  For the
week of
4/23/2010
Budget Shortfall; Economic Development
During the 101st Legislative Session, we passed 196 bills and addressed all of the 101 priority bills available for debate. Of those 101 priority bills, 80 passed into law, 14 failed to move beyond General File, two failed to move beyond Select File and five were held in committee. While we dealt with a variety of issues this session, one issue took priority over all other bills, the revenue shortfall. With a deficit budget cut of an additional two percent and an anticipated $679 million shortfall for the next biennium budget, we were all mindful of bills with fiscal notes. While March’s revenue numbers were better, we will continue to closely monitor revenue in April and May.
To help the Legislature have a better understanding of agency expenditures, Senator Lavon Heidemann, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, introduced a resolution. The measure calls on standing committees to work with agencies to identify ways to cut agency spending. As Chair of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, I will be working with a number of agencies including the Department of Roads, Department of Motor Vehicles and the Public Service Commission, to identify possible savings.
I am proud to say that we passed several economic development measures this year that will not involve significant spending but will make a difference for Nebraskans. LB 1018, introduced by Senator Abbie Cornett of Omaha, creates the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act. This act will allow cities, with voter approval, to refund part of their local sales taxes to help finance redevelopment projects or construction of destination museums or water parks. Other economic development measures include a bill to provide job training reimbursement for at-home workers and another that qualifies smaller data center projects for state incentives.
LB 779, introduced by Senator Steve Lathrop of Omaha, expands facilities that can qualify for the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act. The act provides a mechanism for using sales tax revenue to fund the construction or enhancement of certain facilities. Under existing law, 30 percent of the sales tax revenue is diverted to a fund that provides grants to smaller communities. The executive office, through Senator Lathrop, tried to amend the bill to place this 30 percent generated by any new arena or horse track built under LB 779 into the state’s general fund rather than the grant fund. Many communities in our district have benefited from these grants, and I strongly opposed this amendment that would have taken money away from our rural communities. The amendment failed and the bill passed.
As we continue to look for creative solutions to help Nebraska’s economy, the Legislature passed a bill that will create a task force to bring high-wage employment to Nebraska. I have been appointed to serve on the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Task Force which will develop a statewide strategic plan to encourage entrepreneurship in Nebraska. I look forward to serving on this task force to ensure that rural Nebraskans are well represented in the quest to continue attracting quality companies and jobs to our state.
To find out how these various economic development measures could possibly help you or your business, please feel free to contact my office at 402-471-2628 or dfischer@leg.ne.gov. Over the interim my office will be researching bills for the next session and working on interim studies. You can visit my websites throughout the interim for bill updates and information on interim hearings, www.news.legislature.ne.gov/dist43/ or www.senatordebfischer.org/.
It is an honor to serve as your representative in the Nebraska Legislature. As I travel our district this summer for meetings and events, I look forward to visiting with you about the important issues facing us. I encourage you to contact me anytime and wish you and your family a good summer.
Deb Fischer
Senator, District 43
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