Legislative Testimony for LB834: Change provisions of the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act
Legislative Testimony for LB834: Change provisions of the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act
Testimony in support of LB834.
Punishments in job licensing laws don’t fit the crime
Punishments in job licensing laws don’t fit the crime
We have a right to earn an honest living. This right is protected by the U.S. Constitution. Entrepreneurship and good old-fashioned free market competition are playing a lot of defense nowadays. Protectionism has gone unchecked due to the significant increase in career paths subject to occupational licensing. These occupational licenses are often barriers to...
How About a Second Chance?
How About a Second Chance?
John Stossel describes some of the problems with occupational licensing and the opportunity to "make good" for those who have had problems with the law. Nebraska's Occupational Board Review Act (LB 299, 2018), did not totally eliminate restrictions for licensures, but it now gives potential license-seekers the ability to pre-inquire about whether anything in their...
Study: Consumers care more about reputation than licensing
Study: Consumers care more about reputation than licensing
While most of us wouldn’t argue that some occupations in the medical field shouldn’t be regulated in some way, one of the arguments that I often make when engaged in discussions about the need for occupational licensing is that in the 21st century, the more important consumer standard for whether you use a particular service...
First Three Days of Session–My Eye Catchers
First Three Days of Session–My Eye Catchers
Adam went through a list of bills that caught his eye–either positively or negatively–during the first three days of bill introduction in the Legislature. Before Day 4 kicks off, I thought I'd mention a few bills that had me saying "hmm." First, I should probably note that just about all of us at Platte pay...
First Week of Session: +200 Bills Introduced
First Week of Session: +200 Bills Introduced
Find the full list of bills as well as some that caught our eye.
How the 2020 Legislature should define success
How the 2020 Legislature should define success
Today, the second session of the 106th Nebraska Legislature convenes. Last year, 739 bills were introduced. Of those, 255 (roughly 1/3) were signed into law and 3 were vetoed. A resulting 481 bills were carried over. The first ten days of session are when new bills are introduced. It is anticipated another 500-700 bills will...
Transportation law excludes qualified applicants
Transportation law excludes qualified applicants
Last week I introduced you to the concept of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), also known as the “competitor’s veto.” Today, I’d like to do a little deeper dive to give you an understanding as to why it is so egregious and anti-free market. Reviewing applications for occupational licensing to assure...
The history of Nebraska’s Competitor’s Veto law
The history of Nebraska’s Competitor’s Veto law
In a December 19 post, I discussed the importance of the consumer in the free-market system. When we allow entrepreneurs to test their ideas, be it a product or service, with limited government interference, the result is innovation and lower prices. Consumers vote for these products and services with their pocketbooks. Market economies are known...
Keep consumers in the driver’s seat on regulation
Keep consumers in the driver’s seat on regulation
In the spirit of #ThrowbackThursday, I thought I would highlight a 1978 article from the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), “The Consumer’s Role,” as it reminds me of an issue the Platte Institute has been working on for the past 3 years. It’s no secret that team members at the Platte Institute are huge supporters...
More red tape to cut in Nebraska
More red tape to cut in Nebraska
Yesterday, President Trump held a roundtable on regulatory innovations inviting governors from around the country to share what has been accomplished in their states. Governor Ricketts participated. He reported on the Nebraska Legislature’s work on occupational licensing reform and h ighlighted LB898 from 2016, the “hair braiding bill” that exempted natural hair braiding from cosmetology...
Report: Nebraska loses $141 million due to licensing
Report: Nebraska loses $141 million due to licensing
According to a new report published by the Pioneer Institute, the state of Nebraska took $36 million from citizens in occupational licensing fees in 2017. And because of the restrictions that licensing puts on the economy, the state lost $141 million that otherwise would have been a part of Nebraska’s economy. How does this happen? ...
News Release: The Full Platter’s Christmas Cottage Food Guide
News Release: The Full Platter’s Christmas Cottage Food Guide
The Platte Institute is distributing a growing list of Nebraska food producers who are able to share their delicacies with more customers thanks to the state’s newly-expanded cottage food law.
Make your season bright with Nebraska cottage foods
Make your season bright with Nebraska cottage foods
This Christmas, discover your favorite Nebraska cottage foods.