04/04/2008
Session winding down
With only seven days remaining in the 2008 legislative session, lawmakers are putting the finishing touches on a productive year. Only a handful of individual senator and committee priority bills have yet to receive first-round debate, and the balance of the session will consist of giving final approval to bills on Final Reading and processing about 40 bills that remain on Select File. The Legislature ended this week's activities by engaging in five hours of debate prior to advancing the State Fair relocation legislation (Legislative Bill 1116) to Select File. Lawmakers will return next Monday to consider a motion to override Gov. Dave Heineman's veto of $14 million designed to cover health insurance and salary expenses for the Department of Roads.
Corporate tax relief one step closer
Lawmakers advanced a measure to Final Reading this week that would reduce corporate income taxes. LB 888, introduced by Sen. Carroll Burling (Kenesaw), and designated as a priority bill by Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh (Omaha), would increase from $50,000 to $100,000 the income threshold for the state's highest corporate income tax bracket. LB 888, which is supported by the NFIB, would mark the first change in the corporate income tax threshold since 1975. Nebraska currently has the second-highest nominal rate among surrounding states with a corporate income tax.
Job training funds
A bill supported by NFIB that would make revisions to existing law governing the Job Training Cash Fund in the Department of Economic Development (DED) has advanced to Final Reading. Under LB 956, introduced by Sen. DiAnna Schimek (Lincoln), the DED would be required to create a sub-account within the Job Training Fund earmarked for companies employing 25 or fewer employees, as well as for businesses in rural parts of the state.
Divided We Fail Coalition
NFIB/Nebraska State Director Bob Hallstrom on Wednesday, April 2, testified before the Health and Human Services Committee on Legislative Resolution 238, a measure supporting Divided We Fail, a coalition comprised of NFIB, AARP, Business Roundtable and Service Employees International Union.
The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Lowen Kruse (Omaha), commends the organizations for making access to quality, affordable healthcare a top issue in the national political debate.
Hallstrom told the committee NFIB joined Divided We Fail in 2007 to "help find broad-based, bipartisan solutions to address what has become a national crisis, especially for America's job creators -- healthcare and its impact on our nation's long-term economic competitiveness."
If approved by the full Senate, the resolution would commend the Divided We Fail coalition and urge state and federal officials and candidates to consider ways on which we can be united in providing access to affordable healthcare and long-term financial security.
Regulatory fairness forum for small business
Have you or a small business owner you know been unfairly fined or penalized by a federal government agency, or is a federal agency enforcement action imminent?
The Office of the National Ombudsman for the U.S. Small Business Administration has extended an invitation to the small business owner members of NFIB to participate in a Regulatory Fairness Forum in Omaha on Tuesday, April 15. The forum, which will be held at Security National Bank, 1120 South 101st St. in Omaha, is designed to provide small business owners with an opportunity to discuss issues regarding federal regulatory compliance and enforcement.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with the formal hearing scheduled for 9-11 a.m. Small business owners interested in testifying regarding federal regulatory actions taken against them may register in advance by calling 402-221-7212 at the Nebraska District Office, or send an e-mail to Barbara.Foster@SBA.gov.
Testimony may be submitted in writing in advance or at the forum. Anyone desiring confidentiality may request that his or her name not be released and may submit written testimony in lieu of a public appearance at the forum.
For more information, visit the Office of the National Ombudsman's Web site at www.sba.gov/ombudsman or call Jose Mendez at 202-205-6178.
