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Earlier this month, the Omaha World-Herald reported that former Gov. Dave Heineman was considering running, a development confirmed by sources who have spoken with him. Heineman is not without Trump credentials. He was an honorary chair of Trump’s reelection campaign in Nebraska and sat on the board of directors of one of Herbster’s companies. And other contenders are already incorporating Trump into their early overtures to the electorate. In an introductory video for his campaign, Jim Pillen, a University of Nebraska regent and top tier primary contender, promised to “defend President Trump’s progress on growing our economy and fighting hard...

In the wake of Sen. Ben Sasse's decision not to sign on to a formal endorsement of Trump's reelection by leading Nebraska Republicans, GOP primary challenger Matt Innis of Lincoln said he "will gladly support President Trump" and suggested that Nebraska Republicans should consider that difference when they vote next May. snip Innis responded: "A clear difference between my opponent and me is that he won't support our Republican candidate for president and I will. Nebraskans should consider that when they go to the polls." Sen. Deb Fischer, Reps. Jeff Fortenberry, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith, Gov. Pete Ricketts and...

LINCOLN — Gov. Dave Heineman is wasting no time promoting his push for tax-relief legislation in 2014. Heineman scooped his own State of the State address — scheduled for delivery this morning — by revealing his plan Tuesday night to seek up to $500 million in tax cuts over the next three years.

Shortly after Barack Obama won reelection in November, New Jersey governor Chris Christie pointed out that Republicans’ cloudy political prospects had a bright silver lining. “One of the reasons you have 30 Republican governors in America, and why we’re the only organization to add Republican strength,” Christie said, “is because people see us getting things done.” Christie’s stance countered most of the elite postelection commentary, which gleefully pronounced the Republican Party’s political irrelevance. But the governor was right. Since Obama first took office in 2008, Republicans have picked up a net nine governorships, bringing their total to 30 states,...

Energy: The further review the administration said was needed is done, with a Nebraska environmental agency saying it's safe to build the pipeline that will bring oil, jobs and revenue from our friendly northern neighbor. After kicking the Canadian oil barrel down the road, the Obama administration may soon be forced to approve the Keystone XL pipeline or come up with another excuse to block it after a report from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality declared it would have "minimal environmental impacts" on the state and its sensitive aquifers. Friday's report triggered a 30-day deadline for Nebraska Gov. Dave...

Nebraska's governor urged U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday to block TransCanada's planned Keystone oil pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast, saying it could hurt a regional water source. The State Department could issue a presidential permit for the $7 billion project, which would boost U.S. dependence on Canada's controversial oil sands. Momentum for Keystone picked up last week after the department said the project would have only limited impact on the environment. The State Department should deny the permit on the grounds that the line could put the Ogallala Aquifer at risk, the Midwestern state's governor, Dave Heineman,...

Stunning figures in a new Gallup Poll paint Nebraska as a competitive political battleground in which Democrats might even hold a tiny edge. Democratic State Chairman Vic Covalt of Lincoln hailed the numbers Tuesday and said they'll help him recruit a strong candidate to challenge Gov. Dave Heineman next year. Republican Chairman Mark Fahleson of Lincoln dismissed the results as "a post-election euphoric snapshot" that would not hold up today. The survey of 1,035 Nebraskans during the first six months of 2009 showed 43 percent favoring Democrats and 42 percent favoring Republicans. That prompted Gallup to move Nebraska from a...

A state agency responsible directly to Gov. Dave Heineman held up licensing rules for professional counselors and social workers last winter, forcing licensing board members to work out compromise language related to serving homosexual clients. The Legislature and Nebraskans have not wanted equal protection for homosexuals, Dr. Joann Schaefer said last week as she explained her insistence that the state licensing board for counselors and social workers work out a compromise with the Nebraska Catholic Conference on licensing rules. The controversy began because “sexual orientation” was to be covered in a new anti-discrimination clause in proposed new rules for licensed...

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman is again pushing for a requirement that state and local agencies verify residents are here legally before providing them with public benefits. On Friday, state Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber introduced a bill (LB403) in the Legislature, on Heineman’s behalf. Among the benefits covered in the bill are food assistance, unemployment, public housing, welfare and retirement. Unlike a similar bill pushed by Heineman last year that was not approved, it would not also repeal a law that allows children of illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition.

Nov. 13, 2008: You know you’re Nationally popular when you (Gov. Palin) get offered a $7 million book deal and the paparazzis start following you. Governor Perry where is your huge book deal and paparazzi photos? Gov. Palin Miami RGA Paparazzi Photos:Gov. Palin Sizzles in Short-Shorts Poolside in MiamiFull Set of Miami Pollside Paparazzi Photos Updated of previous FR “The Dirt” thread:GOP Governors Pull the Plug On Palin's Press Conference (The RGA Dirt) C-Span RGA Miami Full, Uncut, and Uncensored Video:11.13.08: Republican Governors Association News Conference - - Gov. Rick Perry’s Speech; Gov. Sarah Palin’s Speech; Gov. Palin’s Q &...

>Nebraska State Senator DiAnna Schimek's 20-year legislative career is nearly over. She feels victimized, no doubt, by the voter-enacted term limits that make this her final year in power. Still, Senator Schimek hopes to go out with her boots on, firing one final shotgun blast to maim or kill the initiative process she has long abhorred. You see, it was only through the voter initiative that Nebraskans passed term limits . . . three times. Yup. It took three petition drives and three votes of the people. Of course, term limits passed overwhelmingly each time. But a charmed third initiative...

Gov. Dave Heineman’s deep displeasure with a Nebraska Supreme Court order staying Carey Dean Moore’s execution was clear. Heineman reacted publicly Thursday, one day after the divided court’s majority put the execution on hold at least until the court rules in another death penalty case. “This unprecedented judicial activism leaves me speechless,” he said in a news release. But Creighton University law Professor Dick Shugrue applauded the court’s decision and was dismissive of the judicial activism remark. “A judicial activist is a judge who decides a case different than the way I wanted it decided,” he said. Omaha Sen. Ernie...

HAVANA (AP) - Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said Wednesday he met with President Fidel Castro late Tuesday after a trade delegation from his state finalized deals to sell wheat, beans and soy products worth about $27 million (about euro23 million) to the communist-run island. Heineman declined to provide details about the hour-long meeting at Castro's offices, which the Cuban leader requested. The Republican governor has been striving to keep a low political profile during his trip and has steered away from discussing U.S.-Cuba relations, emphasizing instead the economic benefits of the Cuban market for Nebraska farmers. The deals signed Tuesday...