Grassroots Corner - March 6, 2020

The Nebraska Legislature is considering an amendment to its State Constitution which will effectively compel a state-level FAIRtax.  What is it about this amendment that would make such a transformative change happen?

But before we get to the answer, let’s look first at the team that brought this development about.



 

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Nebraskans Supporting The FAIRtax has been one of our most active groups, hosting a well-attended dinner meeting every month in Omaha and bringing in speakers.


Activists include State Director Rob Rohrbough (shown at the right) activist Floyd Zabel, and database experts Scott Petersen and Kyle Clark.

The group had been plugging away at The FAIRtax for quite some time.  Last year the Nebraska FAIRtax Team, in a bid to sponsor a state-level FAIRtax, raised funds privately from one of Nebraska’s state senators to fund a rate study from the Beacon Hill Institute, Boston.

The Team sent back an initial proposal from Beacon Hill because the Team wanted to expand the rate to replace property-taxes as well as income-taxes.  Beacon Hill completed the rate study in September 2019.

Meanwhile there has been an appetite in Nebraska from other sources for consumption taxes.

Our Nebraska Team linked up with an organization called TRUE -  Tax Relief Unites Everyone, Nebraskans’ LLC.  The initial push was to give Nebraskans a credit on their income-taxes for 35% of their paid property-taxes.

The proposal turned out to be too tepid.  The combined team of Nebraskans Supporting The FAIRtax & TRUE decided instead to go for the gold.

“Gold”, here, means a State Constitutional Amendment called Legislative Resolution 300 CA (“CA” is probably code for “Constitutional Amendment”).

What does LR-300-CA do?

LR-300-CA abolishes every form of taxation in Nebraska at every level of government in the state, i.e., from Lincoln and Omaha all the way down to Monowi with a population of 1.  The only survivor of LR-300-CA is consumption taxation.
 
So how likely is it LR-300-CA will pass? Very good!

On 2/12/20 the Revenue Committee of the Nebraska held a hearing on LR-300-CA.  The score was 20 people speaking in favor, 4 against.  Our Nebraska Team had something to do with the former number.

Now we wait for the Revenue Committee to act.  And if they don't act quickly enough, rest assurred Rob and his Team will be making some noise.

When the Revenue Committee sends the measure to the floor of the Nebraska Legislature, there is a good chance LR-300-CA will be on the Nebraska ballot in November.  When Nebraska voters approve the measure, Nebraska will become the 1st state in the Union to have a true state-level FAIRtax.

When Nebraska gets The FAIRtax, look out NJ, NY, CA! There will be pressure put on other states to follow suit and upward pressure put on the Federal Government to pass The FAIRtax at the national level.


On Tuesday, March 3, 2020 (before this piece goes to press but after it is written) LR-300-CA Sponsor Senator Steve Erdman (shown at the right) will have spoken to our Nebraskans at their monthly dinner meeting in Omaha.  Maybe we will have an inkling as to when LR-300-CA will come out of Committee.

Let’s get behind our Nebraska FAIRtax Colleagues and assist them work their magic.

Contact State Director Rob Rohrbough by clicking here to send him an email.


   

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