"To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain." - Louie L'Amour
A few things you can influence today...
If you like beer, this bill is for you. LB (Legislative Bill) 632 would require all beer to be distributed from a wholesaler's warehouse as well as place limits on brewer-owned taprooms. Currently, distributors are allowed to deliver craft beer directly from the brewers to local bars and stores, saving them a trip to the middleman who may be located hundreds of miles away. However, the big boys (Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors) must go through a wholesaler to have their beer distributed.
Supporters say it would bring regulation of small, local breweries closer in line with that of larger producers. Opponents argue the bill would burden rural breweries and make it nearly impossible for craft brewers to open new taprooms to sell their products.
Voice your opinion: Contact one or all the members of the General Affairs Committee By phone: Sen. Tyson Larson, Chairperson
(402) 471-2801 Sen. Carol Blood
(402) 471-2627 Sen. Lydia Brasch
(402) 471-2728 Sen. Burke Harr
(402) 471-2722 Sen. Bob Krist
(402) 471-2718 Sen. Dan Quick
(402) 471-2617 Sen. Merv Riepe
(402) 471-2623 Sen. Justin Wayne
(402) 471-2727
Driving while loaded. LB 68 would make state gun laws take precedent over municipal codes. Currently, cities may have additional ordinances regarding guns. A good example...it's legal for a rancher in western Nebraska to keep a loaded .22 in his pickup for shooting coyotes, while it's illegal for an armed teenager to cruise through Omaha with a loaded AR-15. Omaha also requires handgun owners to register their weapons whereas the state does not.
Supporters, like the NRA, say conflicting laws are unconstitutional and confusing. Opponents, like the Omaha Police union, say these local laws are necessary to combat violence.
Voice your opinion: Contact the members of the Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee: By phone: Sen. John Murante, Chairperson
(402) 471-2725 Sen. Carol Blood
(402) 471-2627 Sen. Tom Brewer
(402) 471-2628 Sen. Tom Briese
(402) 471-2631 Sen. Joni Craighead
(402) 471-2714 Sen. Mike Hilgers
(402) 471-2673 Sen. John Lowe
(402) 471-2726 Sen. Justin Wayne
(402) 471-2727
Drawing Lines in the Sandhills...and the rest of the state.
After every ten-year census, States redraw their political district boundary lines. In Nebraska, the Legislature creates a special committee to draw these up. The committee is often very partisan and some say leads to gerrymandering. A pair of bills, LB 216 and LB 653, propose to create independent committees to handle this task. LB 216 would create an advisory commission of seven members, half Democrats and half Republicans with a Chair with no political party affiliation. LB 653 proposes a nine-member committee, of which no more than five could be of the same party. LB 653 would require formal opinions from the Nebraska secretary of state and attorney general about the constitutionality of the maps, 216 would not.
Voice your opinion. Contact one or all the members of the Executive Committee. By phone:
Sen. Dan Watermeier, Chairperson
(402) 471-2733 Sen. Kate Bolz
(402) 471-2734 Sen. Ernie Chambers
(402) 471-2612 Sen. Sue Crawford
(402) 471-2615 Sen. Dan Hughes
(402) 471-2805 Sen. John Kuehn
(402) 471-2732 Sen. Tyson Larson
(402) 471-2801 Sen. John McCollister
(402) 471-2622 Sen. Jim Scheer
(402) 471-2929
