As a “hobbyist” genealogist for the last 10 years, there’s always been one branch of the family tree that’s been a bit of a mystery. I started my hobby as the result of Ancestry.com commercials at about this time of year–I remember my family watching “A Christmas Story” and these commercials were persistent, and my...
The Legislature's 2015 gas tax increase has reached its destination.
I’m not a smoker, nor have I ever smoked (not even to “try it out”). My parents weren’t smokers. None of my grandparents smoked (although I’m told that one of my grandfathers smoked until sometime in the ’40’s, when my mom and aunt were diagnosed with mild asthma, and he quit). I’ve had friends who...
Let's recap the current property tax ballot petition debate.
Annual vehicle taxes can be a costly addition to Nebraska's tax burden.
Although I completed my Christmas shopping over two weeks ago, by the looks of the parking lots of many stores on my way home from work last night, that’s not the case for everyone. I have several friends who are avid readers like myself who have welcomed me into their book clubs. Those book...
A Nebraska state senator is expected to propose repealing Nebraska's income tax.
How can we bridge the information gap between taxpayers and taxing entities?
I’m sure if your family is getting together for the holidays there will be wine, mixed drinks or beer served. But did you know that by indulging in holiday spirits you are also paying a ‘sin’ tax? A ‘sin’ tax is an excise tax placed on something that the government ties closely to moral or...
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...
Ever wonder why Nebraska’s economy doesn’t seem to follow the national trend? For example, the nation experienced one of the worst recessions in modern history in 2008-2009, yet Nebraska was somewhat insulated from the effects. The reason – our state has a diversified economy. According to The Stacker website, Nebraska ranks 3rd best in the...
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...
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? ...
This Christmas, discover your favorite Nebraska cottage foods.