or Speaker Mike Hilgers believe there are enough senators willing to vote to overcome any filibusters.

In one of his recent legislative updates, Senator Steve Erdman of Bayard, my colleague and friend, said that “Vaccinations are a private healthcare matter between an individual and his or her physician. No government agency or employer has the right to make decisions about another person’s health. President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate is unconstitutional and violates a person’s liberty, including his or her religious rights, privacy rights, and healthcare rights.” This is the stance I am taking as well, and this is what I will base any votes on, whether during a special session or in the regular session starting in January.

I would welcome any comments, questions or ideas you may have on this or any other issue.  Please feel free to email me at dmurman@leg.ne.gov or call my office at 402-471-2732.