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☆ Maine Democrats threaten switch to a 'winner-take-all' Electoral College system if Nebraska changes how it allocates its electoral votes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jim Pillen's support of a bill that would change the state's system of allocating electoral votes from one determined by individual congressional districts to one that would award the state's five electoral votes to the statewide victor. Nebraska Democrats vehemently fought back against this electoral change before the legislative session ended earlier this month and the measure didn't advance. If Nebraska went through with its change, Trump would likely win the state's entire share of electoral votes, given its strong GOP orientation. But if Maine also switched to a winner-take-all system before the 2024 election, Biden would be heavily favored to win all of that state's electoral votes and would thus win the Electoral College (270 to 268). Maine Democrats — who control the state legislature — had generally not spoken of tweaking their electoral allocation system ahead of 2024.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Maureen Terry, Jim Pillen's, Pillen, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, North Carolina —, Maine Democrats —, Terry Organizations: Service, Maine Democratic, Electoral, Donald Trump . Maine, Congressional, Business, Republican Governor, Republican, Trump, Nebraska GOP Gov, Nebraska Democrats, Congressional District, Biden, Michigan, North Carolina, Democratic, Nebraska, Electoral College, Maine Democrats, Nebraska Republican Party Locations: Nebraska, Donald Trump ., Maine, Omaha, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North

☆ Another Red-Blue Divide: Money to Feed Kids in the Summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jason Deparle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The governor was firm: Nebraska would reject the new federal money for summer meals. He would not sign on to a program to provide all families that received free or cut-rate school meals with cards to buy groceries during the summer. “I don’t believe in welfare,” the governor, Jim Pillen, a Republican, said in December. “Sometimes money isn’t the solution,” the governor replied. A week later, Mr. Pillen made a U-turn the size of a Nebraska cornfield, approving the cards and praising the young people for speaking out.

Persons: Jim Pillen, Pillen Organizations: Republican Locations: Nebraska

☆ Trump and allies pressure Nebraska to change how it awards electoral votes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Daniel Strauss | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump and his allies have ramped up pressure for Nebraska lawmakers to change the method the state divvies out electoral college votes, an effort that underscores just how narrow the race for 270 electoral votes could be in the November rematch with President Joe Biden. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk kicked off the effort on Tuesday, sending a message on social media urging Nebraska Republicans to act. For weeks, the Biden campaign has had its eye on Omaha and its one electoral vote. For all the talk of Biden’s blue wall of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, winning all three could still leave him short of 270 electoral votes. The 2020 census changed the map based on decreasing populations in Pennsylvania and Michigan, so one of Nebraska’s three electoral votes could become critical should there be a 269-269 tie with Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Charlie Kirk, Jim Pillen, Trump, Jim Pillen of, Let’s, ”, Sen, John Arch, ” Arch, I’m, “, Jen Day, Biden, Megan Hunt, it’s, Jane Kleeb, Loren Lippincott, ” Lippincolt, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Nebraska, Republicans, Conservative, Nebraska Republicans, Republican Gov, Truth, Republican, “, LB, Capitol, Omaha, Democratic, Nebraska Democratic, Lincoln Journal Star, Trump Locations: Jim Pillen of Nebraska, Nebraska, Lincoln, Omaha, ” Nebraska, Maine, Wisconsin , Michigan, Pennsylvania, Michigan

☆ Trump wants to deny Biden's easiest reelection path by pushing a last-minute change in Nebraska's election law
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewFormer President Donald Trump is backing a last-minute change to Nebraska's election law that could deprive President Joe Biden of an Electoral College vote that would loom large in a close race. The rest of the state is heavily conservative and has consistently handed its four other electoral votes to Republican nominees. Republicans could make Biden's reelection path more difficult if they successfully changed the law. It's worth being skeptical that Republicans can push this throughNebraska Republicans have gnashed their teeth over the law for years. Pete Ricketts to the US Senate, a move that angered some Nebraska Republicans given that Ricketts had endorsed Pillen over Herbster.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Jim Pillen of, Jim Pillen, Trump, Don Bacon, Semafor, Pillen, Charlie Kirk's, Kirk, hasn't, Barack Obama, Sen, Loren Lippincott, it's, Lippincott, Machaela Cavanaugh, Mike McDonnell, Megan Hunt, Hunt, McDonnell, Charles Herbster, Trump's, Pete Ricketts, Ricketts Organizations: Service, Electoral, Trump, Business, Congressional, GOP, Republican, Nebraska, White, Representatives, Nebraska Republicans, Democratic, Electoral College, Democrat, Congressional District, Lincoln Journal Star, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Nebraska Republican, Getty, Gov, Senate Locations: Jim Pillen of Nebraska, Nebraska, Omaha, Wisconsin , Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Herbster, Maine

They eat a lot.”Many states have rejected federal funds on principle or for technical reasons. Twenty-two states have turned down the mostly federally funded expansion of Medicaid eligibility to provide health insurance to more lower-income adults. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe Summer EBT program, a response to increased child hunger when school is out, involves much less money. Bill Lee's office said the initiative is a pandemic-era benefit and that other food programs already exist. But Crystal FitzSimons, director of school programs at Food Research and Action Center, cited research that families buy more nutritional food when their grocery subsidies increase.

Persons: Otibehia Allen, ” Allen, “, aren't, Thomas Vazquez, Bill Lee's, Megan Degenfelder, ”, Defenfelder, Allen's, Tate Reeves, Reeves, you’re, Jim Pillen, Lisa Davis, Kim Reynolds, Crystal FitzSimons, It's, ___ Mattise, Sean Murphy, James Pollard, Pollard Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, Texas Health, Human Services Commission, Texas, Republican Gov, Food Research, Action Center, Associated Press, “, Republican, Washington D.C, Democratic, Action, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Clarksdale , Mississippi, States, Vermont, Texas, Tennessee, Wyoming, Louisiana, In Mississippi, Nebraska, Alabama, Alaska , Florida, Georgia , Idaho , Iowa, Louisiana , Mississippi , Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota , Texas , Vermont, Nashville , Tennessee, Cherry Hill , New Jersey, Oklahoma City, Columbia , South Carolina

Jim Pillen reversed course on Monday and announced that the state will accept roughly $18 million in federal funding to help feed hungry children over the summer break. “They talked about being hungry, and they talked about the summer USDA program and, depending upon access, when they'd get a sack of food,” Pillen said. A bill from state Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, would have forced the state to accept the federal funding. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic." Pillen said Monday that Nebraska officials had already reached out to the USDA to confirm that the state would participate this year.

Persons: LINCOLN, Jim Pillen, Pillen, “, they'd, ” Pillen, ”, —, Sen, Jen, Ray Aguilar, Aguilar, Kim Reynolds, Reynolds, State Sen, Megan Hunt, ” Hunt Organizations: —, — Nebraska Gov, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Capitol, SNAP, Summer Food Service, Democrat, Republican, Nebraska, State, USDA Locations: Neb, — Nebraska, Nebraska, Pillen's, Omaha, Grand, Iowa

(AP) — Conservative lawmakers who want to intertwine religion with school curriculum in Republican-dominated Nebraska presented a slew of bills Monday to the state Legislature’s education committee. Another measure would change school funding to loop in private school tuition while forbidding the state from interfering in private schools’ curriculum or beliefs. The bill introduced last year was among those that stalled as conservatives focused on passing a bill to allow taxpayer money to be used to fund private school scholarships. Others argued Erdman’s bill would hurt funding for rural school districts like his own, which has fewer than 350 students. Under the bill, out-of-state teachers could gain Nebraska certification by taking a knowledge-testing exam they must pass.

Persons: LINCOLN, Sen, Dave Murman, Steve Erdman’s, Erdman, ” Ron Cunningham, Lincoln, Loren Lippincott’s, “, Omaha Sen, Kathleen Kauth —, Jim Pillen Organizations: — Conservative, Republican, Nebraska Legislature’s, Democratic, Omaha, Gov Locations: Neb, Nebraska, Glenvil, Arizona

Tennessee is among 35 states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes that have opted into the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT, for this summer. "Established during the pandemic, Summer EBT was intended to supplement existing food assistance programs in extraordinary circumstances. “I think it is a mistake to not continue with Summer EBT in 2025 and beyond,” Anderson said in an interview. Under the federal program, some 644,000 Tennessee children can receive $77.3 million more in aid this summer, creating a multiplied economic impact, according to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. All 50 states administer the existing Summer Food Service Program, which provides sites where kids can eat for free.

Persons: won’t, Joe Biden's, Bill Lee's, ”, Elizabeth Johnson, Lee, EBT, Signe Anderson, she's, ” Anderson, Jim Pillen, Tom Vilsack, he’s Organizations: —, . Tennessee, Republican, Republican Gov, “ Tennessee, Tennessee Justice Center, U.S . Department of Agriculture, USDA, Assistance, Nebraska Gov, USDA Food, Nutrition Service, Food Service Program, Associated Locations: Tenn, — Tennessee, ., Tennessee, “, Nebraska, ” Tennessee

Nebraska is among more than a dozen states — all with Republican governors — that have opted out of receiving the funding. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing a steady increase in food insecurity among Nebraska families could help explain that flood of calls, Day said. “This places Nebraska above the national average and gives us the 11th highest food insecurity in the nation,” she said. “As many of you know, food is more expensive than ever, and it’s squeezing low-income Nebraska residents hardest."

Persons: Weeks, Jim Pillen, “, Omaha Sen, Jen Day, —, Kim Reynolds, Sen, Ray Aguilar, Aguilar, Day, Pillen Organizations: Republican Gov, Legislature's, Human Services Committee, SNAP, Democrat, Nebraska Legislature, Republican, Statistics, U.S . Department, Agriculture, Summer Food Service Program, U.S . Department of Agriculture Locations: Nebraska, Omaha, Iowa, Grand, U.S

(AP) — A Democratic state lawmaker in Nebraska who unsuccessfully ran for governor two years ago is seeking a seat in the U.S. House. She hopes to challenge Republican Rep. Mike Flood, who served in the state legislature with Blood until he was elected to Congress. Blood was running for governor at the time, a race she lost to Republican Jim Pillen. “I’m running because we can do better and bring back a strong voice in D.C. that represents all Nebraskans, not the vocal minority,” she said. So far no other Democrats have filed for the primary or announced plans to run.

Persons: Sen, Carol Blood, Mike Flood, Flood, Jeff Fortenberry, Patty Pansing Brooks, Blood, Republican Jim Pillen, Clair Callan, “, ” Organizations: —, Democratic, U.S . House, Congressional, Republican, Blood, GOP, Bellevue City Council, Social Security Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Nebraska, U.S, Lincoln, McCook, Bellevue

(AP) — Longtime Omaha community activist Preston Love Jr. has announced he is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts for the seat Ricketts was appointed to fill last year. Love, 81, launched his campaign Wednesday in north Omaha before a crowd of about 100 with the endorsements of some of the state's top Democrats, including state party executive director Precious McKesson and state Sen. Tony Vargas. Ricketts also gave more than $1 million to the political action committee Conservative Nebraska, which ran a slew of attack ads against Pillen’s primary opponents. It is the second time the state party has backed Love for the Senate seat — although the first time came under unusual, scandal-plagued circumstance. Love is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Black Votes Matter Institute of Community Engagement and an adjunct professor of Black studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Persons: —, Preston Love Jr, Sen, Pete Ricketts, Ricketts, Precious McKesson, Tony Vargas, Vargas, Don Bacon, Love, haven't, Lyndon, Johnson, Ricketts —, “ I'm, Jim Pillen, Ben Sasse, Pillen, Chris Janicek, Brad Ashford, Alisha Shelton, Nebraska’s, Sasse Organizations: — Longtime, Democratic, Republican U.S, Congress, Republican, GOP, Senate, “, United, Republican Gov, University of Florida, Conservative Nebraska, Democrats, U.S . Rep, of Community, University of Nebraska Locations: OMAHA, Neb, — Longtime Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S, United States, Love

☆ 15 states mostly led by Republicans refuse federal funds to feed hungry children during the summer months
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden Administration has launched a permanent Summer EBT program to feed hungry children. AdvertisementFifteen states, all currently led by Republican governors, were notably absent from the Summer EBT announcement. AdvertisementIn Mississippi and Oklahoma, spokespersons from their respective health departments told BI their states have existing summer food assistance programs. A spokesperson from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said there is a budget request in its state legislature to approve funding for the Summer EBT program in 2025. Some who declined to participate in the Summer EBT program, however, were more direct.

Persons: —, Tom Vilsack, John Bel Edwards, Jeff Landry, South Carolina –, Jim Pillen Organizations: Biden Administration, Republicans, Service, Administration, Republican, US Department of Agriculture, USDA, Former Louisiana Gov, Democrat, Republican Gov, Iowa Department of Health, Human Services, Idaho Department of Health, Welfare, Vermont Public Radio, Lincoln Journal Star Locations: Alabama, Alaska , Florida, Georgia , Idaho , Iowa, Louisiana , Mississippi , Nebraska , Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota , Texas , Vermont, Wyoming, Texas , Oklahoma , Louisiana , Mississippi, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Vermont, Nebraska

(AP) — An effort to enshrine abortion rights in the Nebraska Constitution is being launched, following on the heels of successful efforts in other reds states where Republicans had enacted or sought abortion restrictions. Protect Our Rights, the coalition behind the effort, submitted proposed petition language to the Nebraska Secretary of State's office late last month. That's proving consistent in other states where voters have backed abortion rights — including in Ohio, where voters last week resoundingly approved an amendment to the state constitution to protect abortion access. Paige Brown, a spokesperson for the Nebraska Catholic Conference that has lobbied hard for abortion restrictions, telegraphed that abortion opponents are aware of the public pushback. Ashley All, who helped lead the effort in Kansas to protect abortion rights, echoed that warning, noting Kansas voters rejected that state's anti-abortion effort by nearly 20 percentage points.

Persons: “ We're, ”, Ashlei Spivey, Spivey, ” Spivey, Roe, Wade, resoundingly, Paige Brown, “, Brown, ” Brown, Jim Pillen, Sen, Merve Riepe, Ashley All Organizations: Nebraska, American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, Women's, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Gov Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Nebraska, Omaha, Ohio, “ Ohio, Kansas

Jim Pillen is facing backlash after comments he made about the Chinese nationality of a reporter whose story cited environmental concerns at farms owned by the governor. Consuming high levels of nitrate has been linked to health problems such as thyroid disease, birth defects and cancer, according to the report. Political Cartoons View All 1211 Images“As a Nebraskan, it embarrasses me,” Wynn wrote. She has worked for the Flatwater Free Press, an independent, nonprofit news organization based in Omaha, for two years. Several journalists were among those who criticized Pillen on social media for his comments.

Persons: LINCOLN, Jim Pillen, Yanqi Xu, ” Pillen, “, Matt Wynn, ” Wynn, wasn't, Xu, Pillen Organizations: —, — Nebraska Gov, Flatwater Free Press, Republican Locations: Neb, — Nebraska, China, U.S, Omaha

(AP) — As Nebraska's new law restricting gender-affirming care for minors goes into effect this weekend, families with transgender children and the doctors who treat them are steeling themselves for change. A key aspect of the law is a set of treatment guidelines that has yet to be created. Minors who already receive puberty blockers or hormones are allowed to continue the treatment, but new patients who are minors are largely banned from starting. At the time, Nebraska lawmakers were locked in a contentious battle over the proposed transgender health care ban, which touched off an epic filibuster that slowed the session to a crawl. At least 22 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits.

Persons: LINCOLN, ”, Heather Rhea, “ There's, we'll, who've, Timothy Tesmer, Jim Pillen, Pillen, Lucifer, Sen, John Cavanaugh, “, ” Cavanaugh, Heather Rhea's, Nola Rhea, Rhea, She's, Dr, Alex Dworak, ” Dworak, Tesmer, Dworak Organizations: The American Academy of Pediatrics, Republican Gov, Republican, Nebraska Department of Health, Human Services, Nebraska, University of Nebraska, OneWorld Community Health Centers, Associated Press, Department of Health, U.S, Circuit Locations: Neb, Nebraska, Lincoln, Omaha, Minnesota, An Arkansas

The Republican-led state is currently enforcing a near-total abortion ban, with exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. MONTANA: Governor Greg Gianforte in May signed into law several bills limiting abortion access, including one that aims to overturn a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling that found the state constitution protected a right to abortion. TEXAS: While abortion is completely banned with very limited exceptions in Texas, Republican state representatives have introduced legislation that would compel internet providers to block websites that supply abortion pills or provide information on how to obtain an abortion. UTAH: Republican Governor Spencer Cox in March signed legislation to prohibit the licensing of abortion clinics, which abortion rights advocates say would effectively eliminate access in the state. In April, he also signed into law a bill to shield abortion providers and patients from other states' legal attacks.

Persons: Sam Wolfe, Roe, Wade, Ron DeSantis, Brad Little, Greg Gianforte, Jim Pillen, Roy Cooper's, Doug Burgum, Henry McMaster, Spencer Cox, Mark Gordon, Gretchen Whitmer, J.B, Pritzker, Tim Walz, Gabriella Borter, Sharon Bernstein, Julia Harte, Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell Organizations: Carolina House, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Republican, NORTH, Democratic, SOUTH, South Carolina Supreme Court, Senate, Minnesota, Thomson Locations: Columbia , South Carolina, U.S, FLORIDA, . IDAHO, MONTANA, . NEBRASKA, NORTH CAROLINA, North Carolina, NORTH DAKOTA, North Dakota, SOUTH CAROLINA, Carolina, TEXAS, Texas, UTAH, Utah . WYOMING, CALIFORNIA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, OHIO, Washington, Sacramento , California, New York

☆ 6 protesters were arrested after some threw tampons on the floor while the Nebraska legislature voted to restrict gender-affirming care and abortion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Police in Nebraska said they arrested six protesters at the state capitol in Lincoln on Friday. The Nebraska state legislature passed the Let Them Grow Act, which is expected to become law. A press release from the Nebraska State Patrol said officers noticed the group on the balcony of the state legislature when the protesters started yelling around 2:40 pm. —Nebraska State Patrol (@NEStatePatrol) May 20, 2023The Nebraska State Patrol did not immediately return Insider's request for further comment on Saturday. Nebraska passed Legislative Bill 574 on Friday, which limits abortion and gender-affirming health care.

☆ Nebraska lawmakers pass restrictions on abortion, transgender medical care
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 19 (Reuters) - Nebraska lawmakers on Friday passed a bill that limits abortion and puts restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth in a single piece of legislation that strikes at two highly divisive issues. It includes exceptions for medical emergencies when the mother's life is at risk, and in cases of rape or incest. The same bill also bans "gender-altering surgery" and places restrictions on hormone therapy and puberty-blocking drugs for transgender people under 19. Abortion and gender-affirming medical treatment for transgender youth are at the heart of the so-called culture war raging in American politics, with Republican-dominated legislatures across the country banning or putting sharp restrictions on both. Supporters of the bill said it was a means of protecting unborn babies from abortion and teenagers from undergoing irreversible medical procedures they may later regret.

☆ Nebraska legislature passes bill to restrict abortions at 12 weeks, gender-affirming care for those under 19
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Jack Forrest | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A Nebraska bill combining a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks and restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender Nebraskans under 19 is poised to become law after the state’s unicameral legislature voted for its passage Friday. It will also severely restrict most abortions at 12 weeks after legislators added a last-minute amendment to the bill on May 17. The bill makes it illegal for medical personnel to perform an abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy — with exceptions for sexual assault, incest and medical emergencies. The bill does not define “medical emergency.”The bill also bans a range of treatments that fall under the umbrella of gender affirming care. Others, like puberty blockers and other hormone treatments, are the standard of care for many trans and nonbinary youth.

☆ South Carolina and Nebraska lawmakers voted down abortion bans, exposing a chasm on the issue for Republicans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

— Abortion bans in deeply conservative Nebraska and South Carolina both fell short of advancing in close legislative votes amid heated debates among Republicans, yet another sign that abortion is becoming a difficult issue for the GOP. In South Carolina, lawmakers voted 22-21 to shelve a near-total abortion ban for the rest of the year. Katie Glenn, the state policy director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, characterized the failure of both proposed abortion bans as disappointing. The failure to advance abortion restrictions has confounded conservatives who dominate both Nebraska and South Carolina and exposed a chasm on the issue of abortion within the GOP. Riepe and some Republicans across the country have noted evidence pointing to abortion bans as unpopular with a majority of Americans.

☆ Former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts to Fill Vacant U.S. Senate Seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Shannon Najmabadi | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Jim Pillen speaking in Lincoln, Neb., after the Nebraska gubernatorial election was called in his favor in November. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday appointed his predecessor to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Ben Sasse , a Republican who resigned earlier this month to become president of the University of Florida. Pete Ricketts , a Republican who served two terms as Nebraska’s governor, will hold the seat until a special election is held in 2024 in the solid conservative state. He would have to run again in 2026 to serve a full six-year term in the Senate.

☆ Nebraska Gov. Pillen appoints former Gov. Pete Ricketts as Ben Sasse's Senate replacement
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Summer Concepcion | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Ricketts, a Republican like Pillen and Sasse, will serve two years ahead of a 2024 special Senate election. Sasse, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his supporters, officially resigned from the Senate on Sunday. Pillen said Ricketts was tapped for Sasse’s seat after more than 100 people applied and nine were interviewed. Following Pillen’s remarks, Ricketts thanked the governor, saying he was proud to support his campaign, and also thanked Sasse for his service. A top political ally of Pillen, Ricketts endorsed Pillen to succeed him and was a favorite to replace Sasse.

☆ Former Nebraska Governor Ricketts to become U.S. senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Katharine Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Nebraska's former Republican Governor Pete Ricketts is due to become a U.S. senator after being appointed on Thursday to fill the seat left vacant by Republican Senator Ben Sasse. In an anticipated move, Nebraska's Republican Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of his predecessor at the state Capitol on Thursday morning. Ricketts, 58, served two terms as Nebraska's governor, wrapping up his second term last week. The senator was one of seven Republican senators who voted to impeach then-president Donald Trump. Ricketts' appointment will not alter the balance of power in the Senate.

☆ One of the most powerful rich families in American politics just got their son in the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ricketts' family owns the Chicago Cubs and has broadly supported conservative causes. Ricketts will replace former Republican Sen. Ben Sasse who left the chamber. Pete Ricketts will be joining the US Senate, an appointment that caps his political comeback and cements his family, which owns the Chicago Cubs, as one of the most powerful forces in American politics. Sen. Deb Fischer, a two-term Republican incumbent and loyal ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, is also up for reelection then too. Along with owning the Cubs, the Ricketts family has long been among the biggest funders of Republican campaigns.

☆ Republican Ben Sasse says he's 'sad' for 'needy and desperate' Trump in parting shot before leaving the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GOP Sen. Ben Sasse offered a parting blow to Trump as the Nebraskan leaves Congress. Sasse, who is moving on to academia, said it's "sad" the former president is so "needy and desperate." The Nebraska Republican also praised Trump for appointing conservative judges. Sasse formally resigned from the Senate on Sunday to become the next president of the University of Florida. Ricketts ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2006, losing handily to then-Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson.

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