Nebraska Key Vote Scorecard 2015

Transcription

1 Nebraska Key Vote Scorecard 2015

2 Nebraska Senate 2015 Key Votes Bill: LB 107 AFP Position: Support This bill gives nurse practitioners more independence by eliminating the requirement of a practice agreement with a doctor. Nurse practitioners play a key role delivering healthcare and allowing independence will help expand care to underserved areas. LB 107 was signed into law by Gov. Ricketts on March 5, Bill: LB 423 AFP Position: Oppose Vote Scored: Select File, Cloture AFP Vote Position: N This bill would have provided $75 million in credits for so-called green renewable energy. It is unfair to force Nebraska taxpayers to subsidize such costly and unreliable technology. LB 423 stalled in the Legislature when Senators were unable to invoke cloture and bring the bill to a final vote. Bill: LB 132 AFP Position: Support This bill requires Joint Public Agencies (JPAs) to follow the bond issuance rules of the participating agencies. LB 132 closes a loophole that allowed agencies to partner with others to more easily issue bonds. This bill is a positive step forward in increasing accountability to Nebraskan families. LB 132 was signed into law by Gov. Ricketts on May 13, Bill: LB 472 AFP Position: Oppose Vote Scored: General File, AM676 AFP Vote Position: N This bill would have further entrenched Obamacare through Medicaid expansion; this is the wrong way to go about helping the uninsured find coverage. The expansion scheme is a dangerous proposition for Nebraska taxpayers who will have to pay for the long term costs of the program. LB 472 died after Senators failed to adopt an amendment necessary to moving the bill forward. Bill: LB 259 AFP Position: Support This bill exempts the first $10,000 of tangible property from the property tax obligation. It will save individual business owners an average of $162 per year and overall save businesses close to $20 million. LB 259 passed unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. Ricketts on May 28, Bill: LB 494 AFP Position: Oppose Vote Scored: General File, Advancement AFP Vote Position: N This bill would increase the minimum wage for gratuity workers. Small businesses with narrow profit margins would be harmed and, more importantly, this would have made entry into the labor force even more difficult for Nebraskans. This bill failed to advance from General File,

3 Bill: LB 538 AFP Position: Support This bill creates a process to evaluate Nebraska s tax incentive programs in order to determine if the programs are meeting their goals of retaining and/or attracting business. Without this bill, lawmakers could continue to waste taxpayer money on programs that do not benefit Nebraskans. LB 538 passed unanimously and signed into law by Gov. Ricketts on May 28, Bill: LB 610 AFP Position: Oppose Vote Scored: Veto Override AFP Vote Position: N This bill increased the state gas tax. Raising the gas tax will only make it more difficult for everyday Nebraska families to afford a basic necessity. The bill passed the legislature before being vetoed by Governor Ricketts. Despite the Governor s objections, the Legislature overrode the veto with 30 votes committing Nebraskans to higher costs at the pump. Bill: LB 599 AFP Position: Support This bill would have lowered the minimum wage for students under the age of 18. Not only would they be more employable, but they would gain skills and experience they could use after graduation. Youth have a significantly higher unemployment rate than other demographics, and this bill incentivized giving teens a hand up. LB 599 failed to advance from Final Reading, (This bill needed 33 votes due to an amendment of the state constitution). Bill: LB 649 AFP Position: Support Vote Scored: General File, Bracket AFP Vote Position: N This bill required the Unicameral to publicly conduct votes for Speaker and committee chairmen. The Legislature has generally conducted these votes in secret which deprives Nebraskans of a transparent government. Sen. Chambers moved to bracket the bill. The motion passed and the bill was moved to the last day of the session.

4 Reform regulations regarding nurse practitioners Reform the bonding powers of JPAs Exempt first $10,000 of property from property tax obligation Expand renewable tax credits Obamacare Medicaid Expansion LB 107 LB 132 LB 259 LB 423 LB 472 LB 494 LB 538 LB 599 LB 610 LB 649 Member District Y Y Y N N N Y Y N N AFP Score Grade Hadley, Galen (Speaker) D Baker, Roy 30 NV 44 F Bloomfield, Dave 17 P 80 B Bolz, Kate F Brasch, Lydia A Campbell, Kathy F Chambers, Ernie 11 NV NV 38 F Coash, Colby B Cook, Tanya 13 NV NV 38 F Craighead, Joni A+ Crawford, Sue F Davis, Al D Ebke, Laura A+ Friesen, Curt 34 P 70 C Garrett, Tommy 3 90 A Gloor, Mike 35 NV 56 F Groene, Mike 42 NV 100 A+ Haar, Ken 21 NV 33 F Hansen, Matt F Harr, Burke 8 NV 44 F Hilkemann, Robert 4 80 B Howard, Sara 9 NV NV 50 F Hughes, Dan 44 P 70 C Johnson, Jerry D Kintner, Bill A+ Kolowski, Rick 31 P 30 F Raise the minimum wage for gratuities workers Audit tax incentive programs Lower the minimum wage for students 18 and under Increase the state gas tax Public leadership votes

5 Reform regulations regarding nurse practitioners Reform the bonding powers of JPAs Exempt first $10,000 of property from property tax obligation Expand renewable tax credits LB 107 LB 132 LB 259 LB 423 LB 472 LB 494 LB 538 LB 599 LB 610 LB 649 Member District Y Y Y N N N Y Y N N AFP Score Grade Kolterman, Mark 24 P 78 C Krist, Bob 10 P 40 F Kuehn, John 38 NV P 67 D Larson, Tyson 40 NV NV 100 A+ Lindstrom, Brett 18 NV 89 B McCollister, John 20 NV 56 F McCoy, Beau 39 NV NV 100 A+ Mello, Heath 5 40 F Morfeld, Adam 46 P 30 F Murante, John 49 NV 100 A+ Nordquist, Jeremy 7 40 F Pansing Brooks, Patty F Riepe, Merv A Scheer, Jim C Schilz, Ken 47 NV NV 88 B Schnoor, David 15 NV 100 A+ Schumacher, Paul F Seiler, Les 33 NV NV 63 D Smith, Jim 14 P 70 C Stinner, John 48 P 60 D Sullivan, Kate C Watermeier, Dan 1 NV NV 100 A+ Williams, Matt 36 NV 67 D Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Raise the minimum wage for gratuities workers Audit tax incentive programs Lower the minimum wage for students 18 and under Increase the state gas tax Public leadership votes

6 Champions of Freedom The following members received an A or A+ score during the 2015 legislative session. These Senators have shown great commitment to bringing economic freedom to Nebraskans.

7 Needs Improvement The following members received an F during the 2015 legislative session. These Senators have not shown a commitment to economic freedom policies that protect Nebraskans.