Washington, D.C. – The Club for Growth Foundation published its 2024 Nebraska State Economic Scorecard, offering Cornhuskers insights into each legislator’s voting record on economic issues.
The Scorecard analyzes policies and votes to assign an Economic Growth Score from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the highest support for pro-growth policies. In 2024, the Foundation reviewed over 900 bills, scoring 17 Nebraska Unicameral votes.
“Despite Nebraska lawmakers advancing promising pieces of legislation in 2024, critical work remains in Lincoln to strengthen the economy, curb government expansion, and tackle inflation,” said Club for Growth Foundation President David McIntosh. “Every member of Nebraska’s Unicameral legislative body must strive to rein in our government and prioritize legislation leading to economic growth.”
Click here to read the full Nebraska 2024 Scorecard from the Club for Growth Foundation.
Key Highlights from the 2024 Nebraska Scorecard:
- Average Republican Score: 54%
- Average Democrat Score: 20%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Robert Clements (SD-02): 75%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Jen Day (SD-49): 36%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Tom Brandt (SD-32): 34%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Anna Wishart (SD-27): 9%
Notable Pro-Growth Legislation:
- LB 2 – SPECIAL SESSION SPENDING RESCISSIONS
- Reduces government spending by rescinding $117 million in prior authorizations from the Department of Health and Human Services bureaucrats, the governor’s emergency fund, and tax collectors at the Department of Revenue.
- LB 34 – MODEST PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
- Simplifies an existing income tax credit through automation
- Caps annual municipal property tax collection to inflation
- Removes consideration of a 1% sales tax increase
- Reduces property taxes by $185 million
- LB 1335 – CURBING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY REACH
- Rolls back state environmental regulations by making exemptions for infrastructure development. Exempts roads, streets, and highways from being designated “critical habitats.”
Notable Anti-Growth Legislation:
- LB 62 – MEDICAID EXPANSION FOR NON-CITIZENS
- Expands Medicaid services to illegal immigrants by maximizing federal reimbursements for translation and interpretation services ($5.7 million cost over two years)
- Yearly baseline spending will increase by $4 million
- LB 840 – SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT WELFARE EXPANSION
- Mandates Omaha and Lincoln to create “poverty elimination” plans to expand failing programs by increasing government housing, favoring specific industries for economic development initiatives, and centrally planning Nebraska’s workforce.
- Includes doubling the government housing grant maximum ($5 million to $10 million) and reduces the required match rate for prospective recipients from 50 percent to 25 percent of awarded funds.
- LB 1412 AMDT 296 – INCREASED GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE SPENDING
- Increases spending for programs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Increases state spending by $13 million above the current baseline appropriation
Note: This Scorecard is based on selected votes and does not reflect a legislator’s entire voting record. The Club for Growth Foundation does not endorse or oppose any legislator for public office.