Columns

When U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer appeared before the Ways and Means Committee on May 22 to discuss President Trump’s trade agenda, I had the opportunity to ask him about a number of agriculture trade priorities.

Following the early morning shooting at the June 14 congressional baseball practice, many on Capitol Hill and around the country spent the day in shock over what had transpired.

As happens too often when the federal government gets involved, a seemingly well-intentioned bill hastily signed into law in 2010 wreaked havoc on economic opportunity in America. You may be surprised to learn this is not a column about Obamacare. Instead, I am talking about a piece of legislation which has become known as “Obamacare for banks.”

When I travel the Third District, one of the most common questions I receive from Nebraskans is whether I have hope for Republicans and Democrats to come together and get things done. I do have examples of bipartisanship to cite, as it occurs more often in Congress than people think, but the overall tone in our country must change to allow for meaningful work to take place.

My hope is everyone will have taken time on Memorial Day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can live freely in America – and not lose sight of our gratitude to these brave men and women throughout the year.

Nebraskans have been waiting far too long for a simpler, fairer tax code. To help them plan for the future for their families, farms, and businesses, we need to move forward on comprehensive, pro-growth tax reform.

Aetna has announced it will exit all Obamacare marketplaces in 2018, citing $700 million in losses since 2014 and leaving Nebraskans with only one insurer on the exchange. The remaining insurer, Medica, has not yet committed to selling policies on the exchange next year.

The first 100 days of any presidential administration are carefully analyzed as a barometer for future success. If the first 100 days of the Trump administration are any indication, there is much more shaking up the status quo to come.