LB 1402 not right for Nebraska

Dear Editor:
In 2023, our state senators passed LB 753 to allow state tax money to be diverted from the state to fund private school scholarships. A successful petition drive across the state collected approximately 117,000 certified signatures to bring that law to a citizen vote.
In 2024, our state senators spit in the face of those 117,000 petition signers when they repealed last year’s bill. They passed a new bill so the previous one cannot be voted on. In response, we are collecting signatures for a new petition drive.
The new bill, LB 1402, takes money directly from the state treasury to fund private school scholarships while the previous one was to be funded with tax credits to donors. Either way, state tax money is diverted away from any other number of organizations, agencies, and departments that rely on state funds to operate.
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan from Elkhorn, who has championed these bills, has a daughter who works for an organization that is pushing similar legislation in every state which may be part of Linehan’s motivation. It is important to note that once these laws have passed in other states, the amount of taxpayer money diverted to private schools has ballooned to bigger and bigger amounts each year. The amount of money obligated in this bill is just the tip of the iceberg.
We all should ask some questions. Why is using state money to fund private school scholarships being pushed in Nebraska? Why have non-Nebraskans injected millions of dollars into getting this legislation passed in our state? Have students experienced more successful outcomes in states that have already passed similar laws? We must slow down and gather information to make an informed decision. We urge you to sign the petition so that Nebraskans can vote on whether or not we want this law at this time.
Our local group is hosting two petition signing drive-thru events — one on Thursday June 20 and the other on Tuesday June 25. Both will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Aurora Senior Center. Please drive through and sign a petition.
Bruce Ramsour
Glen Beran
Dawn Haymart
Craig Shaffer
Monte Burger
Cindy Burger
Lois Hixson
Julie Jensen