***For Immediate Release***
January 10, 2018
Contact, Jeff Sheldon
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853
Mobile: (402) 840-7289
Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org
Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould responds to State of the State address
Further revenue cuts will worsen budget shortfall, focus must be on investing in healthy communities and educated workforce
LINCOLN — Wednesday, Nebraska Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould issued the following statement in response to Governor Ricketts’s State of the State address delivered Wednesday morning.
“We are pleased the Governor acknowledged the drastic need to improve children’s safety by proposing additional investments in Nebraska’s under-resourced child welfare system,” Gould said. “However proposing further revenue cuts shows a failure to learn the harsh lessons of the past. Making further cuts will only exacerbate our current budget shortfall and worsen our ability to invest in the foundation of a strong economy so that all Nebraskans can share in the prosperity the Governor outlined in his speech.
“The Governor was correct when he said ‘our budget should reflect our values.’ Nebraska’s values not only prioritize children’s safety, but also a healthy workforce where every Nebraskan can get the health care they need and strong communities where everyone can thrive. We encourage the Legislature to create a responsible budget that doesn’t just give more to those that already have the most, but invests in healthy communities, world-class public schools, and work support programs that allow Nebraska’s hard-working families the opportunity to get ahead.”
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Well said Ms. Gould