Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen gave his second State of the State Address to the Legislature Thursday, pitching his proposal for “transformative” property tax relief, calling for a broader sales tax, a “hard cap” on local school spending and the elimination of tax breaks won “by the best lobbyist.”
Pillen also used his speech to tout the accomplishments in his first year in office, which included passage of a billion-dollar trust fund for K12 education and passage of an income tax cut that will eventually reduce the state’s top rate to 3.99%.
His main focus, though, was the “crisis” of high property taxes, which he maintained was pricing seniors out of their homes and has been “hurting Nebraska farmers, ranchers, homeowners, and businesses for most of our lifetimes.”
Without providing specifics on all the steps he supports, the governor praised state lawmakers for introducing bills this week to control spending by K-12 schools, end many sales tax exemptions, and eliminate unneeded boards and commissions
Pillen said he still supports tax incentives for businesses, but wants to see them more open and focused with an emphasis on Nebraska companies.
Pillen also called for increased efforts to attract more workers to the state, including money to help with moving expenses and increased funding for workforce housing.
Pillen also continued to push a conservative social agenda, including passage of a controversial “Sports and Spaces” bill barring biological males from participating in K-12 sports designed for females
The bill would also block trans students from using a bathroom designated for other than their gender at birth.
The governor also called for putting state tourism back into the Dept of Economic Development and dumping the current, edgy slogan, “Honestly, it’s not for everyone.”
The State of the State always includes a dose of ceremony, and Pillen recognized state workers who plowed snow last week, private-school students in line for “Opportunity Scholarships,” and former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne. Pillen played for Osborne
Pillen is following up his speech with town halls today in Scottsbluff, North Platte, and Kearney. Up first is Scottsbluff at 7:30 am at the Platte Valley Companies on Platte Valley Drive.