An Orientation to an Education Finance Modeling Tool for Nebraska Policy Makers
Christian Barnard, Senior Policy Analyst with the Reason Foundation and Michael Lucci, the Platte Institute’s Senior Policy Advisor will discuss and demonstrate a newly created K-12 education reform funding tool for policy makers who are interested in addressing education funding in our state and lessening the current heavy reliance on property taxes.
Program will be held live on Zoom at 11 a.m. Central/10 Mountain on October 27, 2022.
Join UNL Sandhill’s Small Business Coach, Caleb Pollard, and the Platte Institute’s Community Engagement Director, Elizabeth Hallgren, in a casual discussion about removing barriers to opportunity and enabling success for Main Street Entrepreneurs in greater Nebraska.
Hosted by Bolo Brewing Co. featuring local beer and snacks with samples from Scratchtown Brewing Company in Ord, NE.
Nebraska’s new property tax transparency law, Truth in Taxation, provides a huge opportunity for taxpayers. Every September, you can be fully informed about property tax increases, and find out where to speak to your elected officials before they set next year’s tax levy.
But when Madison County’s very first Truth in Taxation season kicks off, taxpayers need to be ready with a game plan.
At the Norfolk Property Taxpayer Training Camp, we’ll show you how the Truth in Taxation law works, and what taxpayers like you can do to get involved and help hold the line on local property taxes.
We’ll also take your questions and connect you with other interested taxpayers in the community.
Registration is free, so please share this event with your friends in the area. Want more info about Truth in Taxation? Visit PlatteInstitute.org/Truth.
Location: Northeast Community College Lifelong Learning Center 701 E Benjamin Ave Norfolk, NE 68701
September 8, 2022 8:30am CT / 7:30am MT
Doing Great Things: The 2022 Platte Institute Legislative Summit
Nebraskans work hard and dream big. But when policymakers let barriers stand in the way of opportunity, we all lose the chance to fully enjoy our Good Life. Join us in Lincoln to discuss how the newest class of state leaders can create visionary policies that live up to the unrivaled efforts and ambitions of our people, and solve major economic problems for workers, businesses, innovators, and taxpayers.
General Admission is $20, plus processing, and includes a hot breakfast. Complimentary registration is available for elected officials and staff, candidates, media, and students. Questions? Please contact Elizabeth Hallgren at ehallgren@platteinstitute.org or (402) 452-3737.
Full Program Agenda
7:30 a.m. – Registration opens, buffet breakfast
8:30 a.m. – Opening remarks by Platte Institute CEO Jim Vokal
8:40 a.m. – Growing Nebraska’s Economy with Keynote Speaker Tony Goins, Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development
9:00 a.m. – Recognizing Nebraska’s Workforce Challenge, a discussion with Laura Ebke, Senior Fellow, Platte Institute
9:30 a.m. – Creating the Future with Regulatory Sandboxes, moderated by Nicole Fox, Director of Government Relations, Platte Institute
10:15 a.m. – Presentation of the 2022 Connie Brown Freedom Award and Platte Institute Legislative Achievement Award
10:30 a.m. – Understanding Truth in Taxation, moderated by Adam Weinberg, Communications Director, Platte Institute
11:00 a.m. – Competing for Taxpayers, moderated by Jim Vokal, Chief Executive Officer, Platte Institute
June 16, 2022 6:30pm CT / 5:30pm MT
The Political Brew in Crete, NE – Liberal or Conservative: What Do You Mean? Featuring Sens. Anna Wishart & Mark Kolterman
Location: The 1206 – 1206 Main Avenue, Crete, NE 68333
Could more of Nebraska’s problems be solved over a beer? Laura Ebke’s Political Brew returns to Crete to raise a glass, and our expectations for Nebraska’s leaders, with civil discussions about the most important issues facing our state. Nebraska state senators Anna Wishart and Mark Kolterman join Laura Ebke at The 1206 to discuss what exactly the words liberal and conservative mean to them. Do these labels better inform the public and lawmakers as they decide between policy ideas and candidates, or do they reduce our capacity to think for ourselves? Register for free and join us for libations and thoughtful conversations!
June 16, 2022 3:30pm CT / 2:30pm MT
LocalWorks Roundtable – Crete, NE
Location: The 1206 – 1206 Main Avenue, Crete, NE 68333
Your small business needs a champion…you! Nebraskans think big when it comes to building innovative small businesses that strengthen their communities, but there’s always more that can be done to remove barriers to opportunity.
At the LocalWorks Roundtable, we’ll discuss your ideas for making Nebraska a better state for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and how you can effectively engage policymakers in Lincoln and your community.
Please join us at The 1206 in Crete for this free event. Refreshments served.
October 27, 2021 11:00am CT / 10:00am MT
(Webinar) A Place to Live: Challenges and Opportunities for Housing in Nebraska
Valentine Mayor Kyle Arganbright, Dr. Emily Hamilton of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Kathy Mesner of Mesner Development Co., and Grace Thomas of the Verdis Group and the Omaha Missing Middle Housing Campaign will discuss strategies for increasing affordability and attainability of housing in Nebraska communities statewide. Program will be held live on Zoom at 11 a.m. Central/10 Mountain. Registration required.
Blueprint Nebraska: The 2021 Platte Institute Legislative Summit
Join the Platte Institute and other Blueprint Nebraska Alliance Partners and volunteers at the Embassy Suites Lincoln (1040 P Street, Lincoln, NE 68508) to discuss the Blueprint vision of a stronger workforce, connecting Nebraska communities with broadband, and the new Blueprint Nebraska tax modernization framework. More summit agenda details available on the registration page.
September 9, 2021 6:30pm CT / 5:30pm MT
Town Hall: Taxpayers Decide in Kearney
Former state Sen. Jim Smith and District 47 Nebraska state Sen. Steve Erdman will co-host a town hall program at The World Theatre (2318 Central Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847) to take your questions on two different proposals for overhauling Nebraska’s tax code, the Blueprint Nebraska tax modernization plan, and the EPIC Consumption Tax. Click here to view an event flyer.
September 8, 2021 6:30pm CT / 5:30pm MT
Town Hall: Taxpayers Decide in North Platte
Former state Sen. Jim Smith and District 47 Nebraska state Sen. Steve Erdman will co-host a town hall program at Mid-Plains Community College South Campus’ McDonald-Belton Theater (601 W State Farm Road, North Platte, NE 69101) to take your questions on two different proposals for overhauling Nebraska’s tax code, the Blueprint Nebraska tax modernization plan, and the EPIC Consumption Tax. Click here to view an event flyer.
September 7, 2021 7:30pm CT / 6:30pm MT
Town Hall: Taxpayers Decide in Scottsbluff
Program begins at 6:30 p.m., Mountain. Former state Sen. Jim Smith and District 47 Nebraska state Sen. Steve Erdman will co-host a town hall program at Scottbluff’s Midwest Theater (1707 Broadway, Scottsbluff, NE 69361) to take your questions on two different proposals for overhauling Nebraska’s tax code, the Blueprint Nebraska tax modernization plan, and the EPIC Consumption Tax. Click here to view an event flyer.
December 16, 2020 11:00am CT / 10:00am MT
Platte Institute Webinar: Measuring Prosperity in Nebraska
The United Kingdom-based Legatum Institute produces a holistic index of social and economic well-being among countries and states, including Nebraska. And their work identifying challenges and opportunities in the Cornhusker State has just begun.
Join the Director of the Legatum Institute’s Centre for Metrics, Shaun Flanagan, and Research Assistant Ed Wickstead, as they discuss their in-depth measurements of prosperity and what the data can tell us about potential policy solutions for our state and communities.
Click here to learn more about the Legatum Institute’s United States and Nebraska Prosperity Index.
Taxes in Nebraska: What’s Next? – Platte Institute Virtual Legislative Summit, Nebraska’s Next Normal
The Nebraska Legislature has defied expectations, overwhelmingly approving a new property tax rebate program to be implemented over the coming years. Is the Nebraska Legislature done with the property tax issue, or are additional tax reforms still on the table? Revenue Committee Chair Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, Blueprint Nebraska Executive Director Jim Smith, and the Tax Foundation’s Vice President of State Projects Jared Walczak join Jim Vokal to review the Legislature’s latest work and tax policy questions that remain unresolved. Click here for the full event flyer.
Licensing in a Remote Economy: Platte Institute Virtual Legislative Summit, Nebraska’s Next Normal
Current governors who have championed Universal Recognition of job licensing and work experience from outside of their states join Laura Ebke to discuss why licensing reforms that break down barriers across state lines are needed to help workers and states recover from the COVID-19 recession. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf are our invited guests for this program. Click here for the full event flyer.
Regulatory Reform Roundtable – Platte Institute Virtual Legislative Summit, Nebraska’s Next Normal
Nebraska state Sens. John Arch, Suzanne Geist, Steve Halloran, and Anna Wishart join Nicole Fox for a discussion about how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed lawmaker perspectives on regulatory policies. Click here for the full event flyer.
Platte Institute Webinar: Talking Tech in the #neleg
How should Nebraska promote better rural broadband access? Should data privacy be regulated? Are some tech companies too big? How can state legislators craft good state tech policy?
These questions and others are on the minds of state legislators across the country. In this Platte Institute Webinar, we’ll connect you with scholars and tech policy experts who can help answer these important questions in advance of the coming legislative session.
Our guests are Billy Easley, Senior Policy Analyst at Americans for Prosperity, and Will Rinehart, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University.
From Blair to Plattsmouth and everywhere in between, Omaha-area voters and property taxpayers will have the floor in this online forum about Nebraska’s property tax issue.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about how you can share your questions, ideas, and stories in this interactive event.
In addition to having the option to appear in the Virtual Town Hall, all attendees can vote in online polls about property tax issues throughout the program.
From Lincoln, to Beatrice, and everywhere in between, voters and property taxpayers will have the floor in this online forum about Nebraska’s property tax issue.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about how you can share your questions, ideas, and stories in this interactive event.
In addition to having the option to appear in the Virtual Town Hall, all attendees can vote in online polls about property tax issues throughout the program.
From South Sioux City to Columbus and everywhere in between, voters and property taxpayers will have the floor in this online forum about Nebraska’s property tax issue.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about how you can share your questions, ideas, and stories in this interactive event.
In addition to having the option to appear in the Virtual Town Hall, all attendees can vote in online polls about property tax issues throughout the program.
From the Tri-Cities to Lexington and everywhere in between, voters and property taxpayers will have the floor in this online forum about Nebraska’s property tax issue.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about how you can share your questions, ideas, and stories in this interactive event.
In addition to having the option to appear in the Virtual Town Hall, all attendees can vote in online polls about property tax issues throughout the program.
Platte Institute Webinar: Back in Session with Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. John Stinner
The head of the Nebraska Legislature’s budget-writing committee returns to the Platte Institute Webinar to discuss what the latest data on tax receipts will mean for the conclusion of this year’s legislative session and the state’s policy priorities. Registration required.
From Scottsbluff to North Platte and everywhere in between, voters and property taxpayers will have the floor in this online forum about Nebraska’s property tax issue.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about how you can share your questions, ideas, and stories in this interactive event.
In addition to having the option to appear in the Virtual Town Hall, all attendees can vote in online polls about property tax issues throughout the program.
Platte Institute Webinar: Back in Session with Revenue Committee Chair Sen. Lou Ann Linehan
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan discusses the Nebraska tax policy and revenue landscape as the Legislature returns following an emergency suspension due to COVID-19. Registration required.
Platte Institute Webinar: Back in Session with Speaker Jim Scheer and Executive Board Chair Sen. Mike Hilgers
Two key legislative leaders provide their thoughts on the return of the 2020 Nebraska Legislature for its remaining 17 legislative days. Registration required.
Platte Institute Webinar: Post-Pandemic Licensing and Regulatory Reform with Ed Timmons, Ph.D., Director, Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation and Matt Mitchell, Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason University