Columns

Last week, I spoke on the Senate floor to fight a blatant power grab by the federal government.

The Senate considered a resolution attempting to block the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule from President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This rule would change the definition of navigable waters to include things like roadside ditches, puddles on construction sites, and farm ponds.

Think about that–President Biden’s EPA and his Army Corps of Engineers apparently believe that drainage ditches, construction site puddles, and farm ponds are “navigable waters.”

If allowed to stand, this rule would increase costs and uncertainty for farmers and ranchers, property owners, and small businesses. To say this rule defies all common sense is an understatement.

Let’s talk about the embarrassment formerly known as the Nebraska Legislature.

The 49 elected senators are now 60 days into the scheduled 90-day session and the scoresheet is mostly bare.

There are two bills awaiting “final reading,” the last of three rounds of debate by the full Legislature. Two bills have been killed, nine have been withdrawn, and 614 are being held by committees.

According to headlines in the New York Times and other national media outlets, the Nebraska Legislature has passed zero bills. Most credit the efforts of Omaha Senator Machaela Cavanaugh for her herculean filibuster efforts aimed at stopping a bill that would change the age at which transgender youth could receive medical assistance.

This spring I have been delighted to greet so many young Nebraskans from the Third District visiting Washington on school and family trips. It is always inspiring to see their patriotic curiosity in government service and hear the hopefulness in their questions.

I have also appreciated the opportunity to visit several schools and learning centers during my travels in the Third District. Nebraska has a strong tradition of investment in younger generations, and I am always grateful to meet the dedicated sponsors and educators who invest in these students every day.

The importance of building up our nation’s future leaders cannot be overstated, and there are several ways I seek to accomplish this through my office.

One of the best opportunities for young people to learn more about the legislative process and what it is like to work in a congressional office is through internships.

This week, I gave my U.S. Senate Maiden Speech – a long-held tradition for freshman senators to highlight their priorities in an inaugural speech on the Senate floor.

The first time I entered the U.S. Senate chamber, I got chills. The chamber and the Capitol building represent the values we’ve held for nearly two and a half centuries. They represent how exceptional our Republic is.

We must not lose sight of what makes America so exceptional. Our founders threw off the tyranny of a king with an idea; that our rights come to us directly from God—not from a king. Governments are instituted to protect those rights.

Even today, after 246 years, our founding principles are every bit as true. These values – like rule of law, checks and balances, and federalism—are critical to our republic. They’ve created the greatest nation the world has ever seen. We’re strongest when we follow them. We’re never weaker than when we stray from them.

Communication has always been a big part of what I do for a living. Without it, less than healthy outcomes can take place. I firmly believe that the lack of communication is what has developed the term “fake news.”

Thankfully, this week’s Bull is all about what happens when healthy discussions take place.

This date, Wednesday, March 29, in my eyes will always be a big day in the future of Sutton’s skilled nursing facility and assisted living center. A meeting between the operations board and staff at the Sutton Community Home and the Sutton City Council was well received by over 60 residents, business leaders and certainly the staff and leadership at the home.

Sure, some will say not much happened, but in reality, a lot happened as I look in from the outside, while taking notes for the story that appears in this week’s CCN issue.

Elementary and secondary education has earned a spotlight nationwide, especially after schools went online during the pandemic. The unique setting provided parents a firsthand look at what goes on inside classrooms.

Many didn’t like what they found and demanded greater involvement in determining their children’s educational content and experiences.

While the solution isn’t about public vs. private schools, in the debates we saw spring up in countless school board meetings across the country, the message from parents across America has been clear: No one is more invested in students’ success than their own parents.

I am proud to say I am a product of Nebraska’s public school system. Nebraska is fortunate to have many dedicated educators in our public school systems who worked tirelessly to resume in-person learning and keep students engaged, but other regions around the country cannot say the same.

Just one more term. Yes, lawmakers are once again considering giving themselves 12 years instead of eight to figure out how things work and try to do something for their constituents.

On a good day, I think term limits should be eliminated as they were until 2006. On a bad day, I think a monthly contract seems too gracious for some of the babbling, bumbling idiotic things that state Senators do.

Norfolk Sen. Robert Dover has offered LR22CA, a proposed constitutional amendment that potentially would extend the current limit of two consecutive four-year terms for state senators to three consecutive four-year terms. If approved by the Legislature, the proposed constitutional change would be put to voters at the November 2024 general election.

Dover said while he favors term limits he is concerned about the loss of institutional knowledge under the current system.

There are many distractions that adults and youth alike face in today’s ever-changing world. Finding something that provides oneself with a sense of purpose and hope can help one stay grounded.

Today’s 4-H professionals continue to work in the positive youth development area by helping youth find their spark which motivates youth to accomplish something and find a purpose in their lives.

National 4-H has launched a model, called the 4-H Thriving Model, which has several social, emotional, and cognitive learning pieces that intentionally aim to help youth succeed or thrive. One of the indicators of a successful youth program is providing youth with a sense of “hopeful purpose.”

When youth have hopeful purpose, they see themselves as being on the way to a happy and successful future.

Research shows that youth with a sense of purpose are more goal-directed and have increased life satisfaction, better emotional well-being, and great positive affect.

Accomplishments are a small part of my 58 years, almost 59 years, but they are a very small part. I’ve never been a big person on awards and accolades, it’s just not how my “ticker” works, but I often step back in this game of life and wonder if I’m truly still “writing my story.”

I’ve often shared in this weekly column that I don’t need the feedback, good or bad, to tell me if I’m working this community newspaper gig the right or wrong way, but it still leaves me wondering about how my lifetime story is working out.

There are days that I wonder if I’m missing out on something...if I’ve forgot something. Many of you that truly know me, know that I’m an “on-schedule person.”

Deadlines have always been a part of what I do on a day-to-basis, ever since I was a kid growing up in this small town newspaper world, watching my parents trudge through the muddy waters of the business world and life in general.

With the weather finally warming up and school moving along, as well as community events, we’re slowly moving into one of the busier parts of the year.

Recently you’ve probably seen some photos with a “Courtesy Photo” credit on it.

With a small staff and events starting to pile up on each other, it’s unfortunately common when we can’t be at all events, especially if there are multiple events at the same time.

However, going back to the courtesy photo credit lines, we greatly appreciate everyone who has sent us photos of events and school activities.

If you notice we’re not at an event or you see something going on photo-worthy and we haven’t arrived yet, feel free to snap a photo and send it in.