April 17, 2006

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

The 2006 legislative session created some very significant changes and improvements. Now that the members of the Legislature have adjourned, it is time for state agencies to get to work and implement the work accomplished during the past few months.

Chief among the achievements of this session was the action taken to provide tax relief for individual Nebraskans and their families. In working with the Legislature to craft the final package, we were able to find common ground that will result in $300 million in tax savings over the next three years. That savings, combined with more than $20 million in line-item reductions supported by the Legislature, was an important step in curbing state spending.

The need to provide better, more effective protection against sexual predators for our youngest and most vulnerable citizens was another important issue addressed this year. While a consensus was not always within reach throughout this year’s short session, on this issue, the members of this Legislature stood united and sent LB 1199 to my desk without a single dissenting vote.

That is one of many examples of the professionalism seen throughout this session. It is a clear demonstration that while there can sometimes be great disagreement about the best course of action to take, that when presented with a comprehensive and realistic approach to a problem, Nebraskans are able to put our differences aside and come together to do what’s best for our state.

This session also saw a renewal in our efforts to help attract more of our young people to agricultural careers and encouraged the expansion of livestock operations, created opportunities for investment in early childhood education, and provided funding for distance education.

In addition to providing groundbreaking legislation for the management of sex offenders that could serve as a model for other states, Nebraska became the first state in the nation to provide tax credits for residents who invest in a long-term care savings plan, similar in structure to a college savings plan.

We also took another step toward ensuring that our state maintains a viable supply of our most precious natural resource, now and into the future. While the availability of water resources will likely continue to be an issue, the ability to direct more water downstream in the Republican River Basin will help position our state for the future, in addition to helping protect our agricultural economy.

With regard to the issue of school boundaries, our state has faced difficult decisions in recent years. The passage of LB 1024 was a much-needed first step toward resolution of this very difficult issue for our largest city. It is by no means a perfect solution, but it provides a roadmap to begin the discussions of what the final solution should look like and creates an opportunity to involve local leaders and the surrounding communities in planning for the future. This is an area that has seen tremendous economic development in recent years and every indication is that it will continue to grow. Without question that growth impacts local school districts and this is an opportunity to resolve the issues of the past and look toward planning for the future growth of our state.

My hope is that the coming discussion on how to best address the needs of this area will provide a solution that makes good sense for the greater Omaha area, but that serves as a resource as other communities expand and begin to confront similar issues.

Finally, I want to congratulate the members of the 99th Legislature for their hard work. While this was the last session for 20 Nebraska senators, they have set the bar high for those who will follow in their footsteps. It has been a privilege to work alongside a group of leaders who are equally committed to ensuring a strong future for our state, and I want to commend each member of the Legislature on a productive session.