Legislative update from Senator Dan Hughes

Now that the redistricting is over and we know what the boundaries are going to be, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. The new 44th district will include the southwest quarter of Perkins County, all of Chase, Dundy, Hitchcock, Hayes, Frontier, Gosper, and now a new addition, Dawson County. I’m still certainly willing to continue my relationship with my former constituents in Red Willow, Furnas and Harlan Counties. Since I have served those counties for the past 7 years I don’t expect a change in boundaries to change my relationships with those individuals or groups. I certainly am not trying to do anything different in Dawson County. The individuals in Dawson County that have a good relationship with Senator Williams, I would expect they would continue with that relationship, but if they do wish to reach out to me, as their current senator, I am more than happy to visit with them and help them with any issues they may be bringing forward.

For Red Willow, Furnas and Harlan Counties your new senator will be Senator Dave Murman from Glenville. I know he is excited to get to know and serve his new constituents in those three counties. Senator Murman and I are a lot alike, we’re both farmers and have very similar backgrounds and certainly have the same set of values that we will both bring to the legislature. Even though those three counties are not under my jurisdiction I do feel they will be represented well in the future.

You will see where I was one of the signatures on a letter sent to the Secretary of State, requesting a special session on the vaccine mandates in the State of Nebraska. I certainly believe everybody should take advantage of the vaccine. I believe it is safe. But even more importantly I respect the rights and the freedom of choice for individuals who chose not to take the vaccine. I will go to the mat defending the freedoms not only against being forced to have a vaccination, but I also view it somewhat similar to our second amendment rights to bear arms. There are certain freedoms that we have in this country that should not be infringed upon by the government. It takes 33 votes to call a special session but probably more importantly it takes 33 votes to overcome a filibuster on any legislation. I hope that I am wrong, but I do not believe there are 33 senators who will agree to the call. I know it is very frustrating for those of you who work for a company that is telling you that you will either get vaccinated or lose your job. I am very sympathetic to that issue but at this point unless 33 senators want to come together to make Nebraska a state that does not recognize requirements of a national vaccine mandate I don’t know anything else I can do. If there are not 33 senators willing to even come together to discuss the issue, the chances of getting 33 senators to vote positively on this issue is remote at best.

Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns that you might have. My email address is dhughes@leg.ne.gov and my phone number is (402) 471-2805.