State of Nebraska Archives: on Tax Reform
Jim Pillen:
Limit the growth in spending by local taxing entities
We have to fix our broken property tax system. Governor Ricketts has made good on his promise to address property taxes every year he has been in office, putting hundreds of millions of dollars into the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund.
And yet property taxes are still too high and remain a top concern for families and ag producers everywhere. We need to limit the growth in spending by local taxing entities and modernize our tax structure to address property taxes once and for all.
Source: 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial campaign website JimPillen.com
May 12, 2022
Theresa Thibodeau:
Special interests, bureaucrats have blocked tax reform
Tax Reform is at the top of my agenda as it has been for every candidate for Governor for the past forty years. Why can't we get anything done? Because our state government is controlled by special interests and bureaucrats.
Why do I think I can get something done when everyone else has failed? I don't put up with the nonsense. I'm a mom and a small business owner. I have to make things happen every single day, or my kids and business suffer.
Source: 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial website TheresaForGovernor.com
Feb 27, 2022
Peter Ricketts:
Reduce top individual tax rate from 6.84% to 5.84%
Over the next five years, we must reduce the top individual tax rate by one percent--from 6.84% to 5.84%. For those who may try to brand this as a tax cut for the rich, I challenge you to ask
Nebraskans earning $33,180 a year, or families earning $66,360 a year, if they feel rich. They make up the 418,900 Nebraskans in this tax bracket who deserve relief.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Nebraska legislature
Jan 13, 2022
Chuck Herbster:
Move Nebraska to a consumption-based tax system
It takes grit, motivation and a fair tax system to empower small businesses.
Move Nebraska to a consumption-based tax system to make our state more livable and affordable for all.
Source: 2021 NE Governor campaign website HerbsterForNebraska.com
Nov 17, 2021
Chuck Herbster:
Implement the consumption tax system
It takes grit, motivation and a fair tax system to empower small businesses.
Implement the consumption tax system so Nebraska is livable and affordable for all.
Source: 2021 Governor campaign website HerbsterForNebraska.com
Jun 7, 2021
Chuck Herbster:
Constitutional amendment to replace state income tax
Herbster announced his support for adoption of a proposed new consumption tax to replace the state's income, corporate, sales and property tax system. The consumption tax proposal calls for a vote of the
people in 2022 on a constitutional amendment that would revolutionize the state's tax system. The consumption tax would be applied to the purchase of services and new goods.
Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race
May 4, 2021
Peter Ricketts:
Property tax relief is a top priority
Property tax relief remains the top priority for the people of Nebraska. Last year, we successfully increased the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund from the state to the people of Nebraska by over 20%. I am recommending roughly $500 million in
property tax relief over the next three years to help our farmers, ranchers, home owners, and businesses. I have three principles: No tax increases, protect the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund, and encourage spending restraint in local governments.
Source: 2020 Nebraska State of the State address
Jan 15, 2020
Peter Ricketts:
Ease burden of property taxes; plus 3% local cap
Property tax relief is the number one priority Nebraskans want. My budget provides $51 million in new property tax relief through the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund. This is a 23 percent increase in property tax relief to all Nebraska property owners.
[I am also] proposing to establish a three percent cap on property taxes levied by local governments. It comes in the form of a constitutional amendment, which must be approved by the people after receiving your consideration.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Nebraska legislature
Jan 15, 2019
Bob Krist:
The farmland assessment process is broken
One of his big messages is the need to truly reform the state tax system, property taxes in particular, he said. The questions he has fielded in Nebraska communities about property taxes have been "amazing," he said. He tells them the farmland
assessment process is broken.In some counties in Nebraska, the average tax increase over the past 10 years is as high as 147%, and individual homeowners and landowners have experienced even greater increases, he said.
Source: The Lincoln Journal-Star on 2022 Nebraska Gubernatorial race
Oct 27, 2018
Bob Krist:
People's voices will be heard on taxes
His first priority is finding bipartisan solutions to reducing property taxes, while assuring adequate education funding. "The tax problem is bigger than just property tax relief, it is restoring the balance between property, income and sales tax: the
3-legged stool. For nearly 10 years that I have served in the Nebraska Legislature, all we've done is talk about tax reform. I understand it when people say they feel their voices are not being heard. If elected, the talking will turn into action.
Source: 2018 Nebraska Gubernatorial website KristForNebraska.com
Dec 12, 2017
Jane Raybould:
Don't shift tax burden onto poor
As Congress begins to pivot toward tax reform, Raybould said, it will be important to make sure that "those who are the
wealthiest pay their fair share (and) that we never ever move the tax burden onto the backs of low-income Americans."
Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2018 Nebraska Senate race
Aug 25, 2017
Don Bacon:
We need a simpler, flatter tax code
We need a simpler, flatter tax code that has lower rates with fewer deductions. Everyone knows that 73,000 pages of tax law is ridiculous, and it undermines our competitiveness. Furthermore, since government at all levels spends
42 cents on every dollar earned in this country, it is clear that we have a spending problem. Therefore, I'm committed to not raising your taxes.
Our nation pays one of the highest corporate tax rates in the free world. This also undermines the competitiveness of our businesses. I will support a reduction in corporate tax rates from 35% to at least 25% and
I will work to eliminate special interest loopholes that aren't fair to the American taxpayer. I want our businesses to compete in the world and win.
Source: 2016 Nebraska House campaign website DonBacon2016.com
Nov 8, 2016
Peter Ricketts:
Provide tax relief through property tax regulations
Last year, we successfully worked together to provide $408 million in direct dollar-for-dollar property tax relief through the Property Tax Credit Relief Fund. This year, we must make structural changes to property taxes through a
bill that we propose to tighten spending and levy limits and to limit the statewide aggregate growth of agricultural property valuations to three percent. We must prioritize property tax relief, it's my number one priority this year.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Nebraska legislature
Jan 14, 2016
Peter Ricketts:
Protect taxpayers from bureaucracy & burdensome regulations
PROTECT TAXPAYERS: Pete will hold the line on taxes and keep state bureaucracy accountable by prioritizing transparency.Pete will work to limit burdensome regulations and to improve Nebraska's tax climate to enable existing in-state businesses to
grow in Nebraska and encourage out-of-state companies to relocate to Nebraska. Pete will also utilize his experience helping entrepreneurs to create the next generation of Nebraska businesses.
Source: 2014 Nebraska Governor campaign website, PeteRicketts.com
Nov 4, 2014
Ben Sasse:
Taxation should be as simple as possible
- Honest work, perseverance, and achievement should be praised rather than ridiculed.
- Taxation should be as simple as possible and should not exceed historical norms, as the federal government should shrink--not expand--in size and scope.
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Regulations should not sap the vitality of a free citizenry, stymy economic growth, or disadvantage everyday Americans at the expense of the well-connected.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, SasseForNebraska.com, "Issues"
Nov 14, 2013
Dave Heineman:
Eliminated sales tax exemptions, to eliminate income tax
Did you know that the State of Nebraska provides $5 billion in sales tax exemptions? Nebraska exempts more than we collect. Is that fair to our small businesses and working Nebraskans?Imagine if we eliminated just half of the current exemptions.
Nebraska wouldn't need to have an individual income tax or a corporate income tax.
I have asked business leaders if they would give up their sales tax exemptions if we could eliminate the individual income tax and the corporate income tax or at least
lower the individual and corporate tax rates. You may be surprised, but many are willing to have that discussion. They want simplicity and fairness. They want a modern tax code that rewards productivity, profits and job creation rather than having
their lawyers and accountants spending time mining the tax code for exemptions. Our tax system shouldn't favor one industry over another. Change is not easy, especially when it involves taxes, but this is the discussion that our state needs to have.
Source: 2013 Nebraska State of the State Address
Jan 15, 2013
Deb Fischer:
No increase in local property taxes
Deb Fischer said she has been a tax cutter in the Nebraska Legislature. She said new advertisements aired by one of her opponents, Attorney General Jon Bruning, mischaracterize her legislative record.
Jon Bruning's TV ad criticizes Fischer for opposing a constitutional amendment that would have placed a limit on state spending.
Fischer noted that the amendment would have forced an increase in local property taxes and was rejected by Nebraska voters.
Bruning's campaign manager stood behind the ad: "The ad is 100% factual.
Don Stenberg and Deb Fischer have been attacking Jon Bruning for months, and this ad sets the record straight."
Source: Omaha World Herald on 2012 Nebraska Senate ad review
May 12, 2012
Dave Heineman:
To build economy: no new taxes
In order to build on the progress of the past few years, it was critical that we solved revenue shortfalls by remaining committed to reducing spending and preventing tax increases in order to continue Nebraska's economic progress.
We have seized the opportunity to make Nebraska more competitive. It required us to make difficult choices and required that we prioritize our investments during the next two years. And we have done that with this budget.
Source: 2011 Nebraska Gubernatorial press release
May 17, 2011
Mike Johanns:
No tax increase for research on celluosic ethanol
Johanns said, “Scott said corn-based ethanol will not be a part of our future. I could not disagree more.”“I don’t know why, as Secretary of Agriculture, he urged the president to veto the Farm Bill, which included $1 billion of research for
celluosic ethanol,” Kleeb countered.
Johanns said he makes no excuses for vetoing the bill. “I would do it again. You put a tax increase in a farm bill I will veto it just like I vetoed the state budget when they boxed it up with tax increases.”
Source: [Xref Kleeb] 2008 Nebraska Senate debate
Aug 24, 2008
Scott Kleeb:
Supports $1B in tax funds for research on celluosic ethanol
Johanns said, “Scott said corn-based ethanol will not be a part of our future. I could not disagree more.”“I don’t know why, as Secretary of Agriculture, he urged the president to veto the Farm Bill, which included $1 billion of research for
celluosic ethanol,” Kleeb countered.
Johanns said he makes no excuses for vetoing the bill. “I would do it again. You put a tax increase in a farm bill I will veto it just like I vetoed the state budget when they boxed it up with tax increases.”
Source: 2008 Nebraska Senate debate reported in Lincoln News
Aug 24, 2008
Scott Kleeb:
Keep middle-class out of AMT, estate tax, and capital gains
For too long, the middle class has been bearing too much of the load. Scott Kleeb believes in:- Fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), an unfair tax that ensnares more and more middle-class Americans every year.
- Ending the marriage penalty.
- Reforming the estate tax to prevent families from losing a family home or business, like the family-run farms right here in Nebraska.
- Eliminating capital gains taxes on the sale of a home when the appreciation was less than $500,000.
Source: Campaign booklet, Nebraska’s Brand of Change, p. 4-5
Aug 19, 2008
Mike Johanns:
$60M in property tax relief over next two years
Keeping true to my pledge of providing direct property tax relief, I am asking the Legislature to approve $60 million dollars over the next two years for property tax relief through the State’s community colleges.
We have funded this method of providing direct property tax relief in each of the last two years. It has been successful and we should continue this effort.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Nebraska Legislature
Jan 11, 2001
Page last updated: May 30, 2022