LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — For Speaker Jim Scheer, in order to get any of the big legislation passed in 2020, senators who see the world very differently, are going to have to come together, something that didn't happen last year.
"If there's one thing that this body probably needs, and probably for the last 50 or 60 years, is compromise,” says Scheer, who’s term-limited at the end of the year.
In 2019, you saw the unicameral's urban - rural divide come into play in a major way on two different bills that were tied together.
Rural senators were pushing for a variety of measures, anything really, that would have given farmers and ranchers relief on their property tax bills.
That didn't happen, mainly because senators from Omaha, Lincoln and surrounding areas wouldn't budge.
Those same rural senators then blocked a bill that would update state law on incentivizing businesses to come and stay in the state.Something many urban senators thought was a good idea for the economy and to keep talented people in the state.
This coming session, nothing's changed, those bills are tied together tightly.
"You'll need cross pollination from both those bills to make both of them successful,” says Scheer.
There will be push back coming on both fronts this year, some question why the state continues to give big business tax breaks when many of the largest like TD Ameritrade, Cabelas and Conagra, have or plan to leave the state.
Scheer, who wants to see the business incentive bill passed, says the state never handed them money, they earned it by giving Nebraskans jobs for a number of years.
“Those companies did what was required of them, to receive it, it wasn't that they left as soon as they got the check, all those companies have received those fundings for a long time,” says Scheer.
When the senators return to the floor, the elephant in the room will again be passing property tax relief. Senators have worked in the summer and fall to find a consensus, but it's unclear there is one, or if Governor Pete Ricketts is on board with their plan.
"So at some point in time, regardless if the governor supports it, or not. We at least have to try and do something, if that means passing it and have some fall off and you're not successful, so be it,” says Scheer.
There's pressure to get both bills done, a petition drive to cut state property taxes by 35 percent is gaining momentum and the current state business incentive bill expires at the end of the year. Scheer thinks those deadlines will spur action.
"I fully expect both the property tax and the incentive legislation to pass,” says Scheer.
There also has been confusion regarding the legalization of hemp and if CBD products are legal or not, Speaker Scheer says you likely could be seeing an update to that this session.
