Nebraskanomics

Join us in this episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist and EVP for the American Legislative Exchange Council. We dive into the significance of state tax policies and their impact on economic competitiveness. Jonathan shares valuable insights from the Rich State's Poor State's report, a guide ranking the economic outlook of each state. Stay tuned as we discuss the correlation between lower tax burdens and economic growth. === If you want more economic freedom in Nebraska, please visit PlatteInstitute.org to make a donation to help fund our research and advocacy. It’s time to stop the status quo. Let’s remove economic barriers and make Nebraskans proud.

Want a say in how your property taxes are decided? Participate in a Truth in Taxation hearing. Every year in September, Nebraska's Truth in Taxation law requires cities, counties, school districts, and community college districts to directly notify taxpayers about proposed major property tax increases and hold public hearings where taxpayers can express their views about property taxes in their community. Tune into the latest episode of Nebraskanomics, Make Nebraska property taxes honest with Truth in Taxation, to learn: 1) Why Nebraska created a Truth in Taxation law, 2) What the Truth in Taxation process will involve every September, and 3) How Nebraskans can use Truth in Taxation to keep property taxes in check. (11:05) Stay tuned until the end, when I'll share how you can receive free Truth in Taxation resources, which will help you stand up for taxpayers in your area. === If you want more economic freedom in Nebraska, please visit PlatteInstitute.org to make a donation to help fund our research and advocacy. ❌ It’s time to stop the status quo. Let’s remove economic barriers and make Nebraskans proud.

Platte Institute Community Engagement Director Elizabeth Hallgren joins Jim Vokal to talk about her experiences as an educator and small business advocate, and how Nebraskans can stay informed and help remove barriers to success in their state.

Eli Vedral, a student-athlete at Creighton University, joins Jim to discuss how a change in Nebraska legislation enabled him to start a home-based baking business, Kookaburra Cookies.

Election policy expert Tyler Fisher, from the nonpartisan reform group Unite America, joins Jim Vokal to discuss why state and federal election systems often incentivize policy outcomes that leave most Americans dissatisfied, and what Nebraska can do to give the majority of voters more say in who represents them in Lincoln and Washington.

Platte Institute Senior Fellow Laura Ebke says there's more the state can do to welcome workers with career and military experience to join Nebraska's workforce.

In 46 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, lawmakers provide an online recording archive of their legislative proceedings. Nebraska is one of just a handful of states that isn’t offering this resource. I’m tempted to say this is such an obvious error, that almost everybody would agree this situation should be changed. But our state has had the technology to make these recordings available to Nebraskans for quite some time, and it hasn’t proactively happened on its own. Tune into the latest episode of Nebraskanomics, 3 Reasons to Post Nebraska Legislature Videos Online. In this episode, I’m urging the Unicameral to join the rest of the country in posting its recordings online for everyone to see and share for the following reasons. Nebraskans have no idea what’s going on. (3:32) Withholding legislative videos deprives Nebraskans and their leaders of history and institutional knowledge. (8:48) The state legislative process provides an alternative to nationalized political debate. (11:39) Concerned Nebraskans can’t let up on this issue until the job is done. === If you want more economic freedom in Nebraska, please visit PlatteInstitute.org to make a donation to help fund our research and advocacy. ❌It’s time to stop the status quo. Let’s remove economic barriers and make Nebraskans proud.

Civic Nebraska is sponsoring an online activity that pairs up Nebraskans from different points of view, to create conversation and build understanding statewide. Nancy Petitto joins Jim Vokal to discuss The Unify Challenge. Visit UnifyNebraska.com to learn more and find sign-up information.

The Tax Foundation's Annual State Business Tax Climate Index tracks which states offer the most competitive tax codes. Vice President for State Projects Jared Walczak joins Jim to discuss Nebraska's unfinished business in 2022. A transcript of this discussion is available below.

Tom Henning, a Kearney-based food industry executive, serves on the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board, which projects how much tax revenue the state will bring in each year. He joins Jim to discuss the latest revenue numbers, how the board uses economic data to make its estimates, and what current economic trends suggest may be up ahead for Nebraska.

Tax attorney Tom Yamachika of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii explains how the types of taxes states have, or the way they are designed, can cause states to lose revenue or to impose higher tax rates than necessary.

Nebraska Angels Executive Director Steph Luebbe discusses the growth of angel investing in Nebraska and the resources available for firm founders and aspiring entrepreneurs.

With a recent legislative change in Iowa, Nebraska will become the only state west of the Mississippi to levy an inheritance tax. Jim Vokal reviews the causes of Nebraska's unique situation, what Nebraskans think about the tax, and practical advice lawmakers can use to end this 19th-century-inspired tax.