Monthly Archives: March 2017

NORTH DAKOTA BECOMES 10TH STATE TO PASS THE CONVENTION OF STATES RESOLUTION

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North Dakota Senate Gets a Perfect 10 for Passing HCR3006 and
Joining 9 Other States Calling for an Amending Convention to Return Power Back to the States!

Bismarck, ND, March 24, 2017 – The Convention of States Project, the largest Article V grassroots organization in the Country, is pleased to announce that the North Dakota Senate passed HCR3006 by a voice vote, becoming the 10th state to pass the COS Resolution. Congress can learn something from the heroic efforts of North Dakota legislators including Representatives Jim Kasper (primary sponsor), Rick C. Becker, Al Carlson (House Majority Leader), Craig Headland, Kim Koppelman, Scott Louser and Dan Ruby, as well as and Senators Kelly M. Armstrong (Chairman, ND Republican Party), Jonathan Casper, David Hogue, Nicole Poolman and Senate Majority Leader, Rich Wardner, who were instrumental in leading the debate and discussion this session.

HCR 3006 calls for an Article V Convention of States for the purpose of proposing constitutional amendments that limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and set term limits for federal officials, such as judges.

Acting State Director and State Information Analyst for COS Project ND, Jeremy Neuharth remarked, “Today I stand as a proud North Dakotan that we are part of the solution. Our legislature took the bold step, using the tools provided by the Founders in the Constitution, to restore the balance of power back to the states. It is with these acts that we secure one of our most sacred rights – individual liberty for all!

“The outstanding efforts of the North Dakota House and Senate should be studied by other legislatures in how to get things done,” said Mark Meckler, Co-founder of the Convention of States Project. “We are witnessing the States uniting against the federal government to return power and freedom of choice back to the rightful sovereigns of the nation—The People.”

Americans are looking for solutions outside of Washington, and Article V gives an opportunity to the States to lead the nation back to self-governance. North Dakota Convention of States Project volunteers called, emailed and visited with legislators urging them to pass this resolution. Citizens see a flailing federal government that is out of ideas and are ready to break the shackles of big-government and return decision making where it was intended—the States.

March 27, 2017

LB576 – Cap Your Real Estate Tax

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March 13, 2017 … This just in from Paul Van Behren of
NebraskaVoice.net

Nebraska,

Every time I write one of these I bite my lip. There’s no such thing as a “most important” bill. Add this year’s 11 conservative freshman to the core senators we had and you finally have a place at the table, as well as a host of bills worth supporting.

But if we’re learning anything, it’s to be strategic. First things first. There’s a reason behind this email. LB 576 was heard in committee this week. It had the most support of any bill heard Thursday.

Have you ever considered that what is now the single, biggest tax in Nebraska is the only major tax that ignores your ability to pay… that property taxes are growing twice as fast as your income… that if you’re a business or farm/ranch, they’re going up even faster? And how dare you think that the 600-or-so property taxing entities already have enough!

576 is so simple: It gives the Unicameral till 2019 to find a workable solution to take the pressure off your property taxes. If they can’t, a simple cap kicks in for 4 years. Your taxes could go down but not up. It quietly says “If you can’t solve it, stop the increases until you have a plan.”

WE TRULY NEED YOUR HELP. The Revenue Committee is under great pressure for revenue solutions. Because 576 isn’t a specific solution, it will be easy to ignore it. Because there are no serious solutions proposed, it’s time to understand Nebraskans have had enough and expect property tax relief!

By Thurday (3/16/17) – Please CALL & EMAIL a simple message to the senators on the Revenue Committee: The message is simple: Please vote LB 576 out of Committee and onto the Unicameral floor for full debate. To create your own message, these might help:
– I strongly encourage you to vote Yes on a motion to advance LB 576 to General File.
– LB 576 deserves a full and complete debate by the full House.
– Nebraska’s property taxes are already too high and should not go higher.
– LB 576 gives the Revenue Committee flexibility to fully support any other bill.
– The people of Nebraska deserve to know where the members of the Revenue Committee stand on the issue of stopping our out of control property taxes.
– I will be following committee votes.

(Hover mouse over email address and it becomes a live link to use with your mail system)

Smith, Jim jsmith@leg.ne.gov
(402) 471-2730
Brasch Lydia lbrasch@leg.ne.gov
(402) 471-2728
Friesen Curt cfriesen@leg.ne.gov
(402) 471-2630
Groene Mike mgroene@leg.ne.gov
(402) 471-2729
Harr,Burke bharr@leg.ne.gov
(402) 471-2722
Larson Tyson tlarson@leg.ne.gov
(402) 471-2801
Lindstrom Brett blindstrom@leg.ne.gov
(402) 471-2618
Schumacher Paul pschumacher@leg.ne.gov
(402) 471-2715

And if you will, please let Sen. Brewer’s office know your contacts. It’s a great help to understand the support out there. You might even thank Colonel Tom for taking a long-overdue stand in Lincoln. tbrewer@leg.ne.gov

There are other worthwhile bills. This one starts to defang the monster that is on all of our backs.

Thanks For Your Help

March 13, 2017