Legislator of the Week: Nebraska State Senator Lou Ann Linehan

This Week, ALEC and FreedomWorks introduce Nebraska State Senator Lou Ann Linehan. Senator Linehan was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2016. She has been honored with several awards during her career including Distinguished Honoree, Women’s Center for Advancement, U.S. Department of State Superior Honor Award, Meritorious Award, and the Chairman’s Award for Douglas County Republican Party. She and her husband Kevin have four children, Patrick, Katie, Meghan, and Shannon.

Why did you run for office?

I ran for the Legislature because I am concerned for Nebraska’s future. Both our property and income taxes are too high. State funding for education is neither transparent nor equitable. We need to ensure that both taxes and spending are equitable and transparent.

In your view, what is the biggest issue facing Nebraska?

The biggest issues facing Nebraska are high taxes coupled with a depressed agricultural economy, which in turn leaves the Legislature with dwindling revenues to address either.

If you could “wave your magic wand,” what would you like to see immediately implemented in Nebraska?

If I could wave a magic wand, I would immediately implement a public school financing system that is both fair and transparent.

Do you serve on any committees, if so which committees and why? How do you think you have impacted them?

I serve on the Legislature’s Education Committee, Health and Human Services Committee, The Planning Committee, and the Performance Audit Committee. I chose Education and Health Committees because they make up the largest part of our state budget. I work to ensure both our public schools and Health & Human Services are efficient and addressing the needs of Nebraska’s students and those who are unable to care for themselves.

I take committee hearings very seriously. In the Nebraska Unicameral, the public is truly our second house. It is important that legislators listen and ask questions when Nebraskans take the time to participate in the legislative process.

What project or law are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act, which was LB 651 (2017). This bill requires public schools throughout the state to assess young students, K-3rd grade, three times during the school year. The assessments will allow schools to identify students with reading disabilities or other issues, and provide the interventions needed to ensure all students are reading by the end of third grade and ready to read to learn.

How has ALEC helped you as a legislator?

ALEC meetings are helpful because they provide legislators with the opportunity to meet with other representatives from across wide areas of interest and specific knowledge sets. ALEC meetings offer the opportunity to explore how other states have dealt with the same challenges we face in Nebraska. Further, guest lecturers and speakers motivate attendees with new ideas and more importantly, remind us of our commitment to free markets and limited government.

What is your favorite thing about Nebraska?

My favorite thing about Nebraska is the many hardworking, generous, common sense citizens.

Can you share a fun fact about yourself that’s not in your official bio?

My great grandfather served in the Nebraska Senate in the late 19th century, when Nebraska still had two houses.

This Week, ALEC and FreedomWorks introduce Nebraska State Senator Lou Ann Linehan. Senator Linehan was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2016. She has been honored with several awards during her career including Distinguished Honoree, Women’s Center for Advancement, U.S. Department of State Superior Honor Award, Meritorious Award, and the Chairman’s Award for Douglas County Republican Party. She and her husband Kevin have four children, Patrick, Katie, Meghan, and Shannon.

Why did you run for office?

I ran for the Legislature because I am concerned for Nebraska’s future. Both our property and income taxes are too high. State funding for education is neither transparent nor equitable. We need to ensure that both taxes and spending are equitable and transparent.

In your view, what is the biggest issue facing Nebraska?

The biggest issues facing Nebraska are high taxes coupled with a depressed agricultural economy, which in turn leaves the Legislature with dwindling revenues to address either.

If you could “wave your magic wand,” what would you like to see immediately implemented in Nebraska?

If I could wave a magic wand, I would immediately implement a public school financing system that is both fair and transparent.

Do you serve on any committees, if so which committees and why? How do you think you have impacted them?

I serve on the Legislature’s Education Committee, Health and Human Services Committee, The Planning Committee, and the Performance Audit Committee. I chose Education and Health Committees because they make up the largest part of our state budget. I work to ensure both our public schools and Health & Human Services are efficient and addressing the needs of Nebraska’s students and those who are unable to care for themselves.

I take committee hearings very seriously. In the Nebraska Unicameral, the public is truly our second house. It is important that legislators listen and ask questions when Nebraskans take the time to participate in the legislative process.

What project or law are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act, which was LB 651 (2017). This bill requires public schools throughout the state to assess young students, K-3rd grade, three times during the school year. The assessments will allow schools to identify students with reading disabilities or other issues, and provide the interventions needed to ensure all students are reading by the end of third grade and ready to read to learn.

How has ALEC helped you as a legislator?

ALEC meetings are helpful because they provide legislators with the opportunity to meet with other representatives from across wide areas of interest and specific knowledge sets. ALEC meetings offer the opportunity to explore how other states have dealt with the same challenges we face in Nebraska. Further, guest lecturers and speakers motivate attendees with new ideas and more importantly, remind us of our commitment to free markets and limited government.

What is your favorite thing about Nebraska?

My favorite thing about Nebraska is the many hardworking, generous, common sense citizens.

Can you share a fun fact about yourself that’s not in your official bio?

My great grandfather served in the Nebraska Senate in the late 19th century, when Nebraska still had two houses.