FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rhonda Porter: 402-391-2273, Dave Nabity: 402-618-6759

A Demand for Efficiency Shows Voters Respect

In a Journal Star editorial published November 6, 2005, the message seemed to be that voters are exasperated with talk by gubernatorial candidates of bringing tax relief to Nebraska, and that the only reason I am talking about tax relief is to get name recognition. The editorial also implied that I believe my plans for tax relief, if enacted, would lead to “pain-free” transitions in state government.

In all three cases, nothing could be further from the truth. Wherever I go to visit Nebraskans, they tell me high taxes are one of their greatest concerns. If we are going to show Nebraska voters the respect they deserve, we had better be talking about tax relief. And we had better begin an honest dialogue about what it means for citizens of the state.

According to the Tax Foundation, we are the eighth highest-taxed state in America. According to state census figures, we are losing large numbers of our taxpaying population to lower-taxed states. (FIGURES TO SHARE?) There is no way we can continue to increase state spending by 7% per year. We can’t continue on the go-alongget- along path we’re on now and come out ahead in the years to come.

While we are talking about tax relief, one thing we can’t talk about is taking 10% off the top of the state’s budget with the system of state government the way it is. There are too many barriers to reform at this point in time to be thinking about immediate tax relief. Second, we would have to cut too many services we’ve promised. There is a better way.

We must go deep within the our system and carefully audit and review everything we are doing to find ways to save money and shrink the size of government, and then take that savings to the taxpayers. Some people think it can’t be done. Then why have other states done it? Texas, Florida, South Carolina, California, to name a few, have found ways to cut an average 10% from their budgets by forming Performance Review Boards to increase efficiency. There is no reason Nebraska can’t do it, too.

Will this mean change and difficulty for some people? Yes. Will I have a battle on my hands? Yes. Will it be easy? No. But the time for easy is over. Easy has gotten us nowhere for too many years. This campaign needs to be about voting for a governor who stands up for the taxpayers and job creators in this state and says, “Enough is enough.” It’s time to bring Nebraska out of the 1970’s to become a competitive powerhouse of the Midwest. The time for “happy talk” is over. I believe Nebraskans have the courage for some tough talk that will lead to solutions that transform the way we manage government.

Yes, I have goals for significantly reducing taxes in Nebraska because we must. Not because I’m grandstanding for votes. It’s a matter of long term survival for all of us. I can’t promise change without challenges. I can promise voters the most thorough review of Nebraska government they have ever seen. Then it will be up to them to demand reform of our leaders, so we can turn Nebraska into the Jewel of the Midwest. Anything less is a waste of time.

Dave Nabity for Governor
9140 West Dodge, Suite 100
Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 391-2273
www.davenabity.com