State of Nebraska Archives: on Families & Children

Peter Ricketts: More resources for Child and Family Services

With this in mind, my proposal provides more resources for Child and Family Services, invests in education, protects reforms in Corrections, and balances the budget without raising taxes.

Brad Ashford: Provide prenatal care regardless of immigration status

Excerpts from veto message: Nothing in current law prohibits hospitals, private donors, or other benefactors across the state from assisting those in need of care, regardless of their immigration status. The issue presented by LB 599 is whether or not $2.5 million from hard-working Nebraskans should be used each year to pay for prenatal services for women who broke the immigration laws. This issue should not be confused with prenatal services to low-income women--taxpayers already fund those services through Medicaid .

Legislative outcome: Brad Ashford voted YEA on bill passage; bill passed 31-15 on April 11; Governor vetoed on April 13; veto override on April 18.

Dave Heineman: Reform child welfare system: collaborative & measurable

Your Health and Human Services Committee has provided the state a series of recommendations to begin a conversation about how the courts, the Legislature and the Executive Branch can work together to develop a more collaborative, a more coordinated and a more comprehensive approach to protecting Nebraska's children.

Together, we need to bring stability to Nebraska's child welfare system. The focus should be on the future & on measurable results

Scott Kleeb: Support healthy childbearing & treat post-partum depression

As a husband and the father of two daughters, Scott Kleeb is committed to ensuring that women’s health issues receive the attention and funding they deserve. Scott will work to:
• Increase research, screening, and education for women’s health. Scott Kleeb will support increased funding for diseases and illnesses that target women, including:
  • Breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer.
  • Heart disease, the number one cause of death for women.
  • Post-partum depression.
• Support new moms. As a father, Scott Kleeb knows the financial and emotional challenges new moms face. That’s why Scott will support healthy childbearing measures that give kids--and new moms--the health care they need to start a healthy life.
• Expand women’s representation in clinical trials. Too often, women are underrepresented in clinical trials. Scott Kleeb will work to ensure proper research and investment for women’s clinical trials.

Don Stenberg: Strong, traditional families are foundation of our culture