As Nebraskans celebrate Earth Day, citizens are educating their neighbors and elected officials about the importance of stopping the TransCanada pipeline and passing state-based regulations. Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson (WI) in 1970 as a result of an oil spill that he was deeply concerned did not get government nor public attention.  […]

It’s going to be a busy, busy weekend.  Saturday is Earth Day, and we hope to see many of you at the Lincoln and Omaha celebrations.  Sunday is Easter and Passover wraps up on Monday.  Whether you’re hugging a tree, eating chocolate bunnies or still searching for that Afikomen, here’s your Roundup: Hard Heads: In […]

Editor’s note: Randy Thompson is a landowner from Merrick County whose land will be crossed by the TransCanada pipeline.  We consider him to be a rockstar in this fight to protect our land, water and citizens.  He recently received his “final” offer from TransCanada.  This is his response: Dear Mr. Irons:I want to acknowledge receipt […]

A large crowd–over 150 folks–showed up on Sunday afternoon for the Pipeline Education and Action Forum.   A huge thank you to local citizens Lynda and Cindy who helped organize the event.  Groups including Farmers Union, Sierra Club, Bold, Audubon, Guardians of the Good Life and NWF provided materials and speakers for the forum. Later […]

I testified before the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee on March 30 about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (health care reform) for small businesses. Below is the summary of that testimony.  You can read the full version at the Main Street Alliance’s blog, or you can watch the hearing […]

For months, landowners, US Senators, advocates, state legislators and yes–oil executives–have all shared one thing in common: we have all been waiting for the Department of State to issue the “supplemental” draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) on TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline. On April 15th, the waiting was over, the report was issued and we are […]

Thank you to EVERYONE who called the unicam yesterday and demanded that our state leaders take action to protect our homes and water from oil spills.  Nebraska is at the center of this fight, and it’s because of you that we’ve made headway.  Keep up your enthusiasm!  Here’s your Roundup: Change of Plans: Working in […]

Help us log 200 calls on April 14th! On April 14, activists across the state will call their state senators and Gov. Heineman, demanding that the our state government protect our land and water from oil pipelines.  We’ve got everything you need to call your state senator in one convenient place.  Simply enter your address […]

The federal government is gearing up for a shutdown if Congress doesn’t pass a budget or stopgap measure before midnight tonight.  In all this hullabaloo, we have to cheer on Sen. Ben Nelson who is refusing to accept pay during a shutdown.  The rest of the Nebraska delegation has remained silent on the issue.  Here’s […]

There’s no doubt the Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) is the golden boy of the radical right.  Ryan’s the new chair of the House Budget Committee and has just unveiled his plan to fund the federal government until the end of the fiscal year.  It may be the biggest piece of partisan hackery designed to protect […]