Nebraska Politics & News
The Daily Signal reports on Nebraska politics with coverage of the unique unicameral legislature, rural priorities, conservative governance traditions, and agricultural policy in the Cornhusker State.
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Nebraska Bans Men in Women’s Sports
Nebraska recently passed a law making it illegal for men to participate in women’s sports. The law also recognizes only two distinct and separate identities—male and female, as categorized by their reproductive systems. The “Stand With Women” Act states, “Males and females possess unique and immutable differences” that are “enduring.” It passed in the Nebraska…Quinn Delamater -
Florida, South Dakota, and Nebraska Voters Reject Abortion Amendments: Results From 10 Ballot Initiatives on Life
Voters in 10 states decided Tuesday either to protect life or to enshrine abortion up to birth in their constitutions, with pro-life advocates prevailing in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Five largely pro-abortion states—Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, and New York—and five largely pro-life states—Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota—voted in the weeks leading up…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
‘This Race Should Not Be Close’: Deluge of Far-Left Dark Money Tightens Nebraska Senate Race
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Republican Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska, a two-term incumbent who won previous Senate races by at least 14-point margins, is in a race too close for comfort with just 18 days to election night. Fischer holds just a one-point lead over Dan Osborn, an independent candidate who has never held public office,…Adam Pack -
Missouri, Nebraska Advance Education Freedom
After three consecutive years of massive progress expanding education freedom and choice, 2024 is shaping up to be another banner year. This week, Missouri expanded its education choice policy and Nebraska adopted a new school choice policy. So far this year, five states have enacted new education choice policies or expanded existing ones, and several…Jason Bedrick -
Citing Pro-Life Views, Nebraska State Senator Switches Parties
A Nebraska state legislator is transitioning from blue to red after his own party censured him for having a pro-life stance. Nebraska state Sen. Mike McDonnell officially left the Democratic Party last week after 40 years and became a Republican. In a written statement explaining his decision, McDonnell wrote: “I have asked the Democratic Party to…S.A. McCarthy -
Biden Admin Punts on Radical Title IX Sports Rule Change for Now, but Nebraska Has Chance to Act
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972—a law guaranteeing equality between the sexes in education—has been on the chopping block from Day One of the Biden administration. But after a lengthy delay, the federal Department of Education has formally announced it will punt on the announcement of its new Title IX sports rule, one…Sarah Parshall Perry -
Nebraska Abortion Bill Targets Unborn Babies With Genetic Handicaps
Unborn babies with disabilities would be discriminated against by legislation proposed in Nebraska, opponents say. The bill, LB 1109, targets unborn babies with certain handicaps by allowing abortion for up to 22 weeks of gestation. If the bill were passed and signed into law, babies diagnosed with often-fatal fetal anomalies, such as Trisomy 13 or 18, would…Mary Elise Cosgray -
EXCLUSIVE: Lawsuits Challenge Gun Restrictions in 2 Nebraska Cities
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—A conservative legal group was set to file lawsuits Monday against Nebraska’s two largest cities, arguing that they are defying a state law on gun rights. The Liberty Justice Center is challenging gun restrictions enacted in Lincoln and Omaha, contending that the ordinances flout a state law passed earlier this year…Fred Lucas -
Nebraska Detransitioner Sues Medical Providers for Removing Her Breasts at 16
Detransitioner Luka Hein is suing the medical providers who surgically amputated her breasts at the age of 16 in 2018, “leaving her physically and psychologically scarred.” “Proceeding straight to breast amputation in a depressed, anxiety-ridden, gender-confused adolescent, who was incapable of understanding the lasting consequences of her decision, constitutes negligence for which Defendants are jointly…Mary Margaret Olohan -
Nebraska Law Implements Voters’ Demand for More Secure Elections
When Nebraskans went to the polls last November, nearly two-thirds of voters decided to amend Nebraska’s Constitution to require people to present a valid photo identification before casting a vote in future elections. To implement the amendment, Nebraska’s Legislature recently passed a law setting forth the exact voter ID requirements and striking a proper balance…Jack Fitzhenry -
Nebraska Enacts Bill Protecting Minors From Gender Transitions, Unborn After 12 Weeks
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, signed a combination bill Monday protecting minors from gender transitions and protecting unborn babies after 12 weeks’ gestation. The measure provoked several extremely pro-trans Democratic senators to engage in an unprecedented filibuster of the entire legislative session and barrage the bill with unserious procedural motions designed to bog the process down. “Protecting our…Joshua Arnold -
Biden Adopted Vague ‘30 by 30’ Conservation Plan From ‘Radical Environmental Groups,’ Nebraska Governor Says
President Joe Biden’s proposed plan to conserve 30% of America’s land by 2030 lacks needed details, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says. The Biden administration has not provided details on how it intends to accomplish the goal, but enough is known about Biden’s “30 by 30” conservation initiative to know that it won’t serve the best…Virginia Allen -
Nebraska Budget Denies Taxpayer Dollars for Abortion
The governor of Nebraska has signed a budget bill that defunds Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers in the state. Before Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican, signed the spending package Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature had failed twice to pass the $8.8 billion budget, USA Today reported. “There is no ‘carve out’ for any organization in…Rachel del Guidice -
Nebraska Woman Loses Health Insurance for Fourth Time Under Obamacare
Pamela Weldin’s experiences with Obamacare can be boiled down to just a few numbers. Since the health care law’s implementation three years ago, Weldin, 60, has lost her insurance four different times. And the Nebraska woman is currently enrolled in her fifth new insurance policy in four years. “Yet again, and through no fault of…Melissa Quinn -
Nebraska Abolishes Civil Forfeiture
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican, has signed a major state forfeiture bill into law. Like New Mexico before it, the Cornhusker State now requires a criminal conviction before property can be forfeited. Civil forfeiture is the law enforcement tool, which allows property suspected of being involved in, or derived from, criminal activity to be…Jason Snead -
Thanks to New Law, Nebraska Hair Braiders Can’t Be Jailed for Practicing Without a License
Just two weeks ago, Nebraskans who wanted to make money braiding hair had to undergo 2,100 hours of training to obtain a cosmetology license, which state officials say dedicates little time to natural hair braiding techniques. But now Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican, has signed legislation into law that will lift arduous occupational licensing…Natalie Johnson -
Conservatives ‘Uncomfortable’ With It, So Nebraska Abolishes the Death Penalty
The Nebraska Legislature has voted to end the death penalty in the state, overriding the governor’s veto. Lawmakers voted 30-19 to abolish capital punishment in Nebraska on Wednesday. Only 30 votes were required to override the veto. The Daily Signal previously reported that Nebraska lawmakers approved legislation that would end capital punishment in the state…Kate Scanlon -
Why Conservatives in Nebraska Want to End the Death Penalty
Nebraska’s legislature has approved legislation that would abolish the death penalty in the state. Lawmakers approved the legislation in a 32-to-15 vote despite the governor’s threat to veto it. Many of the legislature’s senators cited their conservative principles as reason to oppose the death penalty. They called capital punishment bureaucratic and fiscally irresponsible. They also…Kate Scanlon -
Out-of-State Billionaire Wages War on Affordable Energy in Nebraska
I had the privilege of serving as mayor in the small, Shenandoah Valley town where my wife and I raised our children. So, I am keenly aware of concerns about powerful out-of-state or out-of-area interests trying to take advantage of a rural population. The Nebraskan battles over the Keystone XL pipeline and the Terex injection…David Kreutzer -
How One Nebraska Woman Lost Her Health Insurance Three Times Under Obamacare
Dec. 26, 2014, was strike three for Pamela Weldin. The day after Christmas, Weldin, of Minatare, Neb., had logged on to Facebook to find a message from a friend of hers. Included in the note was a link to an article from the Omaha World-Herald announcing that CoOportunity Health, a nonprofit health insurance company offering plans…Melissa Quinn