Rotunda Archive

January 15, 2007

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Gov. pleads for lower taxes, less state spending

Gov. Dave Heineman focused on frugality and reducing income tax rates for middle class Nebraskans in his budget message to senators Thursday — and in his $6.7 billion two-year budget plan.

“Today I am asking all Nebraskans to join with me in putting an emphasis on lowering taxes and restraining government spending in order to secure a more prosperous future for the next generation of Nebraskans,” Heineman said.

Read the complete story by Nancy Hicks online at the Lincoln Journal Star.

-- Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 11, 2007.

Governor Heineman’s State of the State address is available to review on the Governor’s Web site. Of special interest to hospitals:

• Tax cut plan in which a family of four earning $50,000 per year would receive a tax cut of $227, or a 20% reduction in income taxes. A family of four earning $75,000 would receive a tax cut of $504, a reduction of nearly 19%
• For this two-year budget, Medicaid growth is less than 2.5%
• Restructure of the Health and Human Services System
• Key goal is the creation of a separate Department of Children and Family Services, the prioritization of improvements to the Foster Care and Child Welfare Systems, and creating a more transparent, more accountable and more accessible Health and Human Services System led by a single CEO and six department directors.

• Stimulate job growth
• Lower taxes
• Control spending
• Provide property tax relief

• Restructure NHHSS
• Consolidate property assessment and taxation under Nebraska Dept. of Revenue
• Finance ethanol incentives
• Address water challenges
• Increase Nebraska’s college-going rate
  

Bill would change how petition signatures are verified

Of the millions of signatures collected since Nebraska adopted a petition initiative process in 1898, hundreds of thousands have been thrown out for various reasons.

Some rule technicalities would themselves be thrown out under a bill proposed Thursday in the state Legislature.

For instance, if a Nebraskan who signs a petition has moved since registering to vote, state law says that signature should be struck from the initiative.

Read the complete AP story by Anna Jo Bratton online at Lincoln Journal Star.

-- Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 11, 2007.

Health and Human Services Committee 2007 Hearing Schedule

Week 1

Plan for priority bills

Speaker Flood has announced his plan for management of priority bills, as follows:

• Committee and Senator Priority designations will begin on January 18. 
• The deadline for these designations is by adjournment on March 9.
• Requests for Speaker Priority Bills will begin February 26, and go through March 9. 
• Committee 1st Priority Bills will be considered prior to Senator Priority Bills.  Committee 2nd Priority Bills and Speaker Priority Bills will be scheduled to the extent that time is available.  Also taken into account for scheduling bills will be the date a bill is advanced from committee, the amount of opposition to the bill, the degree to which problematic differences have been addressed on the bills, and the public policy implications. 
  

Save the date: NHA Advocacy Day, March 21, 2007

The Nebraska Hospital Association’s annual Advocacy Day event is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln.

After the meeting introduction by NHA Board Chairman, Cal Hiner, administrator of Tri County Hospital, Bruce Rieker, NHA vice president, advocacy, will provide a state legislative update, highlighting the key issues for NHA members.

New HHSS CEO Chris Peterson will then present the status of Medicaid reform and health care priorities of the state.

Following Ms. Peterson, AHA Regional Executive Paul Muraca will discuss the AHA’s unified health plan and federal agenda.

Molly Nance, senior director of communication and education will provide communication points for you to discuss with your senator, then recognize the 2006 Advocacy Team of the Year.

The morning session will be followed by a luncheon with Nebraska senators where you will have the opportunity to discuss legislative issues with your senator.

Invitations will be mailed in February. If you have questions about NHA Advocacy Day, please contact Kris Claussen, Office Administrator, at 402/742-8145 or kclaussen@nhanet.org. 

Did YOUR hospital Advocacy Team excel in 2006?

Did you meet with your state senator several times during the 2006 Legislative Session? Did you offer input regarding Medicaid reform, workers comp, or other health care concerns? Did your employees call or write to support hospital issues?

Let us know that your hospital team deserves the NHA Advocacy Team of the Year award, which will be presented at NHA Advocacy Day, March 21.

It only takes a few minutes to complete the nomination form. Recognize the advocacy efforts of your hospital staff and send in your nomination today.

For more information, please contact Molly Nance, senior director of communication and education, at 402-742-8151 or mnance@nhanet.org. 

Where to get current legislative news

The NHA Web site Advocacy page has valuable information resources for your advocacy efforts, including:

Rotunda 2007

The NHA will provide weekly legislative updates through Rotunda Review and you may monitor bills on the Advocacy page of the NHA Web site. Please watch your email for VoterVOICE calls to action. If you have questions or concerns about any state legislation, please contact Bruce Rieker, vice president, advocacy, at 402/742-8146 or brieker@nhanet.org; or Carly Runestad, director of health policy, at 402/742-8153 or crunestad@nhanet.org. 

NHA testimony presented at the hearings can be found on the NHA Web site Advocacy Page-Bill Status.

NHA Rotunda Review is published by the Nebraska Hospital Association, 3255 Salt Creek Circle, Lincoln, NE 68504. Phone (402) 742-8140, Fax (402) 742-8191. Visit our Web site at http://www.nhanet.org. Molly Nance, editor, at 402/742-8151, or email, mnance@nhanet.org.

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