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Local Issues: Legislation
Nebraska Chapter Supports Repeal of LB 775
By Carole Larson and Dorothy Lanphier
December, 2003
The Nebraska Chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed the effort to repeal LB 775, which gives big corporations tax breaks for large capital investments and/or creating new jobs. At a November 24th press conference entitled $top Big Business $ubsidies: Repeal LB 775, Dorothy Lanphier, Chair of the Missouri Valley Group, was one of eight representatives who spoke in favor of a petition drive to repeal the measure.
The other groups participating were Nebraskans for Peace; the National Association of Public Employees -American Federation of State, City and Municipal Employees; Center for Rural Affairs; Communication Workers of America Local 7470; Common Cause Nebraska; United Steel Workers of American Local 286; Nebraska Green Party; the American Association of University Professors Nebraska and UNO chapters; and the Lancaster County Democrats.
Some of these groups have formed a coalition, while others chose to endorse this coalition rather than join. If you would like to circulate a petition, call Dorothy at 554-1108.
Below is Dorothy’s statement given at the press conference:
Sierra Club,
Nebraska Chapter Statement
November 24, 2003
I am Dorothy Lanphier, representing the Nebraska Chapter of the Sierra Club. Our organization endorses the initiative petition drive to repeal LB 775 because of three major reasons.
First, the Sierra Club opposes the secrecy and absence of accountability that permeates LB 775. During the last two legislative sessions, we supported attempts to provide public access to information under this enormously expensive corporate tax break program. In view of the long-standing refusal of the Legislature to open up LB 775 and provide genuine oversight, it’s clear that Nebraska citizens must repeal LB 775 themselves through the petition process.
Second, LB 775 drains funding for critical environmental protection activities. Because of uncapped expenditures for LB 775 tax credits, frontline environmental protection enforcement, regulation and conservation have been reduced. In recent years, the Nebraska Department of Environ-mental Quality has been cut $14 million, the Environmental Trust has been decreased $6.5 million, and the Department of Natural Resources has seen about $1.5 million cut. These funding losses negatively impact Nebraskans and their environment.
Third, LB 775 harms Nebraskans and their environment by underwriting the activities of polluters. For example, Deeter Foundry in Lincoln has intentionally and repeatedly violated hazardous waste laws by illegally dumping toxic waste contaminated with lead and cadmium, activity which is criminal. Yet this company is still eligible for LB 775 tax credits. A program that subsidizes companies that have demonstrated a disregard for environmental protection law is unacceptable.
We conclude that repeal of LB 775 is a necessary step to protect Nebraska’s environment and its people. Therefore, we endorse the initiative petition drive to repeal LB 775.