Gov. Pillen Not Giving Up on Property Tax Bill

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
We get into the toward the weekend. Here, the day after the last
day of the Nebraska Legislative regular Session, Governor Pillon joins us for a few
minutes. This morning, Governor,is great to have you on. Good
morning, Good morning, Garry andRosie. I hope you guys are doing
great this morning. Yes, youwere very complimentary towards the beginning of your

(00:23):
session ending address about what had beenaccomplished, and then you really let them
have it toward the end and theproperty tax thing, and said that we
will be coming back. There'll bea special session. So I guess the
primary question is what do you thinkwill be different in the special session.
Yeah, well, number one,I didn't let anybody have it. I
asked, I just said the truth, and I just said, you know,

(00:48):
I just said it the way itwas. And if anybody took offense
to it, if the shoe fitswears it, wear it. You know.
We have the people's work to do. The people of Nebraska demand and
expect property tax problems to be solved. We've worked really hard, you know.
I give kudos to the Revenue Committee. Unprecedented. The Revenue Committee advances

(01:12):
three eighty eight seven zero seven zeroout, and that's when the lobbying groups
just filled filled the dome up withmistruths, misstatements and did you know,
spend tons of money with a barrageto just create hey havoc. What's going

(01:34):
to be different is, you know, we're going to work endlessly with everybody
in unicamer and we're going to getthe plan put together that everybody's going to
support. The people that sat backand did nothing but attack and say no
and have no solutions, they're notgoing to be in the game. We're

(01:55):
going to work with our elected representativesand we're going to get it across the
line. We're halftime, as Isaid, and we've still got a lot
of game time left. You're dealingwith people that lack imagination and insight.
That's one of the great tragedies ofthis body. And it's tragic because a
lot of work did go into this, and a lot of planning, and
a lot of people don't know this, but your people, You and your

(02:17):
people reached out to the business community, the education community, virtually every stakeholder,
the farm bureau in this state totry and find consensus. But it
boils down to this, Jim andthat is. Everybody has to be a
part of this or it won't work. And until we get past the idea
that hey, don't touch mind,go get his r we're not going anywhere.

(02:39):
And I'm really frustrated with a businesscommunity because you got them an income
tax cut last year with the understandingthat they would support you on this.
So where are we with those peopleat the State Chamber, the Omaha Chamber,
the Lincoln Chamber, and the GreaterNebraska Chamber of Commerce. How come
they're not on your side with this? Well, I think that obviously we

(03:01):
have to have an attitude andal change. We have to we have to give
up our me, me me attitudeon everything, and we have to come
to consensus on the greater good forall of Nebraska. I know we're going
to get it done, and Iknow that we have some tremendous people in

(03:23):
the legislature. You know, it'sthirty three seventeen, Jim, it's thirty
three seventeen. We have to dobetter in elections, and we have to
get more people involved so that thelegislators hear from them. The people of
Nebraska are clear, and you know, there's been nobody across the state in

(03:44):
Nebraska more than I have the lastthree years. And everywhere I go,
people line up and say thank youfor not giving up and working on property
tax. We have to have itfixed. It is killing us on workforce,
it's killing us with seniors that can'tafford home. It's killing the American
dream of young people in Nebraska owninga home is It is unacceptable and we

(04:08):
have to broaden our mind and allthese goober politics have to go aside and
we have to do it's right forNebraska. I'm committed to the Nebraskans that
you know. We have sixty sevenpercent of the Nebraskans in Omaha have not
been able to take advantage of theirproperty tax credit. We have. We

(04:31):
have over fifty percent in Millard andin the West Side school districts. I
think sixty percent in Papilion le Vista, we have over fifty percent in the
city of Lincoln. We have tofront end load. We have to get
the cap through. I'm the mostguilty. We have to have stop spending,
and I'm the most guilty. I'venever gone to school board meetings,

(04:55):
I've never gone to county board meetings. I've never gone to city council meetings.
Nebraskans work hard to expect people totake care of it. We've been
spending too much. We have tostop spending. Those are the simple principles
that have to go. We'll getthere. We just got to work.
This has been great preseason preparation.Now we're into the real game and we've

(05:17):
we know, we know what todo to win. I love the football
metaphors. Pell uh listener uh triggered. Well every gets that. I get
it. Now, it's a footballdeal, right, yeah, listener asks
Ben. And I wonder if thereis there any appetite for eliminating or reducing
property tax for folks who have uhno kids in the system. I suspect

(05:44):
not can't do that that that'd bepretty complicated. I think what's really important
is we have to we have tobroaden our tax base. I mean,
all you got to do is gotake a look at what's taken. We're
in this predicament simply because as we'vehad too much Kuber politics for the last
sixty years, were giving special exemptionsout year after year after a year.

(06:09):
That's what's got it there. Westarted off with a broad broad taxt base.
Everybody contributes. Yep. And becausewe just because outside money, outside
influenced special interests. Me whoever hasthe most money can buy it off.
That stuff's got to start. Wehave to be Nebraskans. You you've got
a couple of Republicans that vote werethe Democrats on this issue, Governor,

(06:32):
and I think only one maybe MikeMcConnell. McDonald is the only dame that
would cross over reason now a newRepublican. So you know, how do
you get those people? Yeah?Well, number one going forward, and
we're working very hard. We haveto win elections. We have to get
people like minded people more and wewe Nebraskans. That's the plea this morning,

(06:58):
conservative Nebraska. And we have tojust we don't have to be heroic
individually, but if all of usdo just a little bit, it is
heroic activity. And we all haveto be in the game. It's critical
number one. Number two, wehave to spend more time making sure that
the truth is out. That isthe part that all Nebraskans are just made

(07:20):
at that. I mean I sawtexts that are being thrown out by lobbying
groups that said millions and millions ofdollars of tax increases, you'll be taxing
the groceries. Couldn't be further.It's such a daddum lie and out ruth,
outright mistruth, and Nebraskans deserve better. And we have to make sure

(07:42):
that all of the members of thelegislature do not pay attention to the silly
things that go on from the lobbyiststhat buy drinks and buy meals and do
all these things that you know arejust unacceptable. I saw the grocers Association
governor had a big rap and itcosts a lot of money around the world.
Here out front page two days thisweek, the said groceries we're going

(08:05):
to be subject to, isn't it? And that's a lie. It's just
not true. It's it's uh,it's a It's absolutely unfortunate that they stoop
to that depth. Groceries, Iguess popping popping candy are not groceries popping
candy. We we obviously have anobesity problem, we obviously have health problems

(08:28):
with too much sugar consumption. Andthere's one way to help solve that same
way with the tobacco industry. Hey, you know what my idea is to
not not be on the forty secondin taxing tobacco. Let's get in the
top ten on that one. Andif you say you can't afford that,
I say good, maybe you're ourhealth will be better. Good to have

(08:48):
you on. We got to runfor now, but to be continued for
sure, Governor Jim Pillen Vital CommunityIntel for you every day. Gary Seedelmeier
and kfab's morning news