Legislative Newsletter

 

Sen. Tom Carlson

We are more than one-third done with the days available to complete the lawmaking for this year.  Hearings will be held for another month, at which time we will begin all day debate.

I digress a bit from my usual legislative news to comment an article in the business section of last week’s state’s newspapers. The citizens of Norfolk, and the Norfolk and State of Nebraska economic development corporations are to be commended on the decision of Tejas Tubular Products, Inc., to build a manufacturing plant in Norfolk.  It is estimated the plant will employ 200 workers. This decision came about, not because the people of Norfolk and Madison County were entitled to it, but because they earned it. Hard work and community promotion pays off. Nucor Steel, a long time successful Norfolk industry, was also a factor in the decision.

The construction of a new business in a Nebraska community brings more private sector jobs, which are absolutely essential for a growing economy. We need more of these announcements across the state to keep our rural towns from declining population. 

One important factor that companies look at when deciding when to build a new facility, besides schools, churches, available work force, and crime rates, is recreational possibilities.  The state Game & Parks Commission is the agency charged with keeping our many state parks ready for Nebraskans and those visiting our state. It is estimated that tourism brings in over $4 billion to Nebraska annually and many of those visitors use our state parks.  Nebraska has a wonderful variety of natural resources, east to west and north to south.

Unfortunately, our parks are suffering from deferred maintenance issues and many have had to reduce hours or services so that personnel can be directed to other parks needing repair.  Senator Bill Avery of Lincoln has been a champion of parks for at least two sessions. He recently introduced LB 814, which would dedicate the state sales tax revenue from the sale or lease of motorboats and personal watercraft for state park infrastructure maintenance projects.

Current sales tax revenue is directed to the state General Fund, the state Highway Capital Improvement Fund, and the Highway Allocation Fund.  Senator Avery’s bill would create the Game and Parks Commission Capital Maintenance Fund.

Other bills of interest to be debated this session include doing away with the mountain lion season in Nebraska, repeal of the motorcycle helmet law, and prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.  Discussion will heat up on these and other issues in the days and weeks ahead.