In the summer of 2024, Nebraska lawmakers gathered for a special legislative session focused almost entirely on property tax reform. After years of frustration from taxpayers watching valuations and tax bills rise faster than incomes, lawmakers promised meaningful action to slow the growth of property taxes. The result was LB34 designed to place new limits...
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome the President of the Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation, Chris Ingstad. During the episode Chris and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss Iowa’s new two percent hard cap on property taxes, their efforts lower their income tax, and what’s next for Iowa as they continue...
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome Nebraska’s Attorney General, Mike Hilgers. During the episode Attorney General Hilgers and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss the the importance of good energy policy in Nebraska, how we attract new residents and investment, and the next big issues that will shape the future of...
Note: This is the final blog post by Jakob Myers, the Platte Institute’s intern for the last year. Jakob has made great contributions to important policy areas for us since coming on board. This blog post is adapted from a research paper he wrote for one of his courses this spring and kicks off a...
If you’re in Omaha’s Blackstone District and you’re looking for a good cocktail, you might stumble into a tucked-away speakeasy now called the “Censored Shop.” Until recently, it went by “Barber Shop Blackstone.” According to the Nebraska Examiner, that name wasn’t a trick—it was a nod to the owners’ dad, who spent his life as...
In an increasingly competitive environment, states are competing every day for workers, entrepreneurs, investment, and new residents. Tax policy plays a major role in those decisions. States with more competitive tax structures are often better positioned to attract business investment, encourage job creation, and retain families looking for opportunity. For Nebraska, that matters. Neighboring states...
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome Jonathan Williams, co-author of Rich States, Poor States and President and Chief Economist at the American Legislative Exchange Council. During the episode Jonathan and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss the latest rankings in new edition of Rich States, Poor States, how Nebraska can improve,...
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome William Beard, co-author of the Goldwater Institute’s report: Data Centers a Free Market Model for the Digital Future. During the episode William and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss what data centers are, why they matter, and what separates the states that are winning investment...
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as host Jim Vokal rants about rising property taxes, the shell game elected officials are playing, and solutions Platte is advocating for this year. Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome Nebraska State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg. During the episode Treasurer Spellerberg and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss LB 938, which creates First-Time Home Buyer Savings Accounts in Nebraska, the role of the Treasurer’s Office, and solutions for Nebraska’s high property taxes. Listen now on Apple...
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome Senator Tom Brandt of District 32 and Senator Bob Hallstrom of District 1. In this episode, the senators join Platte Institute CEO Jim Vokal to discuss their efforts to address Nebraska’s property tax burden through LB 1219 and LB 575 (now amended into LB...
Every year, the “National Movers Study” from United Van Lines and the “U-Haul Growth Index” provide a real-time heat map of the American economy. The 2025 results are in, and they deliver a clear message: while the mass exodus from high-tax coastal states continues, the “quiet competition” for the middle of the country is heating...
Policy takeaway: Nebraska’s newly passed LB718 modernizes CPA licensure by expanding pathways into the profession while preserving rigorous education, examination, and experience standards. The law strengthens Nebraska’s accounting workforce pipeline and aligns the state with updated national mobility rules that allow CPAs to serve clients across state lines. Nebraska has taken an important step to...