State Feed: Nebraska

Nebraska: Don't Take Petition Right for Granted

AmandaKathryn — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:24:08 -0500

The writer, an Omaha resident, is a veteran of petition drives and lawsuits challenging Nebraska petition laws. He has filed an initiative petition to lower signature thresholds.

When an anniversary passes without notice, it’s unfortunate. When a 100-year anniversary goes unnoticed, it should make us pause.

In 1912, Nebraska voters approved a measure that would allow citizens to place issues on the ballot and repeal laws they didn’t want. Our forefathers felt it was important to “reserve for themselves” these powers of initiative and referendum petitions.

A Second House in Nebraska?

Paul — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:13:06 -0500

The Second House Amendment Committee, a new group formed by initiative rights activists in Nebraska, filed an initiative constitutional amendment this week to lower the signature requirements for qualifying citizen initiatives. The group also filed a campaign finance registration, which is required once at least $5,000 has been raised by a ballot committee.

“I am confident that with the dedication of our volunteers and the commitment I have secured from people who are friends to petition rights, this issue will be on the November ballot,” committee member Kent Bernbeck told reporters.

Nebraska: Lawmaker Proposes Ballot Measure to Raise Lawmaker Salaries

AmandaKathryn — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:59:17 -0500

A Nebraska lawmaker has proposed a constitutional amendment that would raise lawmaker salaries to $32,000 a year.

The measure (LR373CA) introduced Tuesday by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh

Press Release: National Voter Group Applauds Federal Court Ruling

Staff — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:09:22 -0400

(Lake Ridge, VA) – Paul Jacob, president of Citizens in Charge, a national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, applauded yesterday’s federal court ruling striking down Nebraska’s restriction on non-resident petition circulators in the case Citizens in Charge v. Gale.

Federal Court Strikes Down Nebraska Petition Law

Paul — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:41:36 -0400

In a decision released late yesterday, Federal Judge Joseph Bataillon struck down Nebraska’s initiative law requiring petition circulators to be residents of the state, declaring the statutory provision “unconstitutional” as a violation of the First Amendment rights of Nebraskans.

The decision was a surprise to many observers. Although in recent years residency laws have been struck down unanimously by three separate federal circuit courts (Sixth, Ninth and Tenth), there is an Eight Circuit case from a decade ago (Initiative & Referendum Institute v. Jaeger), which upheld a North Dakota residency law. When plaintiffs sought a preliminary injunction in this case, Judge Bataillon denied it and signaled that the Jaeger case would be controlling.

VIDEO: The People's House Has Been Crushed

Staff — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:57:41 -0400

Check it out.

VIDEO: Kent Bernbeck Receives April Lilburne Award

Staff — Fri, 06 May 2011 13:24:02 -0400

If you haven’t already make sure to check out our quick video of Nebraska citizen activist Kent Bernbeck receiving the April 2011 Lilburne Award from Citizens in Charge Foundation President Paul Jacob.

PRESS RELEASE: Nebraska Citizen Activist Kent Bernbeck Honored With April Lilburne Award

Staff — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:42:07 -0400

(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Citizens in Charge Foundation, a national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, presented Nebraska citizen activist Kent Bernbeck with the April 2011 John Lilburne Award for his continued work to make Nebraska’s initiative process more open and accessible to citizens.

“Kent is a citizen who decided he’d seen enough attacks on citizen initiative rights and got involved,” said Citizens in Charge Foundation President Paul Jacob. “He is a strong believer in citizens having a stronger voice in government and has worked tirelessly for many years to defend that right.”

Nebraska: Group challenging Neb. petition rules in federal court forms task force to advise Legislature

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:50:00 -0400

A group suing over Nebraska laws governing the petition process said Thursday that it is forming a task force to gather residents’ input on the rules and make recommendations to the Legislature. Paul Jacob, president of Citizens in Charge Foundation Inc., said the state’s petition process has been stifled in the wake of changes made in 2007 and 2008. No one has attempted to put an initiative on the state ballot since those laws went into effect, he said.

Read the story from the Daily Journal

Nebraska: ACLU Wants to Strike Down Nebraska Residency Law for Petitions

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:48:41 -0400

A federal judge today heard opening arguments in a non-jury trial over Nebraska’s residency rule for petition circulators. The American Civil Liberties Union argues the law makes it difficult if not impossible for independent candidates and large-scale grassroots initiatives to get on the ballot. Under Nebraska law, petition circulators must live in the state whether they are volunteers or paid professionals. The ACLU is suing Nebraska Secretary John Gale.

Read the story from FOX 42

Omaha Press Conference Recap

Staff — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:26:58 -0400

Yesterday, Citizens in Charge President Paul Jacob held a press conference in Omaha, Nebraska to discuss recent proceedings in Citizens in Charge v. Gale, a case currently before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillion:

A federal judge today heard opening arguments in a non-jury trial over Nebraska’s residency rule for petition circulators.

The American Civil Liberties Union argues the law makes it difficult if not impossible for independent candidates and large-scale grassroots initiatives to get on the ballot.

Under Nebraska law, petition circulators must live in the state whether they are volunteers or paid professionals.

Nebraska: Trial starts on challenge to state petition rules

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:19:24 -0400

A federal trial is scheduled to begin Thursday in a constitutional challenge to Nebraska laws governing petition signature requirements for ballot initiatives and independent candidates. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said in the 2009 lawsuit that changes made in 2007 and 2008 to state law unfairly burdens independent candidates and residents trying to get initiatives on the ballot, thus violating protected political speech. It seeks to have those changes thrown out.

Read the story from NECN

PRESS CONFERENCE: National Voter Group Takes Nebraska to Court Over Unconstitutional Initiative Restriction

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:50:53 -0400

(OMAHA, NE) – Tomorrow, Citizens in Charge, a national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, will hold a news conference to discuss the progress of Citizens in Charge v. Gale, a case that will be heard by Chief Judge Joseph F. Bataillon in U.S. District Court at 9:00 am the same day. The lawsuit seeks to reverse three restrictions placed on the citizen initiative process in the state.

PRESS CONFERENCE: National Voter Group Takes Nebraska to Court Over Unconstitutional Initiative Restriction

Staff — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:35:02 -0400

No "License Plates" for Nebraska Petitioners in Spite of Sec. of State Gale

Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:36:41 -0400

Nebraskans’ petition rights have survived another legislative session. With the deadline to make it out of committee passed, no more legislation concerning the initiative process is pending.

Nebraska: Labor dispute panel could go to voters

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:49:07 -0500

An attempt to eliminate the state agency that resolves labor disputes involving public employees could be headed for next year’s ballot. Gov. Dave Heineman warned Tuesday that an initiative petition drive to eliminate the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations is likely if current attempts to overhaul the CIR fail. “If the Legislature doesn’t act, I can almost assure you, you are going to see a very well-funded, organized effort to put this issue on the ballot,” he said.

Read the story from the Omaha World Herald

Nebraska: Omaha mayor survives recall election

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:33:48 -0500

Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle says he has gotten the message. Suttle narrowly survived a recall effort Tuesday, less than 20 months after taking office. Victorious but chastened, he said he plans to do a better job communicating with Omahans. Suttle said he wants to help bring the city together. “There is no doubt we have weathered some stormy waters and engaged in spirited debate, but tonight we must begin a time of healing and reconciliation,” said Suttle, with his family and supporters gathered on the stage.

Read the story from the Omaha World Herald

Op-Ed: Nebraska must safeguard right to conduct petitions

Staff — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:36:21 -0500

In regard to the recall signature-gathering process against Mayor Jim Suttle: On election day, I was contacted by longtime friend, Paul Jacob, formerly head of the national term limit movement and fellow initiative and referendum advocate and supporter. He was asked to assess the struggling recall effort which had been utilizing an all-volunteer team of petition circulators.

Nebraska Judge Relies on Flawed Court Decision to Deny Residency Law Injunction

Staff — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:14:07 -0400

After a hearing last week in Omaha, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon denied a request from the state chapter of the Libertarian Party to block enforcement of Nebraska’s ban on people from other states helping collect signatures on a petition. Relying on the flawed 2001 decision by the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in IRI v.

Nebraska Secretary of State Holds False Confidence in Petition Case

Staff — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:04:53 -0400

Nebraska’s Secretary of State says he has “every confidence” that the state’s requirement that people who collect signatures on a petition live in the state will be upheld in federal court. The only problem is, residency requirements have been ruled unconstitutional at least eleven times since 1997. Only once, in North Dakota, did a court uphold a residency requirement, and later courts criticized that ruling as improperly decided. In light of this, one really has to wonder where the secretary’s confidence comes from.