This update on Lincoln’s cottage food ordinance is provided courtesy of the Institute for Justice, which represents Cindy Harper, a cottage food producer who lives in Lincoln. The city of Lincoln has amended the cottage food ordinance that last year prompted a lawsuit by the Institute for Justice (IJ) and home baker Cindy Harper, in...
To grow and prosper, Nebraska needs a larger workforce. Laura Ebke joins Jim Vokal to discuss why states are adopting universal recognition of job licensing and work experience to roll out the red carpet for workers and entrepreneurs. Resources mentioned on this episode: Take Action on LB263 LB263: Universal Recognition of Job Licensing Eager to...
Nebraska state senators in the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee have held their hearing on Sen. Tom Briese’s LB263. The bill provides for universal recognition, a pro-growth policy recognizing out-of-state occupational licenses based on the training or testing requirements a licensed applicant has already completed. It does not delicense any profession; rather, it eliminates...
Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis presented his State of the State address this week. In the speech, Polis proposed to make his state the latest to scrap personal property taxes on business equipment. A proposal moving in the same general direction is being considered this session in Montana, where the exemption would be doubled to...
On Wednesday, Nebraska’s neighbors to the north passed HB1077, a bill to provide universal recognition for occupational licensing. That bill, introduced at the request of Gov. Kristi Noem, is just waiting for her signature. The bill was passed in both houses by near-unanimous votes and will represent the third of Nebraska’s neighbors (Iowa and Missouri...
Nebraska is one of only six states that levies an inheritance tax, but senators in both parties are working on ways to reduce the burden on families and businesses. Jim Vokal and Sarah Curry discuss a new report on one of Nebraska’s least understood taxes. Resources mentioned in this episode: Death and Taxes: Nebraska’s Inheritance...
Executive Summary Nebraska has been seeking ways to modernize its tax code for several years, and unfortunately, the inheritance tax has often been left out of the analysis. The inheritance tax is a worthy subject for tax modernization and reform because only six states continue to have this tax: Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey,...
Do you remember Bless This Mess? The ABC sitcom took place in the fictional town of Bucksnort, Nebraska, and was canceled after two seasons. I started watching, thinking someday it might inspire an article. Here goes. While the show found its detractors, I stuck around for its Parks and Rec-like zaniness. It follows urban millennials...
The number of states introducing (and advancing) legislation that would grant universal recognition to licensed workers from out of state seems to be growing almost daily. In addition to Nebraska’s LB263, which was heard in the Government Committee almost two weeks ago, there are at least seven states that are moving what I would call...
Nebraskans with safe and warm homes got a reminder this week of just how fortunate they are, as communities across the state and region experienced near-record low temperatures. A new video by the Institute for Justice tells the stories of Americans who are in danger of becoming homeless, all because the housing they can afford,...
Nebraska’s January state tax revenue report was released this morning and it shows a very strong picture for the Cornhusker State, despite some in Washington continuing to claim that states need more federal aid. January net receipts were $453 million. That is 19.1% above the forecast. Net Sales and Use: 14.5% above forecast Net Individual...
What would Nebraskans do if more of them were connected to broadband? A new poll suggests most might video call their elected officials about high property taxes. Jim Vokal reviews the poll, and Adam Weinberg covers the less-discussed aspects of broadband deployment with Will Rinehart, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity...
Revenue Committee Chair Sen. Lou Ann Linehan is beginning to set an agenda for tax modernization in the 2021 Legislature. In a news release from her legislative office, the Elkhorn-area senator pointed to a recent Tax Foundation report that provides backing for a number of policy ideas her colleagues have introduced, including requiring voter approval...
Lawmakers are looking at policies helping Nebraskans in the pandemic and whether to make them permanent. We discuss Sen. John Arch’s telehealth-related LB400, Sen. Tom Briese’s proposal for universal licensing recognition with LB263, and introduce Nebraskans who have been helped by recent changes. Resources mentioned on this podcast: Pediatric Therapy Center The Knee Center for...