Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Hardin Discloses Information At His Town Hall Meeting In Kimball
State Sen. Brian Hardin, Unicameral 48th District, shows his sidearm at his Town Hall Meeting on Saturday in the Kimball County Transit Service building. LB 77, which provides for the carrying of concealed weapons without a permit, was recently passed in the Legislature, signed into law by Gov. Pillan. and will become effective in August. Hardin said he has a concealed carry permit. "I carry," he said.
About 25 people attended state Sen. Brian Hardin's Town Hall meeting Saturday in Kimball. Hardin represents Kimball, Banner, and Scottts Bluff counties in Unicameral District 48.
Hardin discussed some recent issues in the Nebraska Legislature, including information about the Sentinel missile project. For the Kimball area, it is big news.
"The project has been pushed back," he said.
"Frankly, if it was not pushed back because the rockets aren't working," he said. "We really would have needed to order those pipes in the ground about a year ago. To have them, in order to install them so that when there are boots on the ground here, it's actually all happening in a meaningful, timely fashion. We are a year late right now."
In response to Hardin's comments, the Observer reached out to The Arms Control Association. The Arms Control Association, founded in 1971, describes itself as "a national, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies."
The organization released an article dated May 2023 that said the "new U.S. Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program may face a delay of two years due to supply chain issues and an absence of skilled engineers, although the Pentagon aims to shorten the lag time by adjusting the programs' acquisition plan."
The article also quoted Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall in November, when he said, "I am concerned about the schedule, specifically for Sentinel."
After Hardin's comments about the delay of the project, the City of Kimball reached out to the Air Force for an update. A response from the Air Force was not immediately available.
Hardin reminded the meeting goers that Gov. Pillen was not in favor of the $26 million for the missile project. He noted that Pillen said the federal government will pay for it.
"He and I disagree on that point," Hardin said. "In a nutshell, we have by God's grace secured $10 million – $5 million matches, one this year and one next year."
Although it has not passed yet, even if the governor line vetoes the bill Hardin believes there are enough votes to override the veto.
Hardin shared, "I thought I was going to get a walk in the park for this first year; I end up screaming at the governor in his office in my first month that I am there. It was hitting the ground running."
In other legislation, LB 66, the abortion bill or Heartbeat bill, failed by one vote. According to Hardin, under the bill, if a doctor could detect a fetal heartbeat, then he or she could not do an abortion. Hardin said that Nebraska has two doctors who do a majority of the 2,400 abortions in this state.
The Perkins County Canal was another topic Hardin touched on. A 100-year-old Nebraska/Colorado compact is the basis for the new Perkins County Canal. This canal will take some pressure off the water situation here but will take up to 10 years to complete.
The Unicameral has been engulfed in a filibuster over LB 574. LB 574 relates to individuals 18 and younger using transgender drugs.
Hardin said of the filibuster, "I have found it very frustrating."
Property owners will appreciate LB 753, which deals with education/taxes. LB 753 has gone through the first round – this bill would force the state to take over a much bigger share of the public school expenses. Hardin said the passage of this bill would lower property taxes by 30% and ag land by 70%.
Finally, new Interim Police Chief Dwain Murdoch asked about LB 51, which became effective in August 2021 and requires non-certified officers to follow new rules and regulations for training.
Murdoch said LB 51 is "killing small towns." He explained to Hardin that when hired, uncertified officers have to watch training videos and not be available for certified duty for at least six months. He concluded with, "I inherited a big Dumpster fire."