Newsroom

Tuesday, April 17, 2012
By KEVIN O'HANLON
Lincoln Journal Star

While the 2012 legislative session that ends Wednesday largely will be remembered for lawmakers sparring with Gov. Dave Heineman over tax issues and whether to give prenatal care to illegal immigrants, lawmakers made headlines with plenty of other issues.

For one, they passed a sweeping overhaul of the state's ailing child welfare system. The effort was led by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell and the Health and Human Services Committee.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
By Martha Stoddard
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — Now it's up to the governor.

With only a handful of dissenting votes, state lawmakers passed a budget package Tuesday that includes money for a cancer research center in Omaha, child welfare, special education and human services.
The bills now head to Gov. Dave Heineman, who has until Monday to decide whether to veto any spending in the bills.

His spokeswoman, Jen Rae Hein, said he would "carefully and thoughtfully" review the bills. She declined to comment further.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012
By Paul Hammel
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — A new, less ambitious tax-cut package won over enough converts in the Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday to push it to surprisingly easy, first-round approval.

The package, a compromise worked out earlier in the day by state legislators and Gov. Dave Heineman, was advanced on a 36-6 vote.

Monday, April 2, 2012
By KEVIN O'HANLON
Lincoln Journal Star

Nebraska lawmakers gave 42-0 final approval Monday to a bill (LB882) under which oral chemotherapy will be treated the same as intravenous cancer treatments for insurance purposes.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, said the lack of parity in coverage between intravenous and oral chemotherapy medications was a growing problem, with some cancer treatments costing $5,000 to $10,000 a month.

Friday, February 24, 2012
By KEVIN O'HANLON
Lincoln Journal Star

A bill to require parity in what chemotherapy is covered by insurers was given 30-4 first-round approval Friday by Nebraska lawmakers.

Under the bill (LB882) by Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, oral chemotherapy would be treated the same as intravenous cancer treatments for insurance purposes.

Thursday, February 9, 2012
By Paul Hammel
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — Nebraska's practice of taxing retirees' Social Security benefits is driving the elderly — and their spending power — out of the state, a panel of state legislators was told Wednesday.

Nebraska is one of only five states that fully tax the government checks that retirees receive.

January 26th, 2012

“Governor Heineman’s tax proposal is skewed to benefit the wealthiest individuals in our state, at the expense of our middle class families,” said Senator Jeremy Nordquist. “This handout to the rich will undoubtedly jeopardize our ability to invest in a strong education system and a competitive workforce.”

Under Governor Heineman’s proposal:

* The top 5% of filers receive more from the Governor’s giveaway than the bottom 60% of Nebraskans.

LB 952 Ensures Legislative Consideration of Administration’s Proposed Cuts

January 12th, 2012

Lincoln – Today, Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha introduced LB 952 to stop the implementation of cuts to the Medicaid program that would significantly weaken safety net health services for Nebraska’s most vulnerable populations.

Click here to access the 2011 End of Session Report:

http://www.jeremynordquist.com/assets/2011Report.pdf

Impersonation could be crime

By Martha Stoddard, Omaha World Herald
February 11, 2011

LINCOLN — State Sen. Amanda McGill of Lincoln rarely goes anywhere without her Blackberry, and she’s a regular on Facebook.

As one of the younger Nebraska lawmakers, she’s comfortable with electronic media. But last fall she encountered a darker side of the online world.