Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
We just concluded a historic legislative session for our great state. As we marked the closing of the 100th Legislature in Nebraska, I thanked the Legislature for a very good and a very productive session.
The most important accomplishments were balancing the budget by reducing spending and preserving a robust Cash Reserve Fund. With signs of an economic slowdown approaching, it was essential for Nebraska’s future financial stability that we balance the budget by reducing state spending, not by increasing taxes.
Working with the Legislature, we expanded our business incentives and furthered our goal of creating higher paying jobs for our young people by passing the Nebraska Super Advantage legislation. We also reduced corporate income tax rates, which was an important step in making Nebraska’s business climate more attractive, particularly for small businesses.
We also followed through on a commitment to farmers in the Republican River Basin, whose partnership plays a key role in achieving compliance with the Republican River Compact. LB 1094 allowed for administrative repayments to surface water irrigators in the Republican River Basin who gave up irrigation water for the 2007 crop year to receive payment. As of April 17, the final day of the 2008 legislative session, all farmers had been paid the money they were due.
We finalized a plan to expand statewide student testing in the coming years, and we passed a bill that allows Health and Human Services leaders to share more information with Nebraskans on some of the most challenging cases they face.
This session provided a fresh start for one of our state’s most enduring traditions – the State Fair. With the passage of LB 1116, the Nebraska State Fair will now have the opportunity to revitalize and modernize itself in Grand Island and the University of Nebraska can begin development of an innovation park and research site that has the potential to pave the way for new job and economic growth in our capital city.
Moving the State Fair to Grand Island provides the opportunity to demonstrate that an event in central Nebraska can be just as successful as one held in our larger cities. I know that area residents are excited to have been entrusted with the legacy of the Nebraska State Fair. I am confident it will thrive in its new home.
This session I also signed Nebraska’s Safe Haven law. The Department of Health and Human Services, hospitals and law enforcement have already begun discussions on how to ensure the best outcomes for children when this new law is utilized.
I want to thank the Legislature for a successful session. We accomplished much, but we still have more work to do on behalf of Nebraskans.
I wish to acknowledge the State Senators leaving us due to term limits. Their collective record of success has set the bar high for future Legislatures, and I look forward to working with the 49 senators who will gather next year when the 101st Legislature convenes.
