Give kudos to President Biden and congressional Democrats for pushing through the president’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. Thumb your nose at congressional Republicans, who fought the measure every step of the way.
The law will get $1,400 in direct payments to 85 percent of American households, expand coverage and help with lowering health care premiums, and give small businesses what they need to stay open. It also will expand unemployment insurance, provide food and nutrition assistance, help keep a roof over people’s heads and cut child poverty in half with various measures including a historic $3,600 child tax credit that will put money in people’s pockets.
Of course, Sens. Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer and Reps. Don Bacon, Jeff Fortenberry and Adrian Smith followed GOP marching orders and voted against the measure — even after 528,000 deaths from COVID in the United States alone.
Many in the GOP gave sanctimonious reasons for voting against the relief package, which was noted by Esquire’s Charles Pierce:
“Every single Republican (again) voted against sending aid to a country battered by a pandemic and the economic damage that came along with it, even though they had voted for similar relief under the previous president*, who didn’t know what he was doing about anything.
As I said, the hours of debate will not make anyone forget Caesar and Cicero. The Republicans dug in on two fantastical lines of defense — that the bill opened the floodgates to American “socialism,” and how everything would have been better if the bill had been produced in a “bipartisan” manner. That none of their tongues turned to fire while they were making these pitches is proof enough that God hates to watch C-SPAN.”
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Congratulations to Spencer K. Danner, Jr. on being elected NDP vice chair last Saturday by the State Central Committee.
Danner, compliance director at First National Bank of Omaha, was elected Saturday by the party’s State Central Committee.
“It is an honor and privilege to be elected Vice Chair and represent the great state of Nebraska,” Danner said. “Our party is stronger when diverse voices from all over the state are united; from Omaha to Scottsbluff and Valentine to McCook, representing the will of Nebraskans. My goal is to build, invest, and win elections all across this state; together, we will.”
Danner now serves as a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) alongside Chair Jane Kleeb and DNC Committeewoman Charlene Ligon and Committeeman Ron Kaminski. Danner will also serve as a member of the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC).
“Spencer Danner has a long legacy of leadership in his family from his great-grandfather, Sen. Danner, and his mother, who served as a fire captain,” Kleeb said. “Spencer is breaking ground as our party’s first African American Vice Chair. I am proud to serve with him to keep building our party with all shades of blue at the table working to elect Democrats.”
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There are several Women’s Marches this month across the state. Make sure you check them out:
March 7-21: Omaha Virtual March (Ongoing)
March 20: Lincoln Women’s March with U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams of GA
March 20: Tri-Cities Women’s March
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Nebraskans have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Our governor should be doing everything he can to get more shots in more Nebraskans’ arms, especially those people with critical jobs and professions like our public school teachers.
Right now, Nebraska is one of the worst-ranked states in vaccinations.
The Nebraska Democratic Party is conducting a 1-question-poll in order to gauge what people all over the state think about Gov. Ricketts’ leadership throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Please let us know what you think and share with fellow Nebraskans.
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We are multilingual!
We have had a translation option for some time to allow Spanish-speakers to read the NDP website.
This week, we added a Chinese translator button on top of our Vietnamese, Arabic, Sudanese and Mandarin translators to further engage our vibrant immigrant communities.
Spread the word!
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If you are interested in helping write a couple of Letters to the Editor — or even a guest op-ed — over the next year or so, please sign up here.
We will send you an email when there is a pressing issue that would be good for an LTE or guest op-ed and ask for volunteers. We will provide assistance and encouragement.
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Check out our slate of great Democratic Candidates for the 2021 city elections in Lincoln and Omaha!
And see important voting information and dates at the NDP Voting Center.
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The Republicans have launched an attack on our voting process in Nebraska at the Legislature.
As reported by the Omaha World-Herald, state Sen. Julie Slama has introduced bills requiring voters to show ID in order to cast a ballot and another measure to change the way Nebraska allocates its five Electoral College votes — which helped President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris win the White House
Both measures had hearings this week before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.
Click here to see what you can do to help fight the measures.
Click here to read Preston Love, Jr.’s op-ed on the legislation.
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Help build the NDP and become a Monthly Donor!
Some 550 Democrats ran in races across Nebraska in 2020 and had a 71 percent win rate. Many of the services we offered those candidates were bolstered by our Monthly Donors.
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Welcome to the Party calls have resumed! We are excited to cover topics like city elections, voter registration and the Legislature. We also will be giving our caucuses and councils the floor to talk about their goals and how you can get involved.
The next call is March 23, with Lincoln and Omaha city candidates.
If you have suggestions for topics to cover, please email gina@nebraskademocrats.org.
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Lincoln Block Captains are invited to join a quick refresher on what we are doing this contact and to meet the candidates that are running.
We will stream this first part on Facebook live and you can watch it later if you aren’t available for the call.
After the training, we will have a MiniVAN troubleshooting session so anyone outside of Lincoln who needs help is welcome to join too.
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Get your Biden and NDP swag at the NDP/Shirts 101 store!
The store now features some terrific Jomaha/Blue Dot swag!
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We leave you this week with a rendering by Mike Luckovich on the aforementioned COVID relief bill and misplaced GOP concerns.
–By Kevin O’Hanlon/NDP Communications Director
NOTE: If you’d like to receive #NebDems News via email, just let us know by sending a note to: info@nebraskademocrats.org
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IMPORTANT DATES
March 7-21: Omaha Virtual March (Ongoing)
March 12: Lincoln Block Captains Refresher Training
March 14: 2021 LCDP Patriots Celebration
March 20: Lincoln Women’s March with U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams of GA
March 20: Tri-Cities Women’s March
April 6: Lincoln and Omaha Primary Elections April 6
April 6: Welcome to the Party call
April 20: Welcome to the Party call
April 23: Last day to request an early ballot by mail for the City of Lincoln general election
April 30: Last day to request an early ballot for the City of Omaha general election
May 4: Lincoln General Election
May 4: Welcome to the Party call
May 11: Omaha General Election
May 11: Welcome to the Party call
