2018

Letter from the Chairman .......................................................2

ACU & ACUF Board Members ..............................................3

Selecting the Votes .......................................................................3

2018 Winners & Losers ................................................................4

NE Unicameral Vote Statistics .............................................5

NE Unicameral Vote Descriptions ................................... 6

NE Unicameral Scores ............................................................... 8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RATINGS of NEBRASKARATINGS of NEBRASKA

ACUConservative @ACUFoundation | #ACURatings Conservative.org

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Nebraska

Dear Fellow Conservative,

The American Conservative Union Foundation is proud to present our ratings of the 2018 meeting of the Nebraska Legislature. Like our Ratings of Congress, which date back 47 years, our state ratings are meant to reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual’s life. We begin with our philosophy, i.e., conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person, and then apply our understanding of government (its essential role is to defend Life, Liberty and Property).

Because our ratings are designed to educate the public about how consistently elected officials adhere to conservatism, we carefully examine the entire docket of legislation introduced in each state every year. We select the most meaningful bills and publish the results after the dust has settled. ACUF state ratings—launched in 2011 with ratings for five states—have become a nationally recognized resource for evaluating over 8,000 elected officials comprising each of America’s 99 state legislative chambers.

Each election cycle, citizens choose leaders whose vision for the state most closely matches their own, hoping that candidates’ promises will be kept. ACUF’s ratings measure whether those promises were fulfilled or forsaken. With nearly a decade of data on state legislators’ voting records and average scores for every legislative chamber, citizens in every state can assess how effectively their lawmakers have applied conservative philosophy to the role of government.

We at ACUF believe, as Ronald Reagan once said, that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We hope that by providing this unique tool, these ratings will empower Americans to exercise their right to protect our unique American democracy from tyranny.

Sincerely,

Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union Foundation

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

ACUConservative @ACUFoundation | #ACURatings Conservative.org

TO SEE MORE ACU RATINGS, PLEASE VISIT: acuratings.conservative.org

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Nebraska

SELECTING THE VOTES

ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the Nebraska Legislature that determine a member’s adherence to conservative principles. We selected bills that focus on Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of the “three-legged stool”: 1) fiscal and economic: taxes, budgets, regulation, spending, healthcare, and property; 2) social and cultural: 2nd amendment, religion, life, welfare, and education; and 3) government integrity: voting, individual liberty, privacy, and transparency. This wide range of issues are designed to give citizens an accurate assessment that conveys which of Nebraska’s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property.

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Charlie Gerow Vice Chairman

Carolyn D. Meadows 2nd Vice Chair

Bob Beauprez Treasurer

Ron Christie Secretary

Ed Yevoli At-Large

Dan Schneider Executive Director

ACUExecutive Committee

Jackie Arends

Larry Beasley

Kimberly Bellissimo

Steve Biegun

Morton C. Blackwell

Jamie Burke

José Cárdenas

Muriel Coleman

Sean Fieler

Alan M. Gottlieb

Van D. Hipp, Jr.

Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser

Ed McFadden

Priscilla O’Shaughnessy

Ron Robinson

Mike Rose

Peter Samuelson

Sabrina Schaeffer

Terry Schilling

Matt Smith

Chris Turner

Bill Walton

Thomas Winter

Board Members

ACUFExecutive Committee

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Millie Hallow Vice Chair

Van D. Hipp, Jr. Treasurer

Kimberly Bellissimo Secretary

Dan Schneider Executive Director

Board Members

José Cárdenas

Gordon Chang

Jonathan Garthwaite

Charlie Gerow

Niger Innis

Adam Laxalt

Willes K. Lee

Mary Matalin

Carolyn D. Meadows

Thomas Winter

The ACUF Legislative Ratings Team

Francis Finnegan

Larry Hart

Fred McGrath

Tyler Muench

Luke Schneider

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Nebraska

2018 WINNERS & LOSERS

Brewer

Briese

Groene

Linehan

Lowe

90-100% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE

n/a

10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT<=

Albrecht

Brasch

Clements

Geist

Halloran

Hilgers

Murante

Riepe

Schumacher

Smith

Thibodeau

Watermeier

80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Nebraska

NEBRASKA UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE STATISTICS

71%OVERALL AVERAGE

HANSEN36%

LOWEST SCORER

LINEHAN100%

HIGHEST SCORER

NEBRASKA UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = ALL LEGISLATORS

2018 ACUF PERCENTAGE

# OF STATE

LEGISLATORS

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

090-100%0-9% 10-19% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89%20-29%

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Nebraska

1. LB 384 Increasing Caps on Interest Rates. This bill increases from 21 percent to 29 percent the per annum interest rate that a Nebraska installment lender can charge on a loan. ACU opposes government-imposed price controls on interest rates, which reduce loan opportunities for those without a strong credit history and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The legislature voted to kill the bill on January 10, 2018 by a vote of 19-17.

2. LB 368 Eliminating Helmet Requirements for Adult Motorcyclists. This bill allows motorcycle riders 21 years of age and older to ride without a helmet as long as they have eye protection. ACU supports this expansion of individual liberty and supported this bill. The legislature failed to invoke cloture and move the bill forward for passage on January 10, 2018 by a vote of 30-15. (A “Yes” vote supported the ACU position.) Members voting “Present” were counted as voting against the ACU position, as 33 votes were required to invoke cloture.

3. LB 39 Banning the Sale of Ivory. This bill bans the sale and trade of rhinoceros horns and all products containing ivory, except certain antiques. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights is a leading voice on issues such as this, which prevent individuals from freely utilizing and selling their property. ACU opposes this measure which prevents the free market from efficiently allocating the current supply of ivory, thus creating a black market and placing endangered species at needless risk and opposed this bill. The legislature failed to advance the bill on January 11, 2018 by a vote of 19-9. (25 votes were required.)

4. LB 1090 Hiking Taxes Through the Elimination of Exemptions (Krist Amendment). This bill helps prevent unintended state income tax increases resulting from the elimination of personal tax exemptions and changes in itemized deduction in the federal tax code. A key vote came on the Krist amendment which would have exclusively limited state personal exemptions to taxpayers making under $100,000, resulting in an effective net tax increase of $66 million for high-income earners. ACU supports reducing taxes for all earners and opposed this amendment. The legislature killed the amendment on March 8, 2018 by a vote of 12-24.

5. LB 778 Requiring Voter Approval for Property Tax Levies. This bill requires that property tax levies be approved by a majority of voters (instead of solely the school board) during a special or general election. Furthermore, the bill restricts the application of levies to school building repairs, alterations and furnishings. ACU supports providing voters a say in property tax levies and supported this bill. The legislature failed to invoke cloture and move the bill forward for passage on March 22, 2018 by a vote of 18-12. (A “Yes” vote supported the ACU position.) Members voting “Present” were counted as voting against the ACU position, as 33 votes were required to invoke cloture.

6. LB 295 Expanding School Choice through Tax Credits. This bill allows individuals and businesses to receive tax credits by donating to nonprofit organizations that provide scholarships for children to attend private schools. Educational attainment provides substantial economic returns for families and for states, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The legislature voted against a motion to kill the bill on March 22, 2018 by a vote of 10-23. (A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

7. LB 944 Implementing a Fiscally-Responsible Budget without Abortion Funding. This bill (the state budget) has two key conservative components. First, it reduces state agency spending by 2 percent, and second, contains a provision that ensures taxpayer dollars do not fund abortion services. ACU supports spending reductions and all efforts to end the human tragedy of abortion and supported this bill. The legislature passed the bill on April 3, 2018 by a vote of 38-6.

8. LB 947 Reducing Property and Income Taxes. This bill provides over $4.5 billion in tax relief over the next decade by reducing property taxes, income taxes and the corporate tax rate. Reducing tax burdens increases economic growth, which increases family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports this much needed pro-growth tax relief and supported this bill. The legislature voted against a motion to kill the bill on April 3, 2018 by a vote of 9-25. A “No” vote supported the ACU position.)

NEBRASKA UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Nebraska

9. LB 548 Authorizing the Issuance of $300 Million in Bonds without Voter Approval. This bill bypasses voter approval and authorizes over $300 million in bonds to help cover the costs of Omaha Public School’s failing pension system. ACU believes Omaha’s pension system is in dire need of reforms (such as the adoption of a 401(k) style plan for new hires) and opposes silencing voters and placing taxpayers on the hook for the school district’s mismanagement and opposed this bill. The legislature failed to advance the bill on April 4, 2018 by a vote of 22-17. (25 votes were required.)

10. LB 701 Permitting the Practice of “Telehealth." This bill allows a physician to prescribe drugs and establish a provider-patient relationship through an electronic system in which both parties are in remote locations, a practice referred to as “telehealth.” ACU supports innovative technologies such as telehealth which expand the availability of health care and reduces costs and supported this bill. The legislature passed the bill on April 10, 2018 by a vote of 45-0.

11. LB 1119 Permitting State Employees to Enroll in Direct Primary Health Care Plans. This bill provides greater health care options at lower costs to state employees by permitting the enrollment into Direct Primary Care plans, which are alternatives to traditional insurance and allow patients and physicians to contract for services. In addition, the bill allows insurers to offer plans that incentivize enrollees to “shop around” for the best price for health care services. ACU supports the expansion of health care options for state employees and the ability for insurers to offer plans that reduce health care costs and supported this bill. The legislature voted to pass the bill on April 11, 2018 by a vote of 42-2.

12. LB 596 Eliminating Licensing for Equine Massage Therapy. This bill eliminates the requirement that an individual be licensed in order to practice massage therapy on horses, dogs and cats. Prior to this legislation, an individual had to be registered as a human massage therapist and obtain 1,000 hours of training. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements that are primarily designed to restrict competition and supported this bill. The legislature passed the bill on April 11, 2018 by a vote of 46-0.

13. LB 496 Providing Subsidies for Affordable Housing. This bill expands a program that historically has utilized property tax revenues to redevelop blighted areas. The bill now also allows revenue to be used to build “workforce housing” in “rural” areas of the state. Under the bill, real estate developers would receive subsidies for the construction of homes priced up to $275,000. ACU opposes this government interference in the housing market which enriches developers at the expense of property taxpayers and opposed this bill. The legislature passed the bill on April 18, 2018 by a vote of 35-8.

14. LB 117 Granting Terminally Ill Patients the “Right to Try” Experimental Drugs. This bill provides terminally ill patients the right to try drugs, biological products, or devices that have been partially tested but not yet approved by the Federal Drug Administration. ACU believes it is absurd to deny terminally ill patients access to new drugs and supported this bill. The legislature passed the bill on April 18, 2018 by a vote of 35-13.

15. LB 299 Reforming the Occupational Licensure System. This bill establishes a review process under which the state’s occupational regulations are reviewed every five years to determine if government intervention in the industry is needed and, if so, that the “least restrictive” regulation with the lowest burden and cost is first considered. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements that are primarily designed to restrict competition and supported this bill. The legislature passed the bill on April 18, 2018 by a vote of 45-1.

16. LB 989 Permitting the Operation of Autonomous Vehicles. This bill allows the operation of autonomous vehicles in Nebraska and establishes a regulatory framework. ACU supports the operation of autonomous vehicles and the future benefits the technology may provide and supported the bill. The legislature passed the bill on April 18, 2018 by a vote of 34-8.

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Nebraska

NEBRASKA UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE VOTE DETAIL

Party Dist.

LB 384

LB 368

LB 39

LB 10

90

(Krist A

md.)

LB 778

LB 295

LB 944

LB 947

LB 548

LB 70

1

LB 1119

LB 596

LB 496

LB 117

LB 299

LB 989 ACU

VotesVotes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

Albrecht U 17 + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + X 13 15 87% 69% 78%

Baker U 30 - - - - - - + X - + + + - + + + 7 15 47% 30% 37%

Blood U 3 + - - X - X E E - + + + - + + + 7 12 58% 31% 45%

Bolz U 29 X - - - - X + X - + - + - + X + 5 12 42% 42% 34%

Bostelman U 23 E E E E - + + + X + + + X + - - 7 10 n/a† 71% 71%

Brasch U 16 + + X + + + + + + + + + + - + - 13 15 87% 75% 80%

Brewer U 43 + + + + + + + + + E + + X + + - 13 14 93% 69% 81%

Briese U 41 + + + X + + + - X + + + X + + X 11 12 92% 64% 78%

Chambers U 11 + X E X - - - - - + + + - + + + 7 13 54% 23% 29%

Clements U 2 - + + + + + + + + + + + X - + - 12 15 80% 85% 82%

Crawford U 45 E - - - - X E E - E + + - + + X 4 10 n/a† 36% 31%

Ebke U 32 - + - E - E + + E + + + - + + + 9 13 69% 67% 69%

Erdman U 47 E + + X + + - X + + + + + - + - 10 13 77% 79% 78%

Friesen U 34 X + + + - - + X X + + + + - + - 9 13 69% 64% 63%

Geist U 25 + + X + + + + + X + + + - - + + 12 14 86% 77% 81%

Groene U 42 + + + + + + + + X E + + + - + X 12 13 92% 67% 83%

Halloran U 33 + + X + + + + X + + + + + - + - 12 14 86% 79% 82%

Hansen U 26 X - - - - - - - - + X + - + + + 5 14 36% 31% 27%

Harr U 8 + - - X - X + X - + + + - + + + 8 13 62% n/a 33%

Hilgers U 21 - + X + + + + + + + + + - - + + 12 15 80% 67% 73%

Hilkemann U 4 - - E X - X + + - + + + - + + + 8 13 62% 64% 58%

Howard U 9 X - - - - E X X - + X + - + + + 5 11 45% 30% 27%

Hughes U 44 - + E + - + + + + + + + - - + X 10 14 71% 67% 67%

Kolowski U 31 + - E - - - X X - + + + - + + + 7 13 54% 27% 29%

Kolterman U 24 - + X + - + + + + + + X - + + + 11 14 79% 58% 61%

Krist U 10 E + E - - - + X E E - X - + X + 4 9 n/a† 27% 31%

Kuehn U 38 - + X E - + + + + + + + + - + - 10 14 71% 77% 60%

NEBRASKA UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE SCORES

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Nebraska

NEBRASKA UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE VOTE DETAIL

Party Dist.

LB 384

LB 368

LB 39

LB 10

90

(Krist A

md.)

LB 778

LB 295

LB 944

LB 947

LB 548

LB 70

1

LB 1119

LB 596

LB 496

LB 117

LB 299

LB 989 ACU

VotesVotes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

Larson U 40 E + E E + E X E + + E E - + + + 7 8 n/a† n/a 69%

Lindstrom U 18 - + X + - + + + - + + + - + + + 11 15 73% 75% 67%

Linehan U 39 X + X + + + + + + + + + X + + + 13 13 100% 67% 83%

Lowe U 37 + + X + + + + + + + + + X - + X 12 13 92% 79% 85%

McCollister U 20 - - - X - - + X - + + + - + + + 7 14 50% n/a 41%

McDonnell U 5 E + E X - + + + - + + + - + + + 10 13 77% 42% 59%

Morfeld U 46 + + - - - - - - - + + + - + + + 8 16 50% 33% 32%

Murante U 49 - + X + + E + + X + + + - + + + 11 13 85% 73% 72%

Pansing Brooks U 28 + - - - - X - X - + + + - + + + 7 14 50% 30% 30%

Quick U 35 + - - - - X + X - + + + - + + + 8 14 57% 25% 41%

Riepe U 12 - + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + 14 16 88% 82% 78%

Scheer U 19 - + X + - + + + - + + + - + + + 11 15 73% 55% 54%

Schumacher U 22 + X - + + - + - + + + + + + + + 12 15 80% 27% 46%

Smith U 14 - + E + E + + + X + X + - + + + 10 12 83% 69% 62%

Stinner U 48 - + - + - X + + X + + + - + + + 10 14 71% 67% 57%

Thibodeau U 6 + + + + + + + + - + + + - - + + 13 16 81% n/a 81%

Vargas U 7 X X - E - E + - - + X + - + X + 5 10 n/a† 42% 42%

Walz U 15 + - - - - - + - - + + + - + + + 8 16 50% 30% 40%

Watermeier U 1 - - X + + + + + + + + + + E + X 11 13 85% 80% 76%

Wayne U 13 + + - - - X - - - + + + - + + + 8 15 53% 20% 37%

Williams U 36 - - - + - X + + + + + + - + + + 10 15 67% 62% 57%

Wishart U 27 X + - + - E + - - + + + - + + + 9 14 64% 33% 49%

“+” Member voted with ACU’s position“-” Member voted against ACU’s position“X” Member was absent for vote“E” Member was excused for vote

† Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2018 percentage was not rated. 2/3rds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score.