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TWO IMPORTANT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ON

Additional information,
THE BALLOT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2
including longer versions of
There are two proposed amendment’s to the State’s articles on both Amendments
Constitution. are available on
www.grassrootsne.com
We’ve provided information about candidates and
the two constitutional amendments here.
AMENDMENT 1 SMOOTHS AND WIDENS THE PATH TO FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY
The  State  of  Nebraska  already   Legislature  can’t  take  NO  for   Because  tax  increases  are  
gets  40  percent  of  its   an  answer.    Supporters  of   unpopular  with  voters,  the  
opera9ng  funds  from  the   Amendment  1  are  op9mis9c   requirement  that  economic   VOTE NO
federal  government.  But  such   the  measure  will  pass  this   development  projects  be  
money  comes  with  strings   November  because  “the   financed  with  property  or   ON AMENDMENT 1
a@ached.  In  return,  the  state   ballot  language  this  9me   sales  tax  revenue  forces  city  
relinquishes  control  over   spells  out  more  clearly  what   officials  to  pause  and  give   AMENDMENT 1 SUMMARY:
significant  parts  of  its  budget   the  amendment  would  do.”   such  projects  very  careful  
to  the  whims  of  federal   considera9on  before  they  give  • Is the second time on the ballot
bureaucrats.  Now,  ask   As  the  Nebraska  Cons9tu9on   them  the  green  light.    This  is  a   • Removes limitations on funding sources for
yourself  this  ques9on  —  Do   now  stands,  ci9es  that  want   good  thing.    The  present  
cities and counties economic development
you  really  think  it’s  wise  to   to  launch  an  economic   funding  scheme  insures  that  
allow  towns  and  ci9es  in   development  project  are   city  officials  are  so  convinced   projects
Nebraska  to  do  the  same   limited  in  the  sources  of  funds   of  the  value  of  a  project  to  
• Opens up Nebraska to further federal
thing  in  the  name  of  fostering   they  can  use  to  finance  the   their  community  that  they  are  
local  economic  and  industrial   project.  They  can  only  raise   even  willing  to  propose  tax   intervention within the state
development? such  money  through  local   increases,  and  suffer  public   • Would add to the already unsustainable
sales  or  property  taxes.     complaints  about  those  hikes,  
federal deficit
That’s  what  Amendment  1   Amendment  1  would  permit   in  order  to  pay  for  it.
would  do.  Amendment  1  is   ci9es  to  finance  economic   • Allows local governments to avoid taking a
the  Nebraska  Municipal   development  projects  with   State  and  federal  grant  funds   serious look at how they spend their money
Economic  Development   funds  from  a  number  of  other   also  come  from  taxes.  It  is  not  
• Would likely lead to more borrowing and
measure  that  was  placed  on   sources,  including  state  and   “free”  money,  it’s  just  further  
the  2010  ballot  by  the   federal  grants,  private   removed  from  the  local  sales   indebtedness by local governments
Nebraska  Legislature.  The   dona9ons,  and  public  u9lity   and  property  taxes  that  we  
Amendment  1   funding   ci9zens  from  
amendment  is  actually   revenues.  Of  course,  voters   pay.    Because  the  city  fathers  
effec9vely   requirement   holding  those  
making  its  second  appearance   would  s9ll  be  required  to   won’t  be  hearing  from  
removes  the   places  on  city   city  officials  
on  the  ballot,  having  been   approve  expenditures. disgruntled  cons9tuents  when  
check  that  the   officials  and   accountable  
defeated  by  a  54%  to  46%   increased  state  and  federal  
present   prevents   for  the  
margin  in  2008.  I  guess  the   tax  bills  come  due,  
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.GRASSROOTSNE.COM
consequences  of  their  policies   director  of  the  League  of   Instead  of  giving  them  access  to  
and  their  votes. Nebraska  Municipali9es,  said   more  of  our  money,  perhaps  
many  ci9es,  including  Omaha   those  ci9es  should  get  their  
and  Lincoln,  don’t  use  [the   spending  under  control.    If  
CANDIDATES
But,  supporters  say,  in  some  
cases,  municipal  budgets  and  the   current  economic  development   economic  development  is  a   Worth Considering
__________________________
a@endant  tax  burdens  on  their   provision]  now.  Many  need  all   priority,  they  have  an  incen9ve  
ci9zens  are  already  stretched  to   their  available  sales  taxes  for   to  do  so,  but  only  if  Amendment  
the  limits.“Lynn  Rex,  execu9ve   other  purposes,  and  few  are   1  is  defeated.
willing  to  tap  property  taxes.”     LEGISLATURE

Chad Wright District 46

NEBRASKA NEEDS A STATE TREASURER! VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 2
Opponent: Danielle Conrad
Amendment  2  is  a   should  know  the   and  ci9es  are   Shane  Osborn’s  opinion   Website: www.electchadwright.com
proposal  put  forward  by   Treasurer’s  office  should   incorporated  by  the   that  the  State  
Nebraska’s  legislature  to   actually  be   state.  Properly   Treasurer’s  office  
eliminate  the  State   strengthened  in  a   strengthened,  the   should  be  kept  is  worth  
Treasurer’s  office. number  of  ways   Treasurer’s  office  could   considering.  All  of  the   Tom Dierks District 26
associated  with   become  a  stronger   available  informa9on  
We  are  intui9vely   reducing  the   Opponent: Amanda McGill
“gatekeeper”. indicates  he  has  done  a  
opposed  to  the   encroachments  by   very  good  job  of  keeping   Website: www.votetomdierks.com
elimina9on  of  a  core   federal  government  on   We  concur  with  three   his  department’s  costs  
cons9tu9onal  office.     Nebraska’s  sovereignty.   in  check,  to  return   Phone: 402-438-6353
former  Nebraska  
Someone  needs  to  be   As  we  have  been   governors  and  the   orphaned  funds  to  
the  keeper  of  the  State’s   repor9ng  for  several   taxpayers,  and  to  make  
“checkbook”.  Certain   months,  Nebraska  
current  governor   Nancy Russell District 28
regarding  how  savings   Nebraska  government  
financial  responsibili9es   receives  almost  40%  of   could  be  found  by   spending  and  budget   Opponent: Bill Avery
should  be  conducted  by   its  annual  budget  funds   elimina9ng  bureaucrats   ma@ers  more   Website: www.electnancyrussell.com
an  elected  official   from  the  federal   currently  performing   transparent.1  Further,  
accountable  to  the   government.  A  lot  of   fiscal  du9es  and  giving   he  has  no  par9cular   Email: electnancyrussell@gmail.com
people  of  Nebraska,  not   funds  taken  in  through   those  responsibili9es  to   interest  in  the  ma@er  as  
bureaucrats. state  agency  grants   the  State  Treasurer’s   he  is  not  running  for  re-­‐
indicate  the  right  hand   office. elec9on.
There  are  many  other   doesn’t  know  what  the   John Comstock District 8
prac9cal  and  substan9ve   le^  hand  is  doing.   VOTE NO Opponent: Burke J. Harr
reasons  as  well.  Most  of   Further,  county  and  local  
johnbbjf@gmail.com    Facebook
those  are  very  well   governments  are  
increasingly  accep9ng  
ON AMENDMENT 2
ar9culated  by  the  
current  State  Treasurer,   federal  dollars  and  it  
doesn’t  appear  anyone  is   Treasurer  Osborn’s   that  many  states  do  not   RECOMMENDED TO US BY
Shane  Osborn  in  an  
October  22  statement  he   “minding  the  store”  on   statement  on   have  a  treasurer. LOCALS
released. this  issue.  Not  only  is  all   Amendment  2  can  be  
of  this  federal  money   read  by  clicking  HERE  or   The  reasons  listed  for   Jim Smith District 14
In  addi9on  to  the   adding  to  the  federal   by  anywhere  on  the   the  eliminaBon  do  not  
image  embedded   Opponent: Teresa Whitehead
reasons  ar9culated  by   deficit,  it  comes  with   hold  up  well  to  
strings  and  encroaches   below. scruBny.  As  Treasurer   Website: www.jimsmith2010.com
Treasurer  Osborn,  GiN  
members  and  regular   on  the  states’   Osborn  pointed  out,  
sovereignty.  Coun9es   Proponents  of   the  costs  savings  are   Phone: 402-593-0237
readers  of  this  site  
Amendment  2  are   highly  ques9onable,  the  
misleading  Nebraskans   oversight  provided  by   Lydia Brasch District 16
AMENDMENT 2 SUMMARY: on  a  number  of  issues.   the  State  Auditor  is  far   Opponent: Kent Rogert
• Eliminates the core Constitutional office of the In  both  a  Le@er  to  the   less  frequent,  and  
Website: www.lydiabrasch.com
Editor  and  a  Lincoln   states  without  an  
State Treasurer Phone: 402-372-5788
Journal  Star  ar9cle  on   elected  treasurer  s9ll  
• Touted savings for the State by proponents October  20,  the  Senator   have  one,  they  are  just  
are dubious, at best who  introduced  the   appointed,  not  elected.  
amendment  resolu9on   I  would  add  –  even  if  
• Empowers bureaucrats and eliminates an LANCASTER BOARD OF
in  the  Unicameral   the  reason  given  were  
elected official who is accountable to voters con9nued  to   true,  it  is  not  a   COMMISSIONERS
perpetuate  the  no9on   compelling  reason  by  
• Destroys some checks and balances in state
that  the  elimina9on  of   itself.  Most  mothers   Brent Smoyer
government the  office  will  save   respond  to  similar   Opponent: Greg Butcher
• Reduces oversight on spending in general money  and  “streamline   reasoning  by  children  
Website: www.brentsmoyer.com
government”,  that  the   by  asking,  “If  your  
• Is poorly constructed; it contains no provisions
State  Auditor’s  office   friends  all  jumped  off  of   Email: brent@brentsmoyer.com
for how to properly transition afterwards conducts  similar   a  bridge,  would  you  do  
• Current and former Treasurers are against it oversight  currently,  and   it  too?”

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.GRASSROOTSNE.COM