Platte Institute

Unicameral Votes

The Platte Institute's Unicameral transparency web site where you can track bills, follow senator voting and attendance records and keep an eye on the Unicameral.

“The salvation of the state is the watchfulness in the citizen.”

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Platte Institute for
Economic Research

10050 Regency Circle
Suite 120

Omaha, NE 68114

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JUNE 25, 2009

It's Time to Relax Nebraska's Firework Regulations to Missouri's Standards

Berk Brown
Platte Institute Editor

From Chadron to Falls City and Imperial to Winside, firework stands will open for business today all across Nebraska. As the sounds of Independence Day remind us of our hard-fought freedom, keep in mind that Nebraska’s overzealous regulation of fireworks is antithetical to the liberty fireworks represent.

Listen to KLIN's Coby Mach interview the Platte Institute about this issue (file will take a couple moments to load): Drive Time Lincoln - Fireworks

JUNE 22, 2009

City of Omaha needs to look at spending cuts, not tax hikes

Berk Brown
Platte Institute Editor

There’s no question that the financial situation in Omaha is distressing. This is especially true for a city whose rating for general obligation bonds were lowered late last year to Aa1 by Moody's Investors Service after more than 30 years of maintaining a AAA rating,1 which is the highest possible rating (Omaha has retained its AAA rating with Standard & Poor’s). Like many working-class families enduring the current recession, Omaha finds itself with the pressing need to make some hard decisions.

Listen to KFAB's Scott Voorhees interview the Platte Institute about this issue (file will take a couple moments to load): Scott Voorhees Interview 6-23-2009

MAY 18, 2009

Commentary: We're Paying for "Ugly Betty" License Plates

Nebraska residents will soon discover what their new license plates for motor vehicles will look like. There has been plenty of public comment – mostly unfavorable – about the amateurish designs being considered. Regardless if you love or hate the new design, you’re getting new license plates in 2011.

Only a government would operate in this fashion. Not many businesses would long survive long if, when customers walked into their store, they handed you an unattractive product and then told you to like it or lump it. Clearly governments don’t exactly play by the “free market rules."

Read the full commentary here:

License Plate Commentary