Tonight I attended a monthly meeting of the Nebraska Tax Payers for Freedom, and while at the meeting the audience was asked a question. How many houses are there in the state capital? And she asked for everyone who thought there was 1 to please raise their hands, and my oh my how fast many of our hands went up, because as we all know so well we are the only Unicameral in the United States of America, so of course how could the answer be anything other than 1? And then the answer……2…yes she said 2 and we all looked at each other and thought what???
And then she went on to remind us that Nebraska while being unusual with having the Unicameral has one other unusual aspect, with few exceptions bills must have public hearings, where the 2nd house comes into play. We the taxpayers are the second house, we have the right and a duty to ourselves, and our futures and as well as our children’s futures to speak and be heard. Whether in favor or in opposition to bills. Everything they vote on, every bill they pass affects us on a daily, yearly, decade basis and to not use the ability to be that house that holds elected officials in check is unwise and neglectful of our duties as citizens of Nebraska and these United States. The advantage we have been given over other states is incredible, and even more incredibly we don’t know or we do and don’t use this prime example of the 1st Amendment, Freedom of Speech. Our neighbors and other states in The United States, what would they give for this wonderful opportunity!!
So I impress upon you a few things at this point, get active in little ways or big ways, it can all add up. We as a group of citizens were able to help our representatives understand our desire for them to vote no against LB 887, the Medicaid expansion bill. While I couldn’t ride the bus down to Lincoln on Tuesday where approximately 100 fellow taxpayers went and simply asked for a few minutes time to ask the senators to vote against this bill, I facebooked, twittered, emailed, and contacted as many Senators as I could when I could.
Each person had an affect and will continue to have an affect if we have more people involved. We need more people to help, its critical for us to continue with the momentum regaining ground and bringing our great state and nation back to the power of the people not just the elected few. Taking 10 minutes a day to contact 2 elected officials, taking 10 minutes a week could make the difference between remaining a thriving happy free people or succumbing to the future that is being planned for us by officials who either don’t know any better or who truly desire the destruction of the United States of America, either way we can be content to sit back and let whatever happen or we take control and shape our destiny.
Either way the decision is ours at this point. Do you not want bigger, better and brighter than the dismal future the left and some of the right are laying out for you?
Questions feel free to contact me I may not have the answer you like or an answer at all, but a conversation is a start.
And last but not least win or lose take a minute to thank your elected officials when they make the right decision or vote for you, if they disappoint you let them know that as well. If they are hearing from you, they know you are paying attention to their actions.
And just a little shout out for the unicameral, as quoted, US Senator George W Norris:
“There is no sense or reason in having the same thing done twice, especially if it is to be done by two bodies of men elected in the same way and having the same jurisdiction.”
5 hats for this 1 head..... 