![]() The budget was already balanced prior to the vetoes, so the Governor's reduction was not necessary. White opposed line-item vetoes by Governor Heineman in 2007 that cut funding for Meals on Wheels in Omaha and programs for the disabled. Attorney General Jon Bruning ruled the bill outside the narrow scope of the Governor's special session call, so it was not debated. Instead, he introduced an alternative plan that would have balanced the budget, closed property tax loopholes for large landowners – many of them from out-of-state – and increased property tax relief for homeowners. This argument was later echoed by Governor Heineman. White did not, however, vote for a separate proposal to reduce future aid to public schools because, he argued, it would lead to local property tax increases. The bills closely mirrored Governor Heineman's proposal, which was based on agency savings, general fund transfers, specific reductions and across-the-board reductions that could lead to furloughs or layoffs. ĭuring the budget-cutting special session in 2009, White voted for the three bills that cut and balanced the budget. He voted for the budget in 2009 and for the 2010 budget, which cut millions in state spending and was balanced without raising taxes. He did not vote for the state budgets in 20 because they contained increases in the gas tax. Budget and Taxes ĭuring his time in the Legislature, White has only supported balanced budgets that contain no tax increases. The Regulatory Flexibility Act was advanced from committee but stalled out on the legislative floor on a near party-line vote. ![]() ĭuring the 2010 session, White sponsored a bill to cut state government red tape for small businesses. White's Taxpayer Transparency Act, passed in 2009, requires development of a publicly accessible, nonpolitical website to track all state spending. Governmental Transparency and Efficiency The bill was advanced from committee and passed one round of voting by the full Legislature before being blocked by a filibuster. Suttle even hired a lobbyist at taxpayer expense to oppose the tax cut, drawing criticism from some in Omaha city government. White's efforts to pass the bill were opposed by Jim Suttle, the mayor of Omaha. The bill would have eliminated a $325 million tax hike on people in metropolitan Omaha. Omaha Sewer Separation Sales Tax Relief ĭuring the 2010 session of the Nebraska Legislature, White led a bipartisan group of senators that worked to repeal the sales tax on the unfunded federal sewer mandate and infrastructure replacement project in the metro Omaha area. White even set up a website to give homeowners the chance to compare the tax relief they were currently receiving with his proposal. At the time, he cited concerns that the current program helped large out-of-state landowners and big corporations rather than average homeowners. In 2009, he introduced a proposal that would have modified the property tax credit program created by the 2007 tax cut package (which White supported) and given all property tax relief to homeowners through an across-the-board homestead exemption. In 2007, he introduced a bill to reduce every homeowner's property taxes by $500 annually by means of an income tax credit. White has introduced multiple proposals to reform Nebraska's property tax system to help homeowners. He officially launched his campaign on September 9, 2009, positioning himself as a "tax-fighting, pro-business Democrat who loves the word 'nonpartisan.'" Legislative record Property Tax Relief In early July 2009, he formally announced he was raising money and laying groundwork for a run for Congress from the Omaha-area Second Congressional District. Since his election to the Nebraska Legislature, White has been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for Governor or Congress. He also served as the Vice Chair of the Retirement Systems Committee from 2007 to 2008. He served on the Business and Labor, Revenue, and Urban Affairs Committees, as well as the Committee on Committees and Executive Board. He was elected to the Legislature in 2006. He graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 1983. ![]() in philosophy and history from Regis University in 1979. He represented the 8th District, which consists of the Benson and Dundee neighborhoods in Omaha.īorn in Columbus, Nebraska, he received his B.A. Tom White (born October 26, 1956) is a former member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature from Omaha, Nebraska.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |