Groups that represent hospitals, farmers and low-income families are urging lawmakers to kill Gov. Dave Heineman's proposals to overhaul Nebraska's tax system. The smaller of the governor's two bills met a wave of resistance Thursday in a hearing held by the Legislature's Revenue Committee.
Heineman has called on lawmakers to eliminate Nebraska's income tax or at least reduce the amount that retirees pay. The proposals would make up the difference by eliminating as many as 27 state sales-tax exemptions.
Heineman, a Republican, has vowed to fight the "highly paid lobbyists" who are trying to protect their specific sales-tax exemptions.
The bill's prime sponsor, Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha, says opponents have raised valid concerns, but he also wants ideas on how to proceed with tax reform.
