Update (March 26, 2018): Last week, the Legislature debated LB 295. Facing a filibuster, the legislature moved on without a vote on the bill after three hours of debate. Although it remains unclear if supporters of the bill have the 33 required votes to break a filibuster, this historic debate marked the first time the Nebraska legislature has debated an education choice bill in at least two decades.
A child’s education is foundational to the success they will have later in life. It’s in their best interest to learn in environments and through programs that meet their individual needs. Parents know this.
Too often, though, parents are unable to seek the education that’s right for their child because of financial barriers.
Right now in Nebraska, many people give generously to private scholarship foundations. These foundations then distribute money to qualified students with financial needs to attend a non-public school. But for those who seek help, there often aren’t enough resources to meet the demand. In 2017, Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha turned away 491 qualified students due to lack of scholarship funds.
Senators considered a bill that would help to incentivize increased giving to private scholarship organizations. How? Through a tax-credit. LB 295, the Opportunity Scholarships Act, would enact a tax credit for private donations to non-profit scholarship granting organizations.
Related: What is a Tax Credit Scholarship?
More scholarships for students to receive a private education would reduce the burden on not only our public schools but also taxpayers. According to a fiscal study released earlier this week, LB 295 would achieve a permanent net savings of $3 million in the first three years, and the savings would continue every year.
If you support educational choice, your representative needs to hear from you! Contact your state senator today and ask them to support policies such as LB 295, the Opportunity Scholarships Act.
Nebraska State Senators
Not sure who your senator is? Find out here.
Name | District | Phone Number | City | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aguilar, Raymond | 35 | raguilar@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2617 | Grand Island |
Albrecht, Joni | 17 | jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2716 | Thurston |
Arch, John | 14 | jarch@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2730 | La Vista |
Armendariz, Christy | 18 | carmendariz@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2618 | Omaha |
Ballard, Beau | 21 | bballard@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2673 | Lincoln |
Blood, Carol | 3 | cblood@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2627 | Bellevue |
Bosn, Carolyn | 25 | cbosn@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2731 | Lincoln |
Bostar, Eliot | 29 | ebostar@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2734 | Lincoln |
Bostelman, Bruce | 23 | bbostelman@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2719 | Brainard |
Brandt, Tom | 32 | tbrandt@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2711 | Plymouth |
Brewer, Tom | 43 | tbrewer@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2628 | Gordon |
Cavanaugh, John | 9 | jcavanaugh@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2723 | Omaha |
Cavanaugh, Machaela | 6 | mcavanaugh@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2714 | Omaha |
Clements, Robert | 2 | rclements@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2613 | Elmwood |
Conrad, Danielle | 46 | dconrad@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2720 | Lincoln |
Day, Jen | 49 | jday@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2725 | Omaha |
DeBoer, Wendy | 10 | wdeboer@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2718 | Bennington |
DeKay, Barry | 40 | bdekay@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2801 | Niobrara |
Dorn, Myron | 30 | mdorn@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2620 | Adams |
Dover, Robert | 19 | rdover@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2929 | Norfolk |
Dungan, George | 26 | gdungan@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2610 | Lincoln |
Erdman, Steve | 47 | serdman@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2616 | Bayard |
Fredrickson, John | 20 | jfredrickson@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2622 | Omaha |
Halloran, Steve | 33 | shalloran@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2712 | Hastings |
Hansen, Ben | 16 | bhansen@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2728 | Blair |
Hardin, Brian | 48 | bhardin@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2802 | Gering |
Holdcroft, Rick | 36 | rholdcroft@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2642 | Bellevue |
Hughes, Jana | 24 | jhughes@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2756 | Seward |
Hunt, Megan | 8 | mhunt@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2722 | Omaha |
Ibach, Teresa | 44 | tibach@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2805 | Sumner |
Jacobson, Mike | 42 | mjacobson@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2729 | North Platte |
Kauth, Kathleen | 31 | kkauth@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2327 | Omaha |
Linehan, Lou Ann | 39 | llinehan@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2885 | Elkhorn |
Lippincott, Loren | 34 | llippincott@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2630 | Central City |
Lowe, John | 37 | jlowe@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2726 | Kearney |
McDonnell, Mike | 5 | mmcdonnell@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2710 | Omaha |
McKinney, Terrell | 11 | tmckinney@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2612 | Omaha |
Meyer, Fred | 41 | fmeyer@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2631 | St. Paul |
Moser, Mike | 22 | mmoser@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2715 | Columbus |
Murman, Dave | 38 | dmurman@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2732 | Glenvil |
Raybould, Jane | 28 | jraybould@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2633 | Lincoln |
Riepe, Merv | 12 | mriepe@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2623 | Ralston |
Sanders, Rita | 45 | rsanders@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2615 | Bellevue |
Slama, Julie | 1 | jslama@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2733 | Sterling |
Vargas, Tony | 7 | tvargas@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2721 | Omaha |
von Gillern, R. Brad | 4 | bvongillern@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2621 | Elkhorn |
Walz, Lynne | 15 | lwalz@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2625 | Fremont |
Wayne, Justin | 13 | jwayne@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2727 | Omaha |
Wishart, Anna | 27 | awishart@leg.ne.gov | (402) 471-2632 | Lincoln |
SAMPLE SCRIPT
Whether you write an email or make a phone call, please be polite and respectful. Choose two bullet points from below to craft your own message.
Hello, my name is [Full Name] and I am from [City]. I am contacting you to ask that you support LB 295, the Opportunity Scholarships Act.
- Every child in Nebraska should have the opportunity to attend a school that best suits their individual, educational needs – regardless of their income.
- Parents should have more control over their child’s education than their zip code and the government.
- Many Nebraskans give generously to private scholarships because they believe in the value of a private education. But the need far outweighs the supply.
- LB 295 will assist low-income and working-class families with scholarship opportunities by incentivizing increased private donations to scholarship granting organizations.
- Scholarship tax credit programs exist in 18 other states, including Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas. These policies are proven to not only help children, but they provide savings to taxpayers.
Please support LB 295, the Opportunity Scholarships Act, to increase educational choice for low-income and working-class families. How do you plan to vote on this important issue? Thank you for your time and for considering my request.
[Full Name]
[Address]