2021 Nebraska Legislative Session (February 2021)

The 2021 Nebraska Legislative Session is underway. Here are some of the bills affecting children and families thus far:

LB 92: This would change wording regarding state residence in relation to college tuition costs to include those who graduate from denominational and parochial schools existing in the state.

LB 199: This would adopt the Face Surveillance Privacy Act, setting in place limits regarding deliberate government use of facial tracking systems. (Tony Vargas) 

LB 210: This bill will require non-accredited schools, including home-schooled families, for the purpose participation in extracurricular activities, to create a standard of behavior and educational merit in order for participation in the activity and report such to the district/school (depending on how each school board writes the policy) in which their child is participating.

LB 230: This would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of protected groups in Nebraska. No protections for religious organizations is provided. (Megan Hunt)

LB 231: This would prohibit “conversion therapy” which includes “efforts to change behaviors and gender expressions” (see Sec 3 (3); pg 6 line 7). This also removes masculine and feminine pronouns from this law.

LB 281: This would require child sexual abuse prevention instruction for students K-5 beginning 2022. This provides a requirement to inform parents of how to talk with their children but does not include a requirement to inform parents in advance of the learning so they may “opt-out” their child if desired.

LB 322: This would create a “School Safety and Reporting System”. Schools may create a threat-assessment team of 5 people who will be trained in intervention and de-escalation techniques for the purpose of limiting the involvement of law-enforcement with regards to students. A Safe2HelpNE report line will be created. This call/text/email is 100% anonymous. Should the system be used to make false reports of abuse for the purpose of tormenting or bullying a student, parent, or educator… law-enforcement will not be able to identify the abuser. “Parents” are not mentioned in the bill. There is no mention of parental notification or involvement. Records are to be “security records” rather than educational records. It is not clear whether parents have access to these records.

LB 643: This would protect the liberty of parents and business owners to accept or decline a vaccination under mandatory directive. 

For additional bills that affect children and families, please see: https://nebraskafamilyalliance.org/policy/bill-tracker/ 

If you would like to keep track of the progression of these bills, click HERE. This will take you to the Nebraska Legislature bill tracking site. Sign up for a free account by clicking “Login” under “eBill Book” then click on “New User”. Once you have set up an account, you may then add bills you want tracked to your account. Make sure you select to receive email notifications if you want to be informed when something regarding the bill is changed or updated.

Would you like to learn about the Nebraska State Constitution? Click HERE.

Would you like to learn about the U.S. Constitution? Click HERE.

A Focus on the Constitution (January 2021)

A Focus on the Constitution: 2020 has been a very interesting year, to say the least. And during this very interesting year, we have faced many questions regarding what authority the government has been given to act in the face of emergencies and unusual circumstances. There have been strong opinions, active debates, and government action for good or for ill. Thankfully, we have a document, a foundational document, which should be at the center of all such discussions. However, in a crisis, it is easy to set aside such foundations, intended to guide governing bodies towards right action, in favor of immediate reaction. For the year 2021, I will be providing additional information on this most important document - the United States Constitution.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Would you like to learn about the Nebraska State Constitution? Click HERE.

Would you like to learn about the U.S. Constitution? Click HERE.

When in the Course of Human Events

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” These words, brought forth by inspired men, call out to us from some other-wordly place, touching our very souls with a universal truth and a yearning to “stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free.” (Alma 61:21) Our rights are not given to us by men; they are given to us by God! What an incredible and unique political ideology!

The Declaration of Independence stands as a model for those who have suffered patiently the indignities and injustice heaped upon them by tyranny; who, with the desired assistance of that Creator, determined a unified course of action to protect and defend “...our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12).

Important quotes from the Declaration of Independence:

• “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America” begins this inspired document. “Unanimous”, this document was signed in unity...each of the representatives of the several colonies agreed to this Declaration and supported a free United States. I wonder what it took to get 56 people in agreement to risk everything and separate themselves from a government which they knew had the means to wage war against them and destroy their homes, families, and lives. They must have been men of great character and faith, believing very deeply in what they were about to do. 
• “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” The definition of “unalienable” is something often confused and abused in its meaning. “Unalienable” literally means: “not able to belong to another”. In other words, unalienable rights are those rights that cannot be given up to others. For example...thoughts. We have an unalienable right to our thoughts. Our thoughts cannot be transferred to others nor taken from us. They simply are ours alone, to do with as we will. Our labors...another unalienable right as denoted by the term “Liberty”. We can give of our labors to others by our own free will but our labors cannot “belong” to another. The idea of our labors belonging to others is “slavery” and is in direct contradiction to the term “liberty”.
• “Prudence...will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.” To relate this to our day: The Constitution, which our Founders created for us, should not be altered or done away for minor or temporary reasons. Such should only occur when “a long train of abuses and usurpations...evinces a design to reduce (us) under absolute Despotism.” 
• “To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world:” The signers then provide a list of 27 grievances proving the despotism of King and Country including the following: 
• “He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation…” 
• He has left governments offices vacant thereby “expos(ing) to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions from within.” 
• “He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.” 
• “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.” 
• “He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.” 
• “For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments…” 
• “For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.” 
• “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.”
  

• “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” This decision, to divide the United states from Great Britain was not done lightly. It was a careful, frustrating, and heartbreaking process. 
• “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent state may of right do.” Here the founders again acknowledge the Creator, appealing to Him as a witness of their moral and just intentions.  
• “...And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” How soon afterwards, this pledge was put to the test. Some of those who signed the Declaration lost family members. Many had their homes and farms burned and all material wealth destroyed. Some were incarcerated; some tortured. Some paid the ultimate price.
  

It is of great importance, I feel, that our children learn about and honor those men and women who put Our Future Liberty above their present comforts; who determined that this nation should be a nation of Freedom and Self-Determination for ALL; and who were willing to lay down their Lives and their Fortunes that we might have the opportunities to believe, to speak, and to peaceably assemble without fear of persecution or government retaliation. I would hope that we would have the same yearnings, the same fortitude, the same courage to bless Future Generations with that same liberty “wherewith God hath made them free.” 

To read The Declaration of Independence, click HERE

November Elections: Links to Help You Research

It’s voting season and this year looks to be exciting...not much of a surprise there. Presidential and congressional elections, gambling issues, judges, school boards, etc…it’s time to start reading up. The following is a list of links intended to help make your research a little easier:

To look up elections and issues specific to your household, see the following:

Private Citizen Organization (This site is very helpful for overall research)  

Voter Information

Nebraska Family Alliance 

County Election Commissions:  

Douglas 

Lancaster

Sarpy

Presidential:

Donald Trump (Republican) 

Joe Biden (Democrat)

Senate:

Ben Sasse (Republican)

Chris Janacek (Democrat)

Gene Siadek (Libertarian)

House of Representatives (District 2)

Don Bacon (Republican)

Kara Eastman (Democrat)

Tyler Schaeffer (Libertarian) - No website nor personal information located. 

 

Legislature District 31:

 

Rich Pahls (Republican) Additional site HERE

Tim Royers (Democrat)

State Board of Education

 

District 2

 

Robert Anthony (Republican)

Lisa Fricke (Democrat)

District 4

Jaquelyn Morrison (Democrat) 

Adrian Petrescu (Non-partisan)

 

Judges

 

See your County Election Commission or Voter Information listed above to find the names of judges in your area who are up for a vote. Click HERE to do a "ctrl F" search of their name to find their bar association judicial evaluation.

The Nebraska State 106th Legislative Session has Adjourned

Though the NE Senate has adjourned for the year, "Interim Hearings" will still take place. Interim hearings generally consist of the presentation of studies for the purpose of determining future legislative action. For example, on Sept 29, 2020 there will an interim study presented relating to the fiscal and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NE early childhood workforce, care, and education system. If you would like to know more about these hearings, click HERE.

For a summary of decisions made by the Senate during this session and information on which bills were signed or vetoed by the Governor, go to the Unicameral Update page HERE.

For updates regarding bills of interest to children and families, please see the previous post dated July 28, 2020.

Thank you to all of those who took the time to consider the issues and contact representatives! 

 

106th Legislative Session 2020: Bills of Interest Relating to Children and Families

The 2020 2nd Nebraska Legislative Session is in full swing and there are over a thousand bills which could possibly come to a vote. Given the sheer volume of bills, it is not possible for us to monitor them all. If you become aware of an additional bill which may be of concern to children and families, please contact us or post the information to the facebook site.

Here is what we have so far:

LB 1089: Would require that all high school students, prior to graduation, must file a FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Parent will be able to decline the application via note to the school.

Information on the Bill: Senator Vargas Priority Bill; General File with AM 3176; UPDATE: PASSED but NOT APPROVED by the governor.

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=41180

LB 814: This bill would end dismemberment abortion in Nebraska. 

 
Information on the Bill: Senator Geist Priority Bill; General File; UPDATE: PASSED and approved by the governor.

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=41115

LB 667: This bill would create the "Youth Opportunities in Learning and Occupations Act" which would allocate $20,000,000 of the General Fund to the Department of Labor "to provide grant funding...to employers and nonprofit corporations that provide youth work development and soft-skills training"

 

Information on the Bill: Senator Vargas; Indefinitely postponed.

 

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=37908 

 

LR 300 CA: This is an amendment to the Nebraska Constitution to alter the collection of taxes. Income tax, property tax, sales tax, and inheritance tax would be replaced by a single-rate consumption tax, and directs the Legislature to enact a consumption tax.

Information on the Bill: Senator Erdman Priority Bill; Referred to Revenue Committee; UPDATE: Indefinitely postponed.

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=41385

If you would like to contact your State representative, click HERE.

If you would like your opinion to be a part of the public record and are unable to attend the public hearing, you “may submit a written position letter”. In order to be included in the record the letter must be delivered to the office of the committee conducting the hearing, or emailed to the committee chair, by 5:00 p.m. on the last work day immediately preceding the hearing.

The letter must include the following

• Name
• Address
• The Bill Number
• Your position (for, against, neutral)
• A request that it be included as part of the public hearing record.

The Purpose of Government

Artist’s depiction of the Constitutional Convention. Painted by Junius Brutus Stearns, 1856.

In order to continue in our goal of positive political influence, along with a unifying definition of liberty, it is vital to have set clearly in our minds the proper purpose of a government created “of the people, by the people, and for the people”. Ezra Taft Benson once said, “(Political) Decisions…should be based upon and measured against certain basic principles regarding the proper role of government. If principles are correct, then they can be applied to any specific proposal with confidence.” To understand some of these basic principles regarding the proper role of government, we may look to both scripture and founding U.S. documents.

According to revelation received by Joseph Smith, the purpose of government includes the following: “We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society. We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protections of life,” (D&C 134:1-2).

From this we may summarize that governments are formed:

• For the benefit of man
• For the good and safety of society
• To ensure peace
• To secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life

For the complete declaration, click HERE.

Before the founding of the Unites States, Thomas Paine, a persuasive writer and enthusiastic supporter of U.S. Independence, wrote a pamphlet entitled “Common Sense”. This widely read publication addressed the purpose of government and the evils of a monarchy in the language of the common people, thus persuading many to turn from the notion of reconciliation with England towards Independence and the creation of a new nation.

Within “Common Sense”, Thomas Paine offers these insights regarding the purpose of government:

“Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices…Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows, that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and the greatest benefit, is preferable to all others.”

“In order to gain a clear and just idea of the design and end of government, let us suppose a small number of persons settled in some sequestered part of the earth, unconnected with the rest, they will then represent the first peopling of any country, or of the world.” Thomas Paine goes on to explain that, in these circumstances, the first concern of a new society is meeting immediate needs and wants. This concern encourages “first peoples” to work together. In essence, survival requires unity of purpose.

This initial unity, he explains, “…would supersede, and render the obligations of law and government unnecessary while they remained perfectly just to each other”. As this new society overcomes the initial difficulties of survival, and as more immigrate into the new society, “they will begin to relax in their duty and attachment to each other; and this remissness, will point out the necessity, of establishing some form of government to supply the defect of moral virtue.”

In this state, and with relatively few numbers, “the whole colony may assemble to deliberate on public matters. It is more than probable that their first laws will have the title only of Regulations, and be enforced by no other penalty than public disesteem. In this first parliament every man, by natural right, will have a seat.”

“But as the colony increases, the public concerns will increase likewise, and the distance at which the members may be separated, will render it too inconvenient for all of them to meet on every occasion…This will point out the convenience of their consenting to leave the legislative part to be managed by a select number chosen from the whole body, who are supposed to have the same concerns at stake which those who appointed them, and who will act in the same manner as the whole body would act were they present.”

He concludes: “Here then is the origin and rise of government; namely, a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world; here too is the design and end of government, viz. freedom and security.”

Based on Thomas Paine’s explanations, the purpose of government is:

• To punish vice
• To provide security
• To promote justice between individuals and groups as society expands
• To defend freedom

Here is a look at the church declaration next to Thomas Paine’s explanations regarding the purpose of Government:

-For the benefit of man                                                 -To punish vice
-For the good and safety of society                             -To provide security
-To ensure peace                                                             -To promote justice between peoples
-To secure to each individual the free exercise         -To defend freedom   
  of conscience, the right and control of property, 
  and the protection of life

You can see the similarities.

I believe that our Founding Fathers were inspired men, each employing their strengths and talents in bringing about the formation of these United States, which subsequent protection of religious exercise allowed for a young Joseph Smith to begin the process of restoring the true gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. Such enlightened sources of defining the purpose of government are worthy of our notice and study.

Ezra Taft Benson, in a speech titled “The Proper Role of Government”, gave these “Fifteen Principles Which Make For Good and Proper Government”:

1. I believe that no people can maintain freedom unless their political institutions are founded upon faith in God and belief in the existence of moral law.
2. I believe that God has endowed men with certain unalienable rights as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and that no legislature and no majority, however great, may morally limit or destroy these; that the sole function of government is to protect life, liberty, and property and anything more than this is usurpation and oppression.
3. I believe that the Constitution of the United States was prepared and adopted by men acting under inspiration from Almighty God; that it is a solemn compact between the peoples of the States of this nation which all officers of government are under duty to obey; that the eternal moral laws expressed therein must be adhered to or individual liberty will perish.
4. I believe it a violation of the Constitution for government to deprive the individual of either life, liberty, or property except for these purposes:(a) Punish crime and provide for the administration of justice;(b) Protect the right and control of private property; (c) Wage defensive war and provide for the nation’s defense;(d) Compel each one who enjoys the protection of government to bear his fair share of the burden of performing the above functions.
5. I hold that the Constitution denies government the power to take from the individual either his life, liberty, or property except in accordance with moral law; that the same moral law which governs the actions of men when acting alone is also applicable when they act in concert with others; that no citizen or group of citizens has any right to direct their agent, the government to perform any act which would be evil or offensive to the conscience if that citizen were performing the act himself outside the framework of government.
6. I am hereby resolved that under no circumstances shall the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights be infringed. In particular I am opposed to any attempt on the part of the Federal Government to deny the people their right to bear arms, to worship and pray when and where they choose, or to own and control private property.
7. I consider ourselves at war with international Communism which is committed to the destruction of our government, our right of property, and our freedom; that it is treason as defined by the Constitution to give aid and comfort to this implacable enemy.
8. I am unalterably opposed to Socialism, either in whole or in part, and regard it as an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a denial of the right of private property for government to own or operate the means of producing and distributing goods and services in competition with private enterprise, or to regiment owners in the legitimate use of private property.
9. I maintain that every person who enjoys the protection of his life, liberty, and property should bear his fair share of the cost of government in providing that protection; that the elementary principles of justice set forth in the Constitution demand that all taxes imposed be uniform and that each person’s property or income be taxed at the same rate.
10. I believe in honest money, the gold and silver coinage of the Constitution, and a circulation medium convertible into such money without loss. I regard it as a flagrant violation of the explicit provisions of the Constitution for the Federal Government to make it a criminal offense to use gold or silver coin as legal tender or to use irredeemable paper money.
11. I believe that each State is sovereign in performing those functions reserved to it by the Constitution and it is destructive of our federal system and the right of self-government guaranteed under the Constitution for the Federal Government to regulate or control the States in performing their functions or to engage in performing such functions itself.
12. I consider it a violation of the Constitution for the Federal Government to levy taxes for the support of state or local government; that no State or local government can accept funds from the Federal and remain independent in performing its functions, nor can the citizens exercise their rights of self-government under such conditions.
13. I deem it a violation of the right of private property guaranteed under the Constitution for the Federal Government to forcibly deprive the citizens of this nation of their property through taxation or otherwise, and make a gift thereof to foreign governments or their citizens.
14. I believe that no treaty or agreement with other countries should deprive our citizens of rights guaranteed them by the Constitution.
15. I consider it a direct violation of the obligation imposed upon it by the Constitution for the Federal Government to dismantle or weaken our military establishment below that point required for the protection of the States against invasion, or to surrender or commit our men, arms, or money to the control of foreign ore world organizations of governments.

          "These things I believe to be the proper role of government.” 

In conclusion, none have put the purpose of government down quite so eloquently as our founding fathers in The Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”. As we seek to positively influence policy, law, and government, may we also seek, as our founders so wisely stated, to “hold these truths” dear to hearts and expect our elected officials do the same.