Articles written by Jl Schmidt
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Crunch time in Lincoln, it has even been thus
It's easy to understand but hard to remember that the one task of the Nebraska Legislature is to pass a balanced budget during the 90-day session and to make adjustments to and pass that budget again...
Nebraska Unicameral makes headlines for the wrong reason, again
"If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all." – Thumper "The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness." Proverbs 15:2 CSB Nebraska's...
Hope abides this Easter, seize it!
Let's talk about that big day coming up this weekend, Easter. Some of you, like me, consider it a holy day. To others, it's just a holiday. It's also a family day, a time to gather around the table...
How much power is too much
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely is a proverbial saying reportedly coined by the English nobleman Lord Acton in 1857. How much power should be given to the executive branch of...
Slama bowing out, Chambers launches comeback
There are a lot of ins and outs in party politics during an election year. Who's in the race and who's out? All eyes have been on the Legislature where the big surprise came from Republican Julie...
I like the idea of the Legislature running the state prison system
Omaha Senator Justin Wayne, chair of the Judiciary Committee, has offered a bill that would put Nebraska's Legislature in charge of the state's prison system, which is currently under the purview of t...
Some question sustainability of education future fund
The chickens are coming home to roost. Several tax watchdog groups say the Legislature, at the behest of the governor, has gone overboard in depleting state revenue by earmarking too much for...
Whatever happened to people who apologize?
Quick, somebody give the governor a shovel, I want to see how much deeper he can dig the hole. Weeks after he insulted a reporter who questioned the high nitrate levels on his pig farm, Governor Jim...
Time to focus on some real Nebraska issues
There are plenty of distractions. Ukraine vs Russia, Israel vs the Palestinians, Republicans vs other Republicans. The list is endless. But let’s turn our attention to a couple of Nebraska issues about which we can possibly do something. I’m tal...
Attorney General fighting laws he supported as senator
Attorney General Mike Hilgers is now fighting prison reform measures he supported not too long ago as a state senator. That's politics. In the Attorney General 's office. Imagine that! Not hard to...
The days dwindle down to a precious few
"For it's a long, long while from May to December But the days grow short when you reach September And the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame..." -- September Song I decided it was time to get...
Dear Colorado, what is hatred anyway?
An open letter to Colorado. It's fitting that I am writing this on the 22nd Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America, the day that hatred manifested itself openly on American soil. I am writing abou...
First the state patrol, now some Nebraska National Guard members gave gone to Texas
In May, 10 Nebraska State Patrol troopers went to Texas for two weeks to help with drone surveillance of the border with Mexico. Recently, 60 Nebraska National Guard members went to Texas for a month...
Voter ID proposals are anything but cut and dried
Three proposals to cover the solution looking for a problem -- voter ID -- have proven to be about as confusing as the proponent’s explanation as to why the idea was necessary. After a lot of listening and a bunch of head scratching, I’m still not...
Senator's filibuster antics hurting Legislature's image
It has been 35 years since members of the Nebraska Legislature had a pay raise and 17 years since term limits took effect. If lawmakers are wondering why, they simply need to check the actions of some of their colleagues. Omaha Sen. Machaela...
Report says build a prison, maybe two while you're at it
“They’re trying to build a prison They’re trying to build a prison For you and me to live in Another prison system Another prison system For you and me.” --The Prison Song by System of a Down (2001) To the surprise of none and the conster...
The fix is in, Legislature off to rocky start
My observation from the opening days of the 108th Nebraska Legislature: “The fix is in!” Google it, information worth having as this highly partisan-influenced session stumbles on. In the 20s, when the term first surfaced, it meant the deal was don...
Partisanship on the line, urban-rural divide too?
There’s been a lot of talk about preserving the officially nonpartisan nature of the Nebraska Legislature. But there is another issue, occasionally discussed with similar zeal in years past, that’s creeping up again. (Gasp!) It’s the urban-rural spli...
It's a new year and there's a whole lotta new going on
Welcome to 2023, a new year with a whole lotta new going on at the State Capitol. There’s a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor and 14 new state senators assuming leadership roles in the Republican-dominated Nebraska g...
Where have we been? Where are we going?
Here we are sandwiched between Christmas and New Year. Time to take stock of what we've been through as it impacts what lies ahead. In case you were somehow fortunate enough to sleep through it, 2022 was an election year. A couple really rich guys...
