Nebraska gets ‘F’ for oversight of superPACs, other outside groups

By   /  May 17, 2013  /  Featured, Nebraska, News  /  3 Comments

A new report gives Nebraska a failing grade for its oversight of spending by outside groups in campaigns.

By Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog
Updated 12:40 p.m.
LINCOLN – Nebraska received a failing grade in a new report for the state’s lack of oversight in spending by superPACs, nonprofits and other groups.
Nebraska is among 26 states that got an “F” for its disclosure requirements — or lack thereof — for independent spending, according to a report by the [...]

Read More →

‘Sasse for Senate’ (*if governor passes)

By   /  May 15, 2013  /  Nebraska WatchBlog  /  No Comments

Benjamin Sasse

By Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog
Updated 3:20 p.m.
LINCOLN – The former chairman of the state Republican Party has set up a Facebook page aimed at drafting Midland University President Ben Sasse to run for the U.S. Senate if Gov. Dave Heineman doesn’t.
Mark Fahleson set up the page, which says while Heineman is the “first choice” [...]

Read More →

Lawmakers override veto of retirement bill

By   /  May 14, 2013  /  Nebraska WatchBlog  /  2 Comments

school bus

By Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog
LINCOLN – Nebraska lawmakers today overrode the governor’s veto of a bill that attempts to address a $2.2 billion shortfall in school employees’ retirement plan.
Gov. Dave Heineman said the bill, LB553, addresses the shortfall in the short term by changing the amortization method, but creates long-term sustainability issues. He suggested [...]

Read More →

Death penalty vote indicative of NE Legislature’s move to middle

By   /  May 13, 2013  /  Nebraska  /  14 Comments

.

Debate over whether to repeal the death penalty is an example of how the Nebraska Legislature seems to have moved to the middle as term limits churn the membership more frequently than in the past.

Read More →

Grounded: NE lawmakers not ready to buy governor’s airplane

By   /  May 10, 2013  /  Featured, Nebraska, News  /  4 Comments

Courtesy photo

Nebraska lawmakers changed course Friday and voted to strip $2.5 million from the state budget to buy a 2001 turboprop plane from a university foundation and instead do an independent study on the best course of action.

Read More →