Was mayor too positive in Haymarket arena news conference?: "
During his news conference at city hall on Thursday, Lincoln
Mayor Chris Beutler made positive comments about the arena project
that will go before voters May 11.
"
April 02, 2010
Mayor's promise: Arena will be on time, on budget, transparent
Mayor's promise: Arena will be on time, on budget, transparent: "
During a news conference Thursday, Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler described how he'd make his pledge a reality -- if voters approve the arena project on May 11.
"
March 08, 2010
February 28, 2010
LB 952: Jim Suttle Just Keeps Digging By Defending Sewer Fee Sales Tax
LB 952: Jim Suttle Just Keeps Digging By Defending Sewer Fee Sales Tax: "Last month, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle came out in fierce opposition to State Senator Tom White's bill (LB 952) to protect residents of the Omaha Metro from paying an additional $325 million in sales taxes on the fees they'll already be paying to cover the costs of a multi-billion dollar sewer improvement project mandated by the federal government. 'At the time, I argued that Suttle needed to take another look at the actual numbers behind this tax, hoping that he'd come to his senses and stop defending a tax that sends $3.67 to the state for every $1.00 received by the city.
No matter how much the city might need that dollar, Suttle should have been able to see that the numbers don't add up and that the city would be better served by practically any other tax or fee that would actually be collected at the local level. 'Yet, while LB 952 has built momentum, been advanced from the Revenue Commitee, and been named White's priority bill for the 2010 session, Suttle has now doubled-down in his opposition by hiring an additional lobbyist to specifically fight against this legislation.
The Omaha World-Herald reports:
Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle has hired one of the state's most powerful lobbyists to help him defeat a controversial tax exemption bill. 'Lobbyist Walt Radcliffe of Lincoln submitted papers Tuesday indicating that the city will pay him $5,000 a week, not to exceed $50,000 for the 2010 session....White...said he 'didn't care how many high-priced, high-powered Lincoln lobbyist the mayor hired with taxpayer dollars.'
White added that he thought Omaha was 'in a budget crisis' that precluded hiring additional lobbyists. 'Lobbyist Jack Cheloha, who is hired by the Omaha City Council, has worked against passage of White's proposal...
With this latest move, it becomes even harder to fathom what Suttle is thinking and what he is really hoping to gain.
Of course, I understand the defensive posture of wanting to hold onto any potential sources of revenue that aren't new property taxes. 'It's certainly unfortunate that Suttle found so little cooperation from Governor Dave Heineman and Omaha's State Senators on expanding the city's options for dealing with its many fiscal challenges. 'I can also empathize with Suttle wanting to contain any hikes in the property tax that might ultimately loom in the distance. 'But, by working so hard to avoid being the fall guy for a property tax hike over which he may have little control, Suttle is instead positioning himself as the bad guy fighting against hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts for his own constituents.
There's a reason that LB 952 has 15 cosponsors - most of them from the Omaha Metro. 'There's a reason that it received such strong support from the Revenue Commitee. 'Although the state of Nebraska stands to lose almost four times as much revenue as the city of Omaha, there's also a very good reason why Heineman and his administration have been so much more restrained than Suttle in their own opposition. They understand that the double-tax on these sewer fees is bad policy and even worse politics.
From a progressive standpoint, applying a uniform sales tax to sewer fees based on water usage is incredibly regressive and hits low-income and middle-class families the hardest. 'Still, Suttle's got his second taxpayer-funded lobbyist leading the charge against LB 952 so these families can continue to pay more taxes to the state and to the city. 'In paying this mandated sewer fee, families have had no choice and little opportunity for input. 'Adding an opportunistic sales tax on top of that is indefensible no matter how much Suttle is counting on it to fill the city's budet gap and help him hold the line on property taxes.
LB 952 may come to a first round vote by the Legislature before the end of the week. 'If Jim Suttle refuses to be reasonable and think about the numbers behind this legislation, he should at least be aware of the message he is sending to voters and the legacy he is leaving as mayor - championing the people of Omaha continuing to pay so much more than their fair share of taxes to the state of Nebraska!
February 22, 2010
Mark Lakers Impresses In Opening Days Of Gubernatorial Campaign
Mark Lakers Impresses In Opening Days Of Gubernatorial Campaign: "As you've most likely heard by now, Nebraska Democrats have themselves a gubernatorial candidate - Mark Lakers, a 50 year-old agribusiness investor from Omaha who appears likely to face five-year incumbent Republican Dave Heineman on the November ballot.
Some interesting stories have come to light about Mr. Lakers leading role in the lawsuit that ended Nebraska's ban on corporate farming. 'Other than that, we know that his only prior run for elected office was an unsuccessful school board campaign, that he's contributed money to candidates from both major political parties, and that he's evidently been quite a successful businessman. 'There's a little bit more than eight months before the 2010 general election for Nebraska voters to fill in the gaps and make their judgment of the candidate's qualifications, message, and vision.
For now, it's a good sign that the Lincoln Journal-Star's Don Walton walked away from his first interview with Lakers sounding thoroughly impressed:
Meet Mark Lakers. 'Smart, confident, organized, soft-spoken. 'All first impressions during a half-hour sitdown at The Mill.Walton also warns Lakers, 'There's not room for many mistakes or missed opportunities in a contest with Dave Heineman,' noting that Heineman is 'skilled at probing for weaknesses, identifying hot-button issues, creating advantages and exploiting them.' 'In other words, he's the consummate politician - an approach that helped Heineman rise the ranks of the Republican Party and get elected in 2006 but which has resulted in a significant lack of leadership from the Governor's Mansion ever since.Lakers didn't just suddenly leap into the race for governor. 'He has thought about it and crafted a strong economic development message tethered to his skills and experience.
And he's given some consideration to what comes next. 'Lakers plans to identify and hire a couple of key campaign staffers within the next few weeks. Start raising money. Begin traveling the state. Mount TV ads this summer. 'And broaden his campaign message beyond the economic development theme only after study and consultation....
OK, we've got a race. 'Should be fun.
If this state is going to right its course, Nebraska Democrats finally recruiting a gubernatorial candidate is one very big step in the right direction. 'And, although their candidate is still wholly unproven on the campaign trail, Lakers at least has the potential to give Heineman the strong challenge that many had begun to doubt during the last few months.
We'll surely be hearing a lot more about Mark Lakers very soon. 'Stay tuned.
The Dem's Gov candidate
The Dem's Gov candidate: "**See post updates below** The latest name for the Democratic Nebraska Governor candidate: Mark Lakers, President of Ag and Food Associates a middle market merger and acquisition investment bank in Omaha. Previously of McCarthy and Co and First National Bank. We are hearing that this is the guy Dems want to challenge Dave Heineman. Laker's list of contributions to various Democrat candidates
"
February 08, 2010
Gallup Poll Shows Democratic Party's Biggest Gains In NEBRASKA
After the first six months of 2009, Gallup released an astonishing poll showing more Nebraskans identifying with the Democratic Party than the Republican Party by a margin of 43% to 42%. 'Nebraska GOP Chair Mark Fahleson immediately dismissed the poll as 'a post-election euphoric snapshot' and declared, 'I think these poll results would be tremendously different if the poll was taken today.'
After a decade-plus in the political wilderness, Nebraska Democrats appear to hold the same standing they did with voters in 1993. 'The difference is that Democrats then held the Governor's mansion, both U.S. Senate seats, and a U.S. House seat. 'Obviously, we're a long ways from that when the Democratic Party hasn't yet produced a gubernatorial candidate for the 2010 election. 'But, the environment at least appears ripe for progress - if we only had the candidates willing to step up, take a chance, and give Nebraska voters a choice.
Well, lucky for us, Gallup continued its state-by-state polling through the last half of 2009, and - now that the results for the full year are in - we can test Fahleson's hypothesis. 'Yes, Republicans retook the party ID advantage in Nebraska - but only by a margin of 43.7% to 41.1%. 'That's hardly the 'tremendous difference' Fahleson imagined.
While no longer so mind-blowing that every assumption about Nebraska politics would literally be turned on its head, these updated results offer little comfort for local Republicans as we see further evidence of a fundamental shift in the political identity of Nebraska voters. 'Here's an illuminating look at Gallup's tracking poll of Nebraskans' party identification over the years:
Party Identification In Nebraska Year %GOP %DEM GOP Advantage
(by percent)GOP Adv.
(state rank)1993 51.2% 41.1% 10.1% 4th 2002 55.7% 34.4% 21.3% 4th 2005 56.9% 33.1% 23.8% 3rd 2006 55% 37% 18% 3rd 2008 47.3% 40.7% 6.6% 5th 2009 43.7% 41.1% 2.7% 7th
After a decade-plus in the political wilderness, Nebraska Democrats appear to hold the same standing they did with voters in 1993. 'The difference is that Democrats then held the Governor's mansion, both U.S. Senate seats, and a U.S. House seat. 'Obviously, we're a long ways from that when the Democratic Party hasn't yet produced a gubernatorial candidate for the 2010 election. 'But, the environment at least appears ripe for progress - if we only had the candidates willing to step up, take a chance, and give Nebraska voters a choice.
Even more encouraging than the Democratic Party's supposed resurgence is the undeniable collapse of the Republican Party with Nebraska voters - which has continued through President Barack Obama's first year in office. 'Besides losing their grip on more than 13% of Nebraska voters since their party identification high point in 2005, the Republican Party's standing is also considerably weaker than it was in 1993. 'Although Republicans still hold a slight advantage in Nebraskans' party identification, a growing number are simply abandoning the GOP. 'On paper, this leaves Nebraska Democrats in their best position in years - if not decades.
In this, Nebraska's actually going against the national trend. 'After two national elections totally dominated by the Democratic Party, Gallup's 2009 polling showed a balancing in the Republican Party's favor in 39 states during the last year. 'That left four states where there was no change and only seven states where Democrats gained. 'Of these, Nebraska's four point swing in the Democratic Party's favor was the Democrats' biggest gain in the entire country.
Of course, even after this four point swing, Nebraska remains the 7th most Republican state in the country. 'But, after being listed as 'leaning Republican' in last year's poll, Nebraska is now firmly listed as 'competitive' at a time when American politics is more competitive in general. 'That's a trend the people of our state would definitely benefit from being a part of - if only it translated into more and better Democratic candidates on their 2010 ballots.
January 26, 2010
January 08, 2010
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