Veterans support governor’s bill

LINCOLN – Members of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) supported Gov. Dave Heineman’s proposed tax reform bill in a press conference Wednesday morning.

In a unanimous vote Jan. 26, the VFW voted to support LB405 that would eliminate income tax on all forms of income, including Social Security benefits, military retirement and all pensions.

John Hilgert, director of the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs, said he thinks the bill will help the future of Nebraska.

“I don’t know a single soldier who fought for the past. They fought for their future,” Hilgert said.

Dave Beran, state commander of the VFW, said that many Nebraska veterans are living month to month. To help these veterans, he said they had no choice but to support Heineman on this bill.

He also said that many younger veterans are choosing to live in other states because it is cheaper to live in those areas.

Heineman said he wants to represent the average people in Nebraska, rather than the bigger businesses that are interested in protecting their exemptions. This includes all of the small business owners and military retirees, he said.

“We’re going to stand up and fight for those people,” Heineman said. “I hope the Legislature will join with me in standing up for the citizens in Nebraska.”