Hello, Friends--
I just received this bad news from Dan Spotten, ABATE of Nebraska Newsletter and Webmaster. This is as close as Nebraska Freedom Fighters have come to passing Freedom of Choice as they have in a long while, and I hope their momentum will continue with next year's attempt. Until then, it'll be my express pleasure not to spend ONE RED CENT of my tourist dollars in the Cornhusker State if I can help it. Let's continue to stand in solidarity with our Biker Neighbors in the plains and provide them with moral support, until the fight is eventually won.
In Liberty,
Tiger Mike
ABATE of Oklahoma
If you haven't yet heard the news...LB253 died today on a full floor
vote. The vote was 23 for and 25 against. 2 Senators that were with us
yesterday mysteriously changed their votes today and sunk the bill for
this year.
The "debriefing" was sad. We had put SO much time and emotional energy
into doing ALL that we could to pass this legislation.
However, we FINALLY got an up or down vote on the floor by EVERY
Senator. In the past, they would kill our bills in committee or by
filibuster. ALL we had been asking for was a vote...I guess you better
be careful what you wish for
The "main team" did everything we could. I guarantee everyone that this
"team" has worked their asses off for the last two years. Phone calls
and emails everyday. Personal time off work, traveling, meals, time away
from families...so much it can't be quantified.
And at the end of the day, I took my mirror test...I can't see how we
could have worked any harder or done anything differently.
We just plain didn't have the votes.
So, we're going to decompress this weekend. Next week - we start
figuring out who is running in the upcoming primary elections in May for
1/2 the seats in the Unicam that will need to be filled in November due
to term limits AND WORK to get folk elected who will support our
initiatives.
Nebraska State Senator Kent Rogert is a true American patriot who worked
tirelessly for ABATE of Nebraska. He IS my hero!
Lobbyist Joe Kohout, State Coordinator Larry Schutt, PAC Officer Alan
Fosler, Asst. State Coordinator Rick Scott, State Legislative Officer
Tim Pedersen, past State Coordinator "Breeze" Grove and the unknown
quietly working members of ABATE of Nebraska gave everything they had in
order to see this legislation to it's conclusion.
At the end of the day, we lost the battle...but we gained valuable field
experience and another day will come!
"Ride hard, play hard, party hard...and WORK HARDER!!!"
-spotman
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