LINCOLN – Nebraska senators introduced more than 80 bills Tuesday, Jan. 22, the ninth day of the 103rd legislative session. The 10-day session of introducing bills will end Wednesday, Jan. 23. Here are some of the day’s highlights.

LB 403: If passed, this bill introduced by Sen. Les Seiler of Hastings would prohibit the sale of novelty lighters in Nebraska. Novelty lighters are defined as nondisposable lighters made to resemble a cartoon character, gun, toy, etc., has flashing lights, plays music or has multiple buttons.

LB405: Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha proposed this bill that reflects Gov. Dave Heineman’s proposal to cut individual and corporate income taxes and specific sales tax exemptions.

LB 439: Introduced by Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island, this bill would increase the tax on tobacco from $0.64 for a 20-pack of cigarettes to $1.60 per pack.

LB 451: Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont introduced this bill to allow Nebraska not to enforce any federal restriction on firearms passed after Jan. 1, 2013. With this bill, the firearms and permits already allowed in Nebraska would not change with new federal regulations.

LB461: With this bill, sponsored by Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, bucking bull sponsors, professionals or other corporations or partners would not be liable for injury or death caused by the dangers of bucking bull activities.

LB485: Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln introduced this bill that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and marital status, including employment based on those factors.

LINCOLN, Neb. – North Platte native Julie Geiser has joined the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as a public information officer for west-central and southwest Nebraska. She began her duties, working out of the agency’s North Platte office, on Jan. 14.

Geiser’s duties include community and media relations, public information, and photography and writing for NEBRASKAland Magazine and all agency media.

Geiser, an avid outdoor enthusiast, has coordinated the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program for Game and Parks. The program introduces women of all ages to a variety of outdoor activities in a casual, noncompetitive environment. She enjoys hunting upland and small game, waterfowl, turkey, deer, antelope and elk. She also enjoys fishing, ice fishing, camping, kayaking and many other outdoor activities. She also is a volunteer instructor for hunter and bow hunter education. Being outdoors also inspires Geiser to express her love of wildlife on canvas with acrylic paintings and color pencil drawings.

Geiser had spent the past 10 years in marketing at the North Platte Telegraph. She had written an outdoor column for the Telegraph the past eight years. She had worked as a staff assistant at Game and Parks in North Platte from 1993-2003, where she taught outdoor education to many school-aged youth in west-central Nebraska.

“Julie brings valuable skills and experience to our communications team,” said Christy Rasmussen, administrator for Game and Parks’ Information and Education Division. “Her passion is giving knowledge to others about the outdoors and showing others all the exciting experiences and fun the outdoors has to offer.”

Geiser and her husband, Tom, have two children and three grandchildren.

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has released a landmark publication celebrating the 75^th Anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, the cornerstone of fish and wildlife conservation in North America. This vital program provides more than $700 million each year through the sale of hunting and fishing equipment to support habitat conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the nation.

The anniversary publication – “Celebrating the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, 75 years of Conservation and Partnership Success” – comes at the end of a year-long awareness campaign with state fish and wildlife agencies, non-governmental conservation organizations, fish and wildlife agencies, industry partners (including the American Sportfishing Association, the Archery Trade Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation), and friends highlighting the Program, one of the most significant and successful conservation initiatives in history.

“All Americans, whether or not they hunt or fish, benefit from this program. There’s a good chance that the trail they hike, the park where they watch birds, and the wildlife they see every day wouldn’t exist without the funding provided by hunters and anglers,” said Assistant Director Hannibal Bolton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  “In addition to providing conservation benefits, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration funds – along with revenue from state fishing and hunting licenses – support local economies and generate thousands of jobs.”

Since its inception in 1937, the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program has generated more than $14 billion, which state fish and wildlife agencies use to purchase public land, improve essential wildlife habitat and create additional outdoor opportunities for everyone.  It is funded through an excise tax on hunting- and shooting-related merchandise, fishing supplies and boat fuel. In 2011, hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers spent $145 billion on related gear, trips and other purchases such as licenses, tags, land leases and ownership.

For example, the State of Kentucky has used Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration funding to re-establish elk in the state. Elk once roamed the hills of Kentucky, but by the mid-1850s, none were to be found. In a true partnership effort, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Shikar Safari Club joined forces to bring this magnificent animal back to its native range. From 1997 to 2002, a total of 1,556 elk were captured from herds in six states and released in Kentucky. The project has been a resounding success. In 2009, the herd reached the project goal of 10,000 elk.

And in Alabama, the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park have teamed up to offer an aquatic education experience to thousands of school children. Last year, approximately 3,000 children from 23 schools participated in “Creek Kids.” With its rolling hills, cold water springs, rapids, pools and a mill dam, Tannehill is the perfect setting to get kids out of the classroom and immersed in nature. Students learn about watersheds and the aquatic environment from wildlife biologists, and get the chance to see firsthand how they can help conserve this unique heritage.

These are just two of dozens of examples of success stories contained in the anniversary publication, which offers an overall description of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and its role as the economic backbone of state and federal fish and wildlife management and habitat conservation activities across the United States.

Additional publication highlights include:

• Descriptions of successful conservation partnerships involving state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and additional Fish and Wildlife Service partners throughout the country.
• Accounts of diverse fish and wildlife species and outdoor recreation activities that are supported by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program and its partners, as well as the federal grant programs conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
• A detailed history of the program from its inception in 1937.

“The success of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program over the past 75 years to restore fish and wildlife populations, open access for outdoor recreation and provide safety education has been the greatest untold conservation story,” said Ron Regan, Executive Director of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “This publication illustrates the trust between America’s sportsmen and women; the hunting, shooting sports and angling industry; and state and federal agencies that is the backbone of our users-pay, everyone benefits funding system for fish and wildlife conservation.”

Click here to download the publication.

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today outlined a plan to invest $1.7 million for improvements and expansion at Mahoney State Park in eastern Nebraska and Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area in western Nebraska.

“Tourism is important to Nebraska, and these strategic investments will help meet the current demands at two of our outstanding, popular state parks.”

Nebraska’s Game and Parks Director Jim Douglas said, “Nebraska’s State Park system touches Nebraskans in so many positive ways. We at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission appreciate the opportunity to work with Governor Heineman on these important investments which will provide great dividends for all Nebraskans and our visitors.”

McConaughy State Recreation Area will be receiving improvements to Lone Eagle and Cedar Vue campgrounds.  At Lone Eagle, campers will enjoy full service capabilities at 84 sites that provide water and sewage hook-ups, in addition to 50 amp electrical hook-ups. The project will also allow upgrades to the Cedar Vue campground providing 20 full service sites, 40 electrical sites, and new equestrian friendly accommodations at 35 of these 60 sites.

In 2010, more than 1 million people visited Mahoney State Park, generating more than $52 million in retail sales. With all trip related expenditures are factored in, the yearly economic impact of Mahoney State Park is nearly $87 million. This economic activity supports more than 800 jobs.

At Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Nebraska’s second busiest tourist attraction, the funding will go to expanding deluxe cabins, of which there is a significant demand. The luxurious six bedroom cabins are modern full service units, which sleep twelve and are outfitted with a queen bed and vanity, giving each room privacy and comfort.  Each cabin features three full bathrooms, a great room with a wood burning fireplace, fully equipped kitchen and dining and a deck offering scenic views. These lodging units will be available year-round and will greatly enhance one of Nebraska’s premiere state parks.

In 2010, nearly 1 million people visited Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area, generating more than $44 million in retail sales. With all trip related expenditures are factored in, the yearly economic impact of Lake McConaughy is more than $73 million. This economic activity supports 950 jobs.

This funding is included in the Governor’s currently proposed biennium budget for Fiscal Years 2013 – 2015.

Governor Dave Heineman’s plan to eliminate or sharply reduce income taxes in Nebraska by eliminating or reducing most of  sales tax exemptions is drawing a wait-and-see response from state lawmakers.

The governor unveiled the plan Tuesday in his State of the State address to the Unicameral, during which he also outline his budget proposal for the next two years.

Most of the state senators  seem to share the position of Senator John Harms of Scottsbluff…who says the “devil is in the details” – which sales tax exemptions would be ended, which trimmed, and which would stay as they.

Lt Governor Rick Sheehy says Harms’ position is fair, but that people around Nebraska tell him their property taxes and income taxes are too high, leading Heineman to decide to do something about.

Sheehy toured 8 Nebraska cities Tuesday and Wednesday, pushing the tax reform plan and the governor’s 2-year budget. He says those at his presentations were thoughtful when considering the proposal.

The only specific questions he received were from those in agriculture who asked if the exemptions on their production inputs such as seed and fertilizer would be repealed, and from those in health care who wondered if their services or equipment would be taxed.

Sheehy says those are kinds of discussions he and the governor want to have in what expects to be a long and thoughtful dialog on tax reform…adding that they’re open to other ideas so that they can be sure Nebraska has a simpler and fairer tax code to make Nebraska more competitive.

Sheehy visited  McCook, Sidney, Scottsbluff, and Alliance on Tuesday…Chadron, South Sioux City, Falls City, and Beatrice on Wednesday. He read the governor’s State of the State address at each, then answered audience questions.

President Barack Obama Wednesday unveiled a package of gun control measures developed by Vice President Joe Biden’s special committee.

Among the things he’s asking Congress for are universal background checks on gun buyers that would close a loophole that allows for private gun sales to occur without the checks, and a ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

The president also announced that he’s implementing 23 executive orders on the issue, including measures to encourage schools to hire police officers, and requiring federal agencies to make more data available for background checks.

Among Nebraska’s all-Republican Congressional delegation, Senator Mike Johanns had the most measured response…although all of them promised to carefully review any specific legislation when it comes before them while emphasizing their commitment to protecting the Second Amendment.

Johanns says “we all share the same goal of reducing gun violence…but placing a heavier burden on responsible gun owners will do little to prevent troubled individuals from carrying out violent acts.”

Johanns says that “as sound” as the intent of Mr Obama’s unilateral executive actions may be, the president has a responsibility to fully explain them “because their implementation deals directly with the freedoms enshrined in our nation’s founding documents.”

He also echoes the position taken by National Rifle Association leaders since the Connecticut shootings by saying that there needs to be “an honest conversation about violence and how to prevent it”…including addressing “the glorification of violence in movies and video games, as well as our society’s understanding of mental health care issues.”

3rd District Congressman Adrian Smith calls reducing violence “a necessary goal”, but is concerned the President’s plan would “do nothing to address the underlying causes of violence” but “would infringe on the Second Amendment…calling it “yet another instance of the President bypassing Congress to impose his agenda.

Senator Deb Fischer says she doesn’t think guns are causing the violence in America…calling it “an emotional response when people look at guns as the culprit.” She says the culture of violence…including movies and video games…should be looked at in a comprehensive bill that also addresses mental health needs in a step by step approach.”