As a member of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, Senator Nordquist spent much of his time during the 2009 session reviewing, tracking, and assessing state spending. A difficult economic climate added to the Legislature's challenge of finding and cutting government waste while ensuring that state assistance still is available to Nebraskans who need it.

In 2009, Senator Nordquist introduced LB 303, which would have exempted Social Security benefits from our state’s income tax. Currently, Nebraska is one of only five states that taxes Social Security benefits to the same extent as the federal government. Iowa and Missouri have recently passed similar measures. While the bill’s price tag was too high to be enacted this session, LR 139 should give the Legislature an idea of how to relieve the pressure put on our retirees by state taxes.