Unicameral makes headlines for all the wrong reasons
Capitol V iew
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” – Thumper “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.” Proverbs 15:2 CSB Nebraska’s unique one-house Legislature is back in the national spotlight again, for all of the wrong reasons again.
Last year, it was a session-slowing filibuster accomplished by a couple senators who were upset with a bill restricting access to medical services for transgender youth. This year, it’s a move seeking to censure a senator who personalized a reading from a book about a violent rape by inserting the names of several of his colleagues. One of them just happened to be involved in last year’s marathon filibuster. A censure resolution was filed against State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings for his antics during debate on a bill that would ban some library books. The bill failed to win first-round approval when the smoke had cleared and the dust settled.
Halloran, during floor debate broadcast to the public, read the graphic account of a rape from a book many want to see banned, while interjecting the name “Senator Cavanaugh” several times during the reading, which included a demand for oral sex.
Senator Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha and her brother, John, both serve in the current Legislature. Machaela earned national headlines last year with her relentless filibuster.
Some senators labeled the Halloran speech as aggressive and hurtful.
Meanwhile, the Legislature began discussion on LB388, the Revenue Committee’s proposal for property tax relief. This bill as amended proposes to raise the state sales tax rate from the current 5.5 percent to up to 6.5 percent, although that increase could be less if revenues exceed projections, as well as place a property tax levy cap on counties, cities, and villages based on real growth plus 3 percent of inflation. The cap would allow for a cap exemption of 6 percent line-item growth for the salaries of public safety personnel if understaffed. Additionally, the bill would eliminate several sales tax exemptions for discretionary purchases such as soda, candy, pet services, and dry cleaning. To help offset the changes to the sales tax, a tax exemption is provided for residential utility bills, such as for houses and apartments.
The plan is supported by several groups including Nebraska Farm Bureau which contend that the bill will help rebalance what Nebraskans pay in income, sales, and property taxes.
According to calculations by Senator Linehan’s office, the average Nebraskan in recent years paid about $2,703 a year in property taxes, $1,628 in income taxes, and $1,215 hi sales taxes. Supporters of LB388 also argue the bill will slow property tax collections by political subdivisions while still maintaining and respecting local control.
This assessment is contested by several different groups. Organizations like the OpenSky Policy Institute estimate that LB388 will result in a minimal or no net tax cut and argue the bill is a regressive tax policy. Some senators would like to see no sales tax increase. Other senators believe LB388 does not provide enough for property tax relief and instead propose a measure known as the EPIC Option Consumption Tax as outlined in LB79, LR6CA, and LR7CA. The EPIC consumption tax would repeal all local property taxes and state taxes except for consumption taxes on new goods and services and excise taxes.
After four hours of debate, LB388 was held off the agenda to allow the Revenue Committee to work with opponents of the bill over the weekend. I would like to see more balance in the amounts Nebraskans pay in income, sales, and property taxes, but I also want to ensure the bill will not be detrimental to rural Nebraska or the state as a whole. I will continue to listen to debate on LB388 when it is scheduled again.
You can always contact me with your thoughts and opinions on bills that have been introduced. Call my Capitol office telephone number at (402) 471-2801 or send email to bdekay@leg.ne.gov. My mailing address is: Senator Barry DeKay, District #40, P.O. Box 94604, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509.