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December 31, 2014 Leave a comment
A selfie with Senator Lydia Brasch and Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief of Kat Country Hub. Senator Brasch visited Kat Country Hub while out on the campaign trail in the Spring, prior to the primary election in May. Photo Credit also of Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
November 18, 2014 Leave a comment
In just over seven weeks, the 104th Legislature will convene with 17 new senators beginning their tenure, along with a newly elected governor, attorney general, and state auditor. I will also be starting my second term representing District 16. The Capitol is once again filled with increased activity preparing for the upcoming session. This interim has been especially busy and challenging, but fulfilling.
I was heartened by our community spirit witnessed when, like countless others, I worked in various capacities following multiple natural disasters. Becoming whole once again to some may have seemed very distant or unachievable from the mounds of broken glass caused by damaging baseball sized hail to twisted metal silos, feedyards relentlessly beaten beyond recognition, countless piles of uprooted trees that once stood tall, and scattered remnants of homes and farmsteads left behind from devastating tornadoes. Yet today, one sees where determination and strong will prevailed as communities are rebuilding ever stronger and more resilient.
Thankfully, most received enough rain over the summer to pull out of prior drought conditions. Despite weather related setbacks a successful harvest has been completed or nears completion as we wait for the snow and frigid temperatures to subside.
As in years before much of my time was spent visiting or working with constituents of District 16. In the 151 work days since adjournment, I attended over 150 district events, including:
Our three County fairs, with 11 parades;
An annual ride-along review of District 16’s Game and Parks land;
Two annual Road Department ride-alongs (I even operated the concrete paver equipment!); plus
Multiple grand openings/ribbon cuttings or constituent meetings.
In September, I was honored to be chosen among 48 policymakers nationwide to participate in the prestigious Henry Toll Fellowship Program coordinated by the Council of State Governments in Lexington, Kentucky. I learned additional skills to effectively advocate for my constituents and navigate and build sound agency relationships for best results for legislation. I also gained valuable advice and a new network of 47 Fellow leaders from coast to coast.
A number of important issues we responded to include:
The proposed rule change to the Definition of the Waters of the United States by the EPA;
Various Army Corp of Engineer projects along the Missouri River which disregard landowners’ property rights; and
Multiple Department of Roads issues.
I look forward building upon my work and the privilege to once again serve our district and state. We are scheduling Town Hall meetings on December 4 in each county seat to listen to constituents’ views in considering legislation to introduce, support or oppose prior to session commencing January 7, 2015. We also invited representatives from the Nebraska Department of Roads to join us for an update of district projects underway.
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact me and my office via email at lbrasch@leg.ne.gov or via phone at 402-471-2728; or stop by Room 1016 if you are at the Capitol.
Keeping the Good Life growing in Nebraska,
Lydia Brasch
Senator, District 16
Senator Lydia Brasch
October 16, 2014 Leave a comment
District 16 State Senator Lydia Brasch wants to encourage young readers in grades 4-12 to write a personal letter to an author for the Letters about Literature (LAL) contest, a national reading and writing promotion program. Stressing the importance of practicing their reading and writing skills, Senator Brasch said, “This contest is a fun and creative way to encourage students to read and write. I hope all aspiring authors will consider entering this contest.” Senator Brasch added, “Many classes visit our office at the Capitol every year, and I have learned first-hand how very creative our students are. This will be a wonderful way to let their creativity and brilliance be recognized.”
Letters can be addressed to any author from any genre explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s view of the world. Prizes will be awarded on both the state and national levels. A panel of judges from Nebraska Center for the Book will then select the state winners, who will be honored in a proclamation-signing ceremony at the State Capitol during National Library Week in April 2015. Winning letters will be displayed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln.
State winners will also receive state prizes and advance to the national competition where a panel of national judges for the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress will select one National Winner per competition level (Level I for grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7-8, and Level III for grades 9-12). Winners will receive a $1,000 cash award, to be announced May 2015. The judges will also select one National Honor winner on each competition level to receive a $200 cash award.
Submissions from grades 9-12 must be postmarked by December 15, 2013 and submissions from grades 4-8 by January 15, 2014.
Nebraska-specific information (including letters from Nebraska winners of past contests) is available at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html. For more information contact Mary Jo Ryan, maryjo.ryan@nebraska.gov, 402-471-3434, or 800-307-2665.
District 16 State Senator Lydia Brasch wants to encourage young readers in grades 4-12 to write a personal letter to an author for the Letters about Literature (LAL) contest, a national reading and writing promotion program. Stressing the importance of practicing their reading and writing skills, Senator Brasch said, “This contest is a fun and creative way to encourage students to read and write. I hope all aspiring authors will consider entering this contest.” Senator Brasch added, “Many classes visit our office at the Capitol every year, and I have learned first-hand how very creative our students are. This will be a wonderful way to let their creativity and brilliance be recognized.”
Letters can be addressed to any author from any genre explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s view of the world. Prizes will be awarded on both the state and national levels. A panel of judges from Nebraska Center for the Book will then select the state winners, who will be honored in a proclamation-signing ceremony at the State Capitol during National Library Week in April 2015. Winning letters will be displayed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln.
State winners will also receive state prizes and advance to the national competition where a panel of national judges for the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress will select one National Winner per competition level (Level I for grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7-8, and Level III for grades 9-12). Winners will receive a $1,000 cash award, to be announced May 2015. The judges will also select one National Honor winner on each competition level to receive a $200 cash award.
Submissions from grades 9-12 must be postmarked by December 15, 2013 and submissions from grades 4-8 by January 15, 2014.
Nebraska-specific information (including letters from Nebraska winners of past contests) is available at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html. For more information contact Mary Jo Ryan, maryjo.ryan@nebraska.gov, 402-471-3434, or 800-307-2665.
Senator Lydia Brasch
September 16, 2014 Leave a comment
Senator Lydia Brasch is encouraging high school graduates from Legislative District 16 to apply for a legislative page position in the Unicameral. Since 2010, Senator Lydia Brasch has had the pleasure of working with legislative pages from District 16. “The experience these pages have in working with various members of the Legislature and committees is invaluable and brings lifelong rewards in many ways,” said Senator Brasch. “In visiting with previous legislative pages from District 16, they highly recommend this experience to their peers and continue to use the valuable skills they learned at the Legislature.”
The Clerk of the Legislature’s Office is accepting legislative page applications for the 2015 Legislative Session until 5:00 p.m. on October 3, 2014. According to the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature:
Requirements: Pages must be high school graduates who are currently enrolled in a Nebraska college or trade school with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. They must be able to work 20 hours a week during session. It is preferred that they work the same four-hour shift each day. The legislative session will begin January 7, 2015, and go through June of 2015. This is a paid position and you may also be able to receive credit hours through your college.
To Apply: Applications are available through the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office, Room 2018, State Capitol, 1445 K Street, or through your state senator’s office. A page applicant is also encouraged to contact his or her home district state senator for a letter of recommendation.
Deadline: The page application deadline for the 2015 legislative session is by 5:00 p.m. on October 3, 2014. The page selection committee will meet in October to interview and select individuals to fill those positions to start January 7, 2015
Contact: For further information, please contact the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature at 402-471-2271 or Kitty Kearns at 402-471-0617 email: kkearns@leg.ne.gov.
Senator Brasch
August 17, 2014 Leave a comment
Senator Lydia Brasch, District 16, submitted a letter last week to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to convey strong opposition to the proposed definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS). Signed by 26 other Nebraska State Senators, the letter criticizes the broad scope of the new rule and urges the EPA and Corps to work cooperatively with Nebraska’s state and local agencies.
Emphasizing concerns expressed by landowners, especially those involved in agriculture, Senator Brasch said, “The proposed definition poses a very serious threat to our individual property rights because all waters, from farm ponds to streams, in Nebraska could be subject to federal control. Farmers, ranchers, and other landowners could see increased federal government regulations over portions of their land.”
The Honorable Gina McCarthy The Honorable John M. McHugh
Administrator Secretary
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Department of the Army
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW The Pentagon, Room 3E700
Washington, D.C. 20460 Washington, D.C. 20310
RE: Opposition to Proposed Definition of “Waters of the United States”
Dear Administrator McCarthy and Secretary McHugh:
As Members of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature, we write you in opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed definition of “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
We are especially concerned about the effect this rulemaking will have on our farmers, ranchers, and other landowners in the state of Nebraska. Under the new definition, streams, farm ponds, and irrigation ditches, among other waters, could be considered “waters of the United States.” This brings the potential for cumbersome oversight and convoluted permitting processes.
Essentially a catch-all provision for waters that do not otherwise meet the broad scope of definitions listed in the rule, the “other waters” provision gives us great trepidation. Under this category, any and all waters showing a “significant nexus” to traditional navigable waters will be federally controlled. This is a tenuous regulatory interpretation of the CWA that gives the federal government virtually limitless control of currently state-controlled waters. Not only does this irreconcilably supersede the clear intent of Congress, but it undermines the Supreme Court decisions in SWANCC and Rapanos, which determined that the EPA and the Corps do not have limitless authority over water.
We share the concerns of the Western Governors’ Association: “[W]e are concerned that this rulemaking was developed without sufficient consultation with the states and that the rulemaking could impinge upon state authority in water management.”
The authority of the individual states to manage the water located within their boundaries is unambiguously recognized in the CWA. Section 101(g) of the Act establishes this right and the duty of federal agencies to work cooperatively with state and local agencies:
It is the policy of Congress that the authority of each State to allocate quantities of water within its jurisdiction shall not be superseded, abrogated or otherwise impaired by this Act. It is the further policy of Congress that nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede or abrogate rights to quantities of water which have been established by any State. Federal agencies shall co-operate with State and local agencies to develop comprehensive solutions to prevent, reduce and eliminate pollution in concert with programs for managing water resources.
The proposed rule undermines this specific, express charge by Congress because it does not allow states to maintain their sovereignty with regard to water management, opting instead for a one-size-fits-all determination by federal agencies.
It is our hope that federal agencies will work cooperatively with Nebraska and other states to harmoniously address environmental concerns, state sovereignty, and individual landowner rights. According to the Western Governors’ Association, in its letter dated March 25, that cooperative relationship was not established during the rulemaking process. Therefore, we urge you to include Nebraska’s state and local leaders, as well as state and local leaders nationwide, in this rulemaking process.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to future collaboration with you.
Sincerely,
Lydia Brasch
District #16
Kate Sullivan
District #41
Tom Carlson
District #38
Mark Christensen
District #44
Colby Coash
District #27
Al Davis
District #43
Annette Dubas
District #34
Tommy Garrett
District #3
Tom Hansen
District #42
John Harms
District #48
Charlie Janssen
District #15
Jerry Johnson
District #23
Bill Kintner
District #2
Bob Krist
District #10
Beau McCoy
District #39
John Murante
District #49
John Nelson
District #6
Pete Pirsch
District #4
Jim Scheer
District #19
Paul Schumacher
District #22
Les Seiler
District #33
Jim Smith
District #14
Norm Wallman
District #30
Dan Watermeier
District #1
Galen Hadley
District #37
Mike Gloor
District #35
Kathy Campbell
District #25
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Senator Brasch
July 6, 2014 Leave a comment
Senator Lydia Brasch and her campaign assistants went through the Lyons parade. Both photos credit of Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
May 13, 2014 Leave a comment
“I have been very busy since session closed the middle of April,” said Senator Lydia Brasch. She has been spending much of her time campaigning, going from town to town, visiting with her constituents and handing out signs for voters to place in their yards. “I also had students visit with me for three days in Lincoln,” Senator Brasch stated.
She thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the children. “They were such fun. I enjoyed visiting with them,” Senator Brasch said.
Scott Japp, a board member for the NRD is challenging Senator Brasch for her seat.
Remember to vote today. It is your right!
Senator Lydia Brasch and Kat Country Hub Editor and Chief Denise Gilliland take a selfie! Photo Credit Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
April 8, 2014 Leave a comment
April Fools’ Day marked the 51st Legislative Day of the 103rd Legislature, Second Session. There are five legislative days remaining until we adjourn Sine Die on April 17. Thank you to Pastor Shawn Linnell of Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair for joining us as Chaplain of the Day on Tuesday, April 1 and to Pastor Coral Parmenter of United Methodist Church of Christ in Wisner for joining us as Chaplain on April 2. We always appreciate the clergy from District 16 who volunteer to travel to Lincoln and offer their prayers.
After the passage of LBs 130, 905, and 906 (budget appropriation bills), Governor Heineman returned them to the Legislature with line-item vetoes. On Tuesday, we carefully examined these bills and fully debated the potential outcomes. The Governor stated his line-item vetoes returns $65 million dollars to taxpayers for the property tax relief they requested. Among some of the vetoed items were:
All vetoes were overridden Tuesday by the Legislature. I supported the Governor’s vetoes and not the override of the Legislature, as I believe more extensive tax relief is possible for our taxpayers. However, I appreciated the privilege of attending the bill signing press conference with the Governor in support of valuable tax relief efforts for Nebraskans.
Senator Chambers introduced a motion Wednesday to override Governor Heineman’s veto of his mountain lion hunting bill, LB671. The motion failed on a 24-21-4 vote. Senator Chambers has taken a firm stand that it will be a “rough rest of the session” for those of us who voted for the override.
We enjoyed welcoming Lyons-Decatur Northeast High School seniors and two of their teachers Wednesday. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet the Lyons-Decatur 4th graders who visited the next day, as they were pressed for time. We also had student visitors from the Federation of Women’s Club of Nebraska. I was able to sit down for lunch at the Governor’s Residence with a Cuming County student and his Dodge County friends, and we enjoyed a refreshing trip together to the top of the tower and looked out across a brisk, extremely breezy capital city.
Our session is winding down as the issues continue heating up. As always, I encourage you to share your thoughts on pending legislation before we adjourn sine die. Please continue to contact me, my administrative aide, Katie Wattermann, or my legislative aide, Joe Neuhaus, with questions or thoughts at (402) 471-2728 or by email at lbrasch@leg.ne.gov; or stop by Room 1016 if you are at the Capitol.
Keeping the Good Life growing in Nebraska,
Senator Lydia Brasch, District 16
Senator Lydia Brasch
April 1, 2014 Leave a comment
Thursday, March 20 was the Fifty-First Day of this One Hundred Third Legislature, Second Session. Only nine legislative days remain of our sixty day session. On our daily agenda we now regularly have numerous bills in Consent Calendar and on Final Reading, which means many bills are moving through the legislative process quickly. We are moving forward to make our limited time in session count. The 17 senators who are term limited after eight years of service continue using every tool in their toolbox and their floor experience with spirited zest in an attempt to bring their long awaited legislation to fruition before this session ends.
Not only do we consider and debate legislation on the floor each day, but we also do our best to respond to numerous constituent emails, letters, and phone calls. The number of meetings and receptions being held in and around the Capitol are also winding down, where focus is primarily on pending legislation at hand.
Lydia Brasch
Thank you to Pastor Pastor Russ Foust of Grace United Methodist Church in Kennard for serving as volunteer Chaplain leading us in prayer on Wednesday, March 26. It is uplifting to have our district’s clergy join us during session in prayer before we convene.
Here are some updates on legislation from this week:
The annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute is July 7-11, 2014, at UNL’s East Campus. “NAYI is a five-day conference for high school juniors and seniors to learn about career opportunities within agriculture. This includes: engaging speakers, workshops and panels, agriculture education, professional development, leadership experience, fun and new friends, networking with peers and industry leaders. All of these experiences come free of charge, thanks to generous sponsors.” Apply online at www.nda.nebraska.gov. Applications are due April 15.
We have heard from constituents on numerous issues, and I am always happy to hear from you! Please continue to contact me, my administrative aide, Katie Wattermann, or my legislative aide, Joe Neuhaus, with questions or thoughts at (402) 471-2728 or by email at lbrasch@leg.ne.gov; or stop by Room 1016 if you are at the Capitol.
Keeping the Good Life growing in Nebraska,
Senator Lydia Brasch, District 16
March 26, 2014 Leave a comment
Legislative debate and the temperature outside heated up during the second week of March, Legislative Days 40-43. We have started to gain momentum as we prepare for the last 17 days of the 103rd Legislature. While a majority of the 1,105 bills have failed to advance from committee, we saw a fair amount advance this past week, and the first bills of the year were signed into law by Governor Heineman. Here are some signed bills of interest:
Senator Scheer bracketed his bill, LB682, which addresses statewide allied school systems, until April 17 after facing opposition from various school representatives.
Constituents asked questions and addressed issues at the town hall meetings across the district this past weekend. Here are some of the items we discussed by general topic:
TAXES/REVENUE
○ Status: Killed in committee. Similar bills: LBs 670, 101, 813, 721, and 618
○ Status: Revenue priority bill, on E&R Initial (passed from General File)
○ Status: Dubas priority bill on General File with AM2067
○ Note: Department of Roads Director, Randy Peters opposed LB1092, stating the “traditional ‘pay-as-we-go’ practices of our state have served us well.”
HEALTH CARE
○ Status: Pending debate Tuesday, March 18, 1:30 p.m.
○ Status: Watermeier priority bill pending AM1916 on General File
AGRICULTURE
○ Status: ER163 pending, Agriculture priority
○ Status: Signed by the Governor, February 13, 2014
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND ELECTIONS
○ Status: Killed in committee
○ Status: Janssen priority bill on General File
○ Status: Signed by Governor, February 18, 2014
○ Status: Final reading, March 10, 2014
○ Status: On General File with AM2392 pending
Thank you to Chaplain Rebecca Hjelle from Blair First United Methodist Church in Blair for coming to Lincoln to lead the Wednesday morning prayer.
The Unicameral Youth Legislature will be held at the Capitol June 8-11. I encourage all high school students interested in public office, government, politics, law, public policy, debate, or public speaking to attend. Please contact Ami Johnson at (402) 471-0764 or ajohnson@leg.ne.gov for more details.
Please contact me, my administrative aide, Katie Wattermann, or my legislative aide, Joe Neuhaus, with questions or thoughts at (402) 471-2728 or by email at lbrasch@leg.ne.gov; or stop by Room 1016 if you are at the Capitol.
Keeping the Good Life growing in Nebraska,
Senator Lydia Brasch, District 16
Senator Lydia Brasch
Kat Country Hub 
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