JL Schmidt

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Crunch time in Lincoln, it has even been thus

Apr 10, 2024 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

It's easy to understand but hard to remember that the one task of the Nebraska legislature is to pass a balanced budget during the 90-day session and to make adjustments to and pass that budget again in the 60-day session. Mission accomplished again by the 2024 legislature, which has a little more than a week of session left. The simple task often gets lost in the shadow of high-profile issues, such as this year's struggle to find a solution for skyrocketing property taxes.
Nebraska Unicameral makes headlines for the wrong reason, again

Apr 4, 2024 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

"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 CSBNebraska's unique one-house legislature is back in the national spotlight again, for all 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.
Hope abides this Easter, seize it!

Mar 27, 2024 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt |Carole King |Gerry Goffin

Let's talk about that big day coming up this weekend, Easter. Some of you, like me, consider it a holy day. To others, it's just a holiday. It's also a family day, a time to gather around the table and talk about the future, maybe let the young one's hunt Easter eggs. Eat some ham. Eat some chocolate. As a kid, it meant wearing your Sunday best. For me that was this little blue and white sailor suit, a cotton garment that required my mom to spend extra time ironing on Saturday night.
How much power is too much

Mar 20, 2024 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely is a proverbial saying reportedly coined by the English nobleman Lord Acton in 1857. How much power should be given to the executive branch of Nebraska state government is a topic for discussion by state lawmakers and political observers alike. Currently there are 18 code agencies, which answer to Governor Jim Pillen. The legislature is considering measures addressing the situation.
Slama bowing out, Chambers launches comeback

Mar 14, 2024 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

There are a lot of ins and outs in party politics during an election year. Who's in the race and who's out? All eyes have been on the Legislature where the big surprise came from Republican Julie Slama – rhymes with drama – announced she wouldn't seek a second term representing southeast Nebraska's District One because she was going to take her recently earned law degree another direction.
I like the idea of the Legislature running the state prison system

Jan 24, 2024 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

Omaha Senator Justin Wayne, chair of the Judiciary Committee, has offered a bill that would put Nebraska's legislature in charge of the state's prison system, which is currently under the purview of the executive branch. Given the way things have been going with the Department of Correctional Services, especially the selection of a site for a new prison in northeast Lincoln that was changed to an allegedly more acceptable site at the last minute, I like Wayne's proposal.
Some question sustainability of education future fund

Dec 13, 2023 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

The chickens are coming home to roost. Several tax watchdog groups say the legislature, at the behest of the governor, has gone overboard in depleting state revenue by earmarking too much for property tax relief. But Governor Jim Pillen debunks the reports. He said they came up with different numbers than he did. Here's the rub. He hasn't read the reports. Let that sink in for a minute. Not unlike the reports on higher than acceptable levels of nitrates in the groundwater near his pig farms.
Whatever happened to people who apologize?

Nov 1, 2023 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

Quick, somebody give the governor a shovel, I want to see how much deeper he can dig the hole. Weeks after he insulted a reporter who questioned the high nitrate levels on his pig farm, Governor Jim Pillen has yet to apologize for his xenophobic remarks. The reporter, born in China, has been working in this country since 2017. She wrote about the nitrate issue for "Flatwater Free Press," her employer for the past two years.
Time to focus on some real Nebraska issues

Oct 25, 2023 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

There are plenty of distractions. Ukraine vs Russia, Israel vs the Palestinians, Republicans vs other Republicans. The list is endless. But let’s turn our attention to a couple of Nebraska issues about which we can possibly do something. I’m talking about civility and transparency, or the lack thereof. Civility was cited in the recently-released Nebraska Rural Poll. A number of court filings for public records and a pending legislative bill speak to the transparency issue.
Attorney General fighting laws he supported as senator

Oct 19, 2023 | summerlandadvocate.com | JL Schmidt

Attorney General Mike Hilgers is now fighting prison reform measures he supported not too long ago as a state senator. That's politics. In the Attorney General 's office. Imagine that!Not hard to believe if you've been paying attention. The last AG walked in lockstep with the governor as did the guy before him, and ...