Greetings HHE Advocate! As the legislative session is about to start, here is a preview of the next legislative session from Ron Withem in the President’s office.
I’ve attached the 2011 tentative legislative calendar that can be found on the Unicameral’s web site, http://nebraskalegislature.gov/. We will be sending more information after the holidays and will send an updated legislative advocacy guide once the session starts. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season!Dear University Supporter:
Here is hoping you are having an enjoyable holiday season and are getting ready for a prosperous and happy new year.
As you know, the turn of the calendar to a new year also means a new legislative session for the Governor, our senators and those of us who rely on the support of the Legislature for our activities. The Nebraska Legislature will convene for its 2011 session at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5.
All legislative sessions are challenging, and this one promises to be especially so. As we have in the past, we will call on our friends and supporters to periodically help the University of Nebraska by contacting members of the Legislature to voice their support.
This year will be the "long" session of the Legislature. Members will not adjourn until 90 legislative days have passed, which will be sometime in early June. During those 90 days the Legislature will consider many proposals for new legislation and will pass the biennial budget for the 2011-2013 fiscal years. We anticipate the budget development cycle to involve a recommendation from the Governor in mid-January; hearings and deliberation by the Appropriations Committee in February, March and early April; deliberations by the full Legislature in late April to mid-May; and final actions by the Governor and Legislature in late May.
I am sure all of you have read news articles about the difficult circumstances facing the state in terms of anticipated revenue and spending. The current budget status sheet shows a potential gap of nearly $1 billion between anticipated revenue and anticipated spending for the next two years. While this figure is still a moving target, it is clear that Nebraska's budget shortfall for the coming biennium will be significant. As our state constitution does not allow for an unbalanced budget, the Legislature will have only two choices: reduce anticipated spending or increase revenue. From what we have read and heard, the emphasis will be on spending reductions. Some of those proposed spending reductions may have a negative impact on the University.
While we recognize that all agencies of state government, including the University, must be a part of the overall solution, we will remind senators as the session goes along that a strong higher education system, led by a strong University of Nebraska, is essential for the economic future of our state. We will also emphasize that a stable level of state support is a key factor in ensuring affordable access to high-quality education. As specific suggestions for budgetary reductions are made, we will inform senators of the potential impact of those cuts.
During the session, we will send you periodic updates on legislative and budgetary actions and suggestions as to how you can assure a bright future for the state by supporting the University of Nebraska. We will need your help to build a consensus in Nebraska around the idea that there has never been a more important time for higher education and all of the benefits it brings.
Thank you for your support of the University of Nebraska. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.
Ron Withem
Director of Governmental Relations, University of Nebraska
3835 Holdrege Street
Lincoln, NE 68583-0745
rwithem@nebraska.eduSenator Gregory Adams District 24 471-2756
Senator Brad Ashford District 20 471-2622
Senator Bill Avery District 28 471-2633
Senator Kathy Campbell District 25 471-2731
Senator Tom Carlson District 38 471-2732
Senator Mark Christensen District 44 471-2805
Senator Colby Coash District 27 471-2632
Senator Danielle Conrad District 46 471-2720
Senator Tanya Cook District 13 471-2727
Senator Abbie Cornett District 45 471-2615
Senator Brenda Council District 11 471-2612
Senator Cap Dierks District 40 471-2801
Senator Annette Dubas District 34 471-2630
Senator Debra Fischer District 43 471-2628
Speaker Mike Flood District 19 471-2929
Senator Tony Fulton District 29 471-2734
Senator Tim Gay District 14 471-2730
Senator Robert Giese District 17 471-2716
Senator Mike Gloor District 35 471-2617
Senator Ken Haar District 21 471-2673
Senator Galen Hadley District 37 471-2726
Senator Thomas Hansen District 42 471-2729
Senator John Harms District 48 471-2802
Senator Lavon Heidemann District 1 471-2733
Senator Gwen Howard District 9 471-2723
Senator Charlie Janssen District 15 471-2625
Senator Russ Karpisek District 32 471-2711
Senator Robert Krist District 10 471-2718
Senator Chris Langemeier District 23 471-2719
Senator Steve Lathrop District 12 471-2623
Senator Scott Lautenbaugh District 18 471-2618
Senator LeRoy Louden District 49 471-2725
Senator Beau McCoy District 39 471-2885
Senator Amanda McGill District 26 471-2610
Senator Heath Mello District 5 471-2710
Senator John Nelson District 6 471-2714
Senator Jeremy Nordquist District 7 471-2721
Senator Rich Pahls District 31 471-2327
Senator David Pankonin District 2 471-2613
Senator Pete Pirsch District 4 471-2621
Senator Scott Price District 3 471-2627
Senator Kent Rogert District 16 471-2728
Senator Kenneth Schilz District 47 471-2616
Senator Arnie Stuthman District 22 471-2715
Senator Kathleen Sullivan District 41 471-2631
Senator Dennis Utter District 33 471-2712
Senator Norman Wallman District 30 471-2620
Senator Tom White District 8 471-2722
Senator John Wightman District 36 471-2642
Don’t know who your Senator is? Click
HERE to find out. For additional information about your Senator, please visit the website for the
Nebraska Legislature.