TAKING IT BACK and THE SIMPLE PLAN:
Earlier this year, State Auditor Mike Foley alerted Nebraskans about the Nebraska Advantage Act and it's replacement, the ImagiNE Nebraska Act in a letter to the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Mr. Foley noted that both programs have resulted in nearly $1.2 billion dollars in lost revenue during the last four years. From his letter, "Millions of dollars are actually going to companies that are no longer providing any jobs whatsoever in the state of Nebraska..........That's not right. It's not fair to the taxpayers." I completely agree with our state auditor and commit to putting an end to these schemes accommodating out of state corporations that view Nebraska as nothing more than a zone for extraction.
The Good Life is under serious threats that aren't the fault of working class Nebraskans who want a decent paying job while having the ability to raise a family with health care, clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. How is a person supposed to get ahead in a state that fights against minimum wage increases while giving tax breaks to the corporations that employ our underpaid workers while raising property taxes alongside expenses that outrun wage increases? Data centers, or any business in Nebraska, should provide us with what we need, not take it from us. We will utilize Sections 33, 37, and 66 of the ImagiNE Nebraska Act to recapture years of these extravagant and unnecessary tax exemptions from corporations not fulfilling their requirements (jobs) set forth in the agreements. These sections state that all (multiple years of) tax credits are due back to the state immediately if a corporation fails to uphold its requirements to provide the agreed upon number of jobs to Nebraskans.
I have a common sense plan to eliminate the state's unacceptable deficit without raising taxes, and without cutting funding to our critical agencies that ensure a functioning state that serves its people, and not the corporations.
On my first day in office I will utilize all available and appropriate means to recapture unqualified corporate tax credits and begin full implementation of Nebraska's Medical Cannabis ballot initiative that was overwhelmingly approved by voters, and projected to generate as much as $400 million annually. We will get Nebraska back on track and prevent cuts to state programs and agencies as proposed by Jim Pillen.
It's time to end the culture and acceptability of corporate handouts and tax breaks for the rich that come from the pockets of hard working Nebraskans. It's high time we rein in the corporate heist of our state's finances and natural resources before the takers leave our state in ruins.
As your governor I will send a clear message on day one that while Nebraska has always been open for business, it is no longer for sale.
Taking back our state......
Many think our campaign is a single issue campaign around medical cannabis, when in fact, the single issue is money. Almost every problem we face in Nebraska can be solved with money or was caused by political influence money. Obviously, Pillen and the Republicans don't want a profitable cannabis system for the state, the Medical Cannabis Board doesn't want it, Walz and Steffen barely speak of it, and Lindstrom didn't mention it once in his plans. While they all speak of ways to prevent youth flight and brain drain from Nebraska, none of them address the cause and the solution to this issue. Cannabis use in the United States recently surpassed alcohol consumption, and the main reason for this is younger people use cannabis more than they drink. So when an entire administration elected by the people works against the vote of it's younger generations, it creates a situation where many other states look more appealing and hospitable without the risk of antiquated persecution for cannabis and a real respect for the will of the voters. Imagine how many people would leave the state if alcohol was made illegal.
Below is a list of actions for our key issues in Nebraska.
1. Eliminate the ability for corporations, PACs, and special interest groups to funnel money into elections and to our elected officials. This will be accomplished through legislation similar but not limited to The Montana Plan I-94 and Hawaii's S.B. 2471. This is probably the most critical and important action we can take to recover our state. Corporate and special interest groups give money to our elected representatives to uphold their wishes over the will of the voters. If you've ever wondered why our votes aren't respected, this is why. This plan will take 2 years to accomplish through a Constitutional Ballot Amendment signed by 10% of voters and then voted on by the people in our 2028 state election. The Montana Plan uses the state's authority to define what powers corporations get and stops giving them the right to spend in our politics.
This is a top issue for voters across the entire country, with very little open discussion regarding this in Nebraska.
2. Enact a statewide ban on new data center permits and require intense environmental impact studies on all data centers. We will have state auditors run full audits on all data centers receiving tax incentives through the ImagiNE Nebraska Act. By enforcing sections 33, 37, and 66 of the ImaginNE Nebraska Act, Nebraska can recapture years of tax credits from corporations failing to uphold their requirements set forth in the legislation. This is fairly cut and dry and appears it will not require extensive litigation and large funding from the state. Lynne and Jim say businesses will leave Nebraska without incentives. But if those businesses are not upholding their requirements to the state while receiving massive incentives that are financially wrecking Nebraska, why do we pay to keep them here? Now that the humanity ending threat of AI data centers has surfaced and been publicized......we are going to quit building these things that threaten our existence. When other candidates and elected officials do not champion this or similar policy, it is obviously because they are getting paid off by the corporations building the data centers.
3. Immediately fire the entire Medical Cannabis Board and personally take over all of their duties and responsibilities as governor. My short term plan to immediately implement a functioning and highly profitable medical cannabis program for Nebraska looks like this.
a. Due to recent federal rescheduling of cannabis from schedule one to schedule three, Nebraska can begin by importing medical cannabis products from other states with medical cannabis programs and production.
b. Like state run liquor programs, Nebraska will have a state run cannabis program with wholesale, retail, testing, enforcement, and distribution. We start this systems as we license Nebraska farmers to grow medical cannabis in controlled environments (indoors). This creates a system that is more profitable for the state with wholesale profit AND sales tax revenue, regulated with oversight that prevents bad players, cartel, and out of state corporations from taking profits that should remain in Nebraska.
***We put cannabis profits and tax revenue directly into our schools, preventing further levy and property tax increases. This is a real solution to our runaway property taxes, for the farms and the metros.***
c. Nebraska immediately starts making revenue before investing in heavy infrastructure. This all happens through licensing existing hemp and CBD shops to sell medical cannabis while giving doctors the protections they need to write recommendations for patients. We import the bulk of products to start while our farms and processors are licensed and come into production.
d. The federal rescheduling also makes possible medical cannabis contracts with the Unites States Government (Veterans) and biomass export to other states or countries for processing. The potential profits are too good to ignore considering the struggles our farmers are experiencing.
e. Donald Trump, who most of our rural farming communities voted for, rescheduled cannabis making it a legal and viable crop for Nebraska. Let's grow!
f. Stop arresting citizens for cannabis possession. 23% of all drug arrests in the US are for cannabis, mostly for low level possession charges. This needs to end.
4. Kick start Nebraska's new industrial hemp business with incentives for growers, processors, and production centers. We'll connect homebuilders and hemp product manufacturers to create new building systems incorporating Nebraska grown and manufactured hemp building products. Blocks, 4x8 panels, flooring, roofing, insulation, rope, yarn, bio-diesel, chicken feed, and fabric for clothing can all be made from hemp. Unlike any other state, Nebraska is poised to do this with its heavy agricultural infrastructure, highly capable farmers, and the environment to realistically grow heavy crops of hemp. Dr. Santra, a hemp research doctor at UNL, confirms through his many studies that Nebraska is the perfect setting for a successful industrial hemp business.
a. When we remove the lobby money that works against a successful hemp industry we will start seeing real change and business options for our farms.
b. We can be leaders in renewable green building supplies and the. hemp textile industry, creating rural revenue while cleaning nitrates from our soil and water through hemp farming.
c. I will work with our universities to promote industrial hemp curriculum to our students, future farmers, and future Nebraska hemp industry professionals.
5. Promote local, alternative food production for rural and urban communities through state and federal programs.
To summarize.....
Property tax relief will come from state cannabis revenue going to our schools and preventing levy hikes.
Government Accountability & Anti-Corruption will come through legislation preventing corporations and PAC's from funding our candidates and through extensive corporate audits recapturing unqualified tax credits.
New Jobs & Economic Development come from a vibrant industrial hemp business across Nebraska, providing rural and metro jobs while birthing a new industry for the state.
Youth Flight and Brain Drain is easily mitigated by having a compassionate and accessible cannabis program, job pathways with better paying jobs, and lower property taxes.
Education Funding comes from our state run cannabis program directly funding schools. This elevates our schools and mitigates property taxes.
Alternative Healthcare through medical cannabis lightens the load of our healthcare systems by providing alternative medicines for pain, PTSD, inflammation, epilepsy, opiate & addiction relief.
Criminal Justice Reform happens when we stop arresting and jailing our citizens for cannabis possession. No more for profit policing.
Infrastructure Updates become possible when we free up tax dollars and have matching funds for federal infrastructure assistance.
Earlier this year, State Auditor Mike Foley alerted Nebraskans about the Nebraska Advantage Act and it's replacement, the ImagiNE Nebraska Act in a letter to the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Mr. Foley noted that both programs have resulted in nearly $1.2 billion dollars in lost revenue during the last four years. From his letter, "Millions of dollars are actually going to companies that are no longer providing any jobs whatsoever in the state of Nebraska..........That's not right. It's not fair to the taxpayers." I completely agree with our state auditor and commit to putting an end to these schemes accommodating out of state corporations that view Nebraska as nothing more than a zone for extraction.
The Good Life is under serious threats that aren't the fault of working class Nebraskans who want a decent paying job while having the ability to raise a family with health care, clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. How is a person supposed to get ahead in a state that fights against minimum wage increases while giving tax breaks to the corporations that employ our underpaid workers while raising property taxes alongside expenses that outrun wage increases? Data centers, or any business in Nebraska, should provide us with what we need, not take it from us. We will utilize Sections 33, 37, and 66 of the ImagiNE Nebraska Act to recapture years of these extravagant and unnecessary tax exemptions from corporations not fulfilling their requirements (jobs) set forth in the agreements. These sections state that all (multiple years of) tax credits are due back to the state immediately if a corporation fails to uphold its requirements to provide the agreed upon number of jobs to Nebraskans.
I have a common sense plan to eliminate the state's unacceptable deficit without raising taxes, and without cutting funding to our critical agencies that ensure a functioning state that serves its people, and not the corporations.
On my first day in office I will utilize all available and appropriate means to recapture unqualified corporate tax credits and begin full implementation of Nebraska's Medical Cannabis ballot initiative that was overwhelmingly approved by voters, and projected to generate as much as $400 million annually. We will get Nebraska back on track and prevent cuts to state programs and agencies as proposed by Jim Pillen.
It's time to end the culture and acceptability of corporate handouts and tax breaks for the rich that come from the pockets of hard working Nebraskans. It's high time we rein in the corporate heist of our state's finances and natural resources before the takers leave our state in ruins.
As your governor I will send a clear message on day one that while Nebraska has always been open for business, it is no longer for sale.
Taking back our state......
Many think our campaign is a single issue campaign around medical cannabis, when in fact, the single issue is money. Almost every problem we face in Nebraska can be solved with money or was caused by political influence money. Obviously, Pillen and the Republicans don't want a profitable cannabis system for the state, the Medical Cannabis Board doesn't want it, Walz and Steffen barely speak of it, and Lindstrom didn't mention it once in his plans. While they all speak of ways to prevent youth flight and brain drain from Nebraska, none of them address the cause and the solution to this issue. Cannabis use in the United States recently surpassed alcohol consumption, and the main reason for this is younger people use cannabis more than they drink. So when an entire administration elected by the people works against the vote of it's younger generations, it creates a situation where many other states look more appealing and hospitable without the risk of antiquated persecution for cannabis and a real respect for the will of the voters. Imagine how many people would leave the state if alcohol was made illegal.
Below is a list of actions for our key issues in Nebraska.
1. Eliminate the ability for corporations, PACs, and special interest groups to funnel money into elections and to our elected officials. This will be accomplished through legislation similar but not limited to The Montana Plan I-94 and Hawaii's S.B. 2471. This is probably the most critical and important action we can take to recover our state. Corporate and special interest groups give money to our elected representatives to uphold their wishes over the will of the voters. If you've ever wondered why our votes aren't respected, this is why. This plan will take 2 years to accomplish through a Constitutional Ballot Amendment signed by 10% of voters and then voted on by the people in our 2028 state election. The Montana Plan uses the state's authority to define what powers corporations get and stops giving them the right to spend in our politics.
This is a top issue for voters across the entire country, with very little open discussion regarding this in Nebraska.
2. Enact a statewide ban on new data center permits and require intense environmental impact studies on all data centers. We will have state auditors run full audits on all data centers receiving tax incentives through the ImagiNE Nebraska Act. By enforcing sections 33, 37, and 66 of the ImaginNE Nebraska Act, Nebraska can recapture years of tax credits from corporations failing to uphold their requirements set forth in the legislation. This is fairly cut and dry and appears it will not require extensive litigation and large funding from the state. Lynne and Jim say businesses will leave Nebraska without incentives. But if those businesses are not upholding their requirements to the state while receiving massive incentives that are financially wrecking Nebraska, why do we pay to keep them here? Now that the humanity ending threat of AI data centers has surfaced and been publicized......we are going to quit building these things that threaten our existence. When other candidates and elected officials do not champion this or similar policy, it is obviously because they are getting paid off by the corporations building the data centers.
3. Immediately fire the entire Medical Cannabis Board and personally take over all of their duties and responsibilities as governor. My short term plan to immediately implement a functioning and highly profitable medical cannabis program for Nebraska looks like this.
a. Due to recent federal rescheduling of cannabis from schedule one to schedule three, Nebraska can begin by importing medical cannabis products from other states with medical cannabis programs and production.
b. Like state run liquor programs, Nebraska will have a state run cannabis program with wholesale, retail, testing, enforcement, and distribution. We start this systems as we license Nebraska farmers to grow medical cannabis in controlled environments (indoors). This creates a system that is more profitable for the state with wholesale profit AND sales tax revenue, regulated with oversight that prevents bad players, cartel, and out of state corporations from taking profits that should remain in Nebraska.
***We put cannabis profits and tax revenue directly into our schools, preventing further levy and property tax increases. This is a real solution to our runaway property taxes, for the farms and the metros.***
c. Nebraska immediately starts making revenue before investing in heavy infrastructure. This all happens through licensing existing hemp and CBD shops to sell medical cannabis while giving doctors the protections they need to write recommendations for patients. We import the bulk of products to start while our farms and processors are licensed and come into production.
d. The federal rescheduling also makes possible medical cannabis contracts with the Unites States Government (Veterans) and biomass export to other states or countries for processing. The potential profits are too good to ignore considering the struggles our farmers are experiencing.
e. Donald Trump, who most of our rural farming communities voted for, rescheduled cannabis making it a legal and viable crop for Nebraska. Let's grow!
f. Stop arresting citizens for cannabis possession. 23% of all drug arrests in the US are for cannabis, mostly for low level possession charges. This needs to end.
4. Kick start Nebraska's new industrial hemp business with incentives for growers, processors, and production centers. We'll connect homebuilders and hemp product manufacturers to create new building systems incorporating Nebraska grown and manufactured hemp building products. Blocks, 4x8 panels, flooring, roofing, insulation, rope, yarn, bio-diesel, chicken feed, and fabric for clothing can all be made from hemp. Unlike any other state, Nebraska is poised to do this with its heavy agricultural infrastructure, highly capable farmers, and the environment to realistically grow heavy crops of hemp. Dr. Santra, a hemp research doctor at UNL, confirms through his many studies that Nebraska is the perfect setting for a successful industrial hemp business.
a. When we remove the lobby money that works against a successful hemp industry we will start seeing real change and business options for our farms.
b. We can be leaders in renewable green building supplies and the. hemp textile industry, creating rural revenue while cleaning nitrates from our soil and water through hemp farming.
c. I will work with our universities to promote industrial hemp curriculum to our students, future farmers, and future Nebraska hemp industry professionals.
5. Promote local, alternative food production for rural and urban communities through state and federal programs.
To summarize.....
Property tax relief will come from state cannabis revenue going to our schools and preventing levy hikes.
Government Accountability & Anti-Corruption will come through legislation preventing corporations and PAC's from funding our candidates and through extensive corporate audits recapturing unqualified tax credits.
New Jobs & Economic Development come from a vibrant industrial hemp business across Nebraska, providing rural and metro jobs while birthing a new industry for the state.
Youth Flight and Brain Drain is easily mitigated by having a compassionate and accessible cannabis program, job pathways with better paying jobs, and lower property taxes.
Education Funding comes from our state run cannabis program directly funding schools. This elevates our schools and mitigates property taxes.
Alternative Healthcare through medical cannabis lightens the load of our healthcare systems by providing alternative medicines for pain, PTSD, inflammation, epilepsy, opiate & addiction relief.
Criminal Justice Reform happens when we stop arresting and jailing our citizens for cannabis possession. No more for profit policing.
Infrastructure Updates become possible when we free up tax dollars and have matching funds for federal infrastructure assistance.