Dust is settled, is the smoke cleared?

As you read this, the election is over. Hopefully, the dust has settled, although I doubt the smoke has cleared. We now have an idea of what the future may hold for our government, be it at the national or state level. Whether your candidate won or lost, it won't be as good as you hoped nor as bad as you feared. Government will carry on. As for the legislature, I am looking forward to working with all of my new colleagues, and all of my returning colleagues, despite facing a large budget deficit. We are facing a challenge, but the state of Nebraska has been here before, and we will get through it again.

Now that we know who will be coming back to the legislature, some of the picture may become clearer with respect to the chairmanships for all of the committees, but no one will know for sure until the vote is taken on opening day in January. I am running for chair of the Natural Resources Committee.

With water issues in the Republican River basin and a majority of Nebraska's oil production in the 44th district, I feel that I have a good handle on many of the issues which may come before the Natural Resources Committee. Of course energy is also under the jurisdiction of the Natural Resources Committee, so public power and renewable energy issues will certainly be talked about, as well. Although I don't know how many bills, nor the content of bills, which will come through the Natural Resources Committee at this time.

But I am sure that this will be a busy session. I hope to once again be elected to the Executive Board of the Legislature.

Having spent 2 years there, I have a lot of knowledge about the workings of that committee, and I am confident that I can put it to good use.

Friday, November 11th is Veterans Day. If you are fortunate enough to have time off from work or school and spend time with loved ones, or if you don't, please do not forget that our veterans are not only the reason for this holiday but also the reason that we have any holidays at all. If not for those who volunteered to give all for our country, we would not enjoy any freedoms at all.

I always enjoy hearing from the Nebraskans I represent. 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.

You can read more about bills and other work of the Legislature at www.nebraskalegislature.gov, and you can click on the Live Video Streaming NET logo to watch sessions, hearings, and other Capitol events.