Tax cut a step forward, though lawmakers leave issues unresolved

An unprecedented pile of money available to Nebraska lawmakers set the tone and dominated debate on several fronts during this year’s 90-day session, though the fate of several key issues remain unresolved.
Some would argue that it was an historic session, while others claim it was an opportunity lost. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, depending on your priorities and perspective.
What we do know is that COVID-relief funds and a surge of state revenues gave lawmakers a lot of money to work with, which changed the game entirely from previous years. We suggested going into the session that senators should avoid the temptation to go on a massive spending spree just because they could, and for the most part they accomplished that goal. The rainy day fund got a boost and several large, expensive proposals were put on hold, needing more vetting.
Keeping tabs on this year’s session was a bit like watching sausage being made, as always, which isn’t pretty. The day-to-day committee hearings and debate were ugly, though the end result didn’t taste too bad. The amount of time lost to filibusters and other time-wasting tactics seems incomprehensible to citizens with a vested interest in the law-making process, which in the end greatly reduces the number of bills signed into law. That’s probably a good thing, unless of course your priority bill was one lost in the shuffle, for example prison construction/sentence reform, abortion and concealed carry. 
While this year’s session is now in the books, the fate of those and other key issues hang in the balance, with the change of several senators after November’s election likely to have an impact on future debates. 
The main headline for the 2022 session was a complex $1 billion tax cut plan, which was touted as a huge win for Nebraska taxpayers and a much-needed change to help make the state more competitive in attracting and keeping more residents. Time will tell of course, as there will be attempts to change the changes each and every year, but on principal this was a major, commendable step forward.
Kurt Johnson