May 20, 2013

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Nebraska breeder fires back at HSUS criticism

May 20, 2013 by

A dog breeder in Nebraska objects to the criticism leveled against her by the Humane Society of the United States.

Linda Hager operates a kennel in Crab Orchard, named by HSUS in its “Horrible Hundred” kennels in the country.

Hager has raised toy breed dogs in Crab Orchard for 20 years.

“I sell to a pet store in Omaha, have for years, he’s had no complaints of my puppies. The state inspector has talked to him. He’s talked to Early May’s. He’s talked to both my vets,” Hager tells Nebraska Radio Network affiliate KWBE. “The Humane Society, basically, all you have to do is be a kennel to be a puppy mill as far as they’re concerned.”

HSUS names three dog breeders in Nebraska to its national “Horrible Hundred” list of so-called puppy mills. The society accuses those on the list of numerous animal welfare violations.

The 100 facilities listed are located in 20 states, with many of them in the Midwest.

The facilities listed in Nebraska include: Linda Hager in Crab Orchard; Barbara Crick of Cricks Kennels in Burwell; and Janice and Steph McCutcheon and Krystal Wulf in Guide Rock.

Hager levels her own accusation against HSUS.

“They have never inspected my facility. They have never been there. They have no idea what it is like, what it looks like, what kind of buildings I have. They know nothing.”

Hager says her operation is subject to inspections from both state and federal regulators. She says she consults with two veterinarians as well. Hager says if HSUS continues with its efforts, in ten to fifteen years, people won’t be able to go to a pet store or breeder and buy a puppy.

Click here for previous story.

Doug Kennedy, KWBE, contributed to this article.

Filed Under: Agriculture, News

Passed last year, local option sales tax could be history this year (AUDIO)

May 20, 2013 by

Opposition mounted against a repeal of the local option sales tax enacted last year, but it appears supporters of repeal have the numbers on their side.

Passed only last year, the law authorizes local governments to ask their voters to approve a sales tax increase for specific capital improvement projects.

Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed the measure, but the legislature overrode the veto.

Sen. Ernie Chambers introduced LB 266. It has gotten stuck in committee. So, Chambers moved on Thursday to amend LB 308, sponsored by Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus. LB 308 would make changes to how the federal alternative minimum tax is applied in Nebraska.

Sen. Jerry Johnson, the former mayor of Wahoo, argued against repeal.

“But I think taking it away right now is premature. It’s not had a long history; I don’t think it’s had a bad history in its one year run,” Johnson stated during legislative floor debate.

Only five cities have exercised the option. Three succeeded in winning voter approval. Voters in Sidney, Alma and Waterloo passed measures to increase their sales taxes. Voters turned down similar measure in Bellevue and Nebraska City.

Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha said the legislature has given cities few options since it took away local aid.

“The quality of life in those communities happens at the city government level and if we give them no options, we’ve strangled them,” Lathrop stated.

Others grumbled about how Chambers maneuvered to get his bill to the floor, while some argued that any consideration of the new law should wait until a special committee conducts a thorough review of the state tax system.

Chambers’ amendment actually failed by one vote on Thursday, 24-16, with several senators not voting. Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha switched his vote from in favor to not voting so he could call for a reconsideration of the vote. The legislature adjourned for the week Thursday without resolving the issue. When it returns, it will resume debate and might well have the 25th vote for passage.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:45]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Legislature & Government, News, Taxes

Head of Nebraska farm group sees pros, cons in new farm bill

May 20, 2013 by

Ag committees in both chambers of Congress passed their two different versions of a new farm bill last week. The Senate measure would reinstate target payments that were left out of last year’s measure.

Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen sees that as beneficial for producers who need a safety net when commodities markets fall.

Hansen says, “They have added back in target prices which we strongly support because they are a cost-effective mechanism that helps us protect farmers’ income when there is a price collapse.”

The huge volume of legislation costs nearly $100-billion a year over five years, establishing policies for farm subsidies, rural programs and the food stamp program.

Hansen says he’s disappointed the House Ag Committee version made cuts that would strengthen grain inspections, packers and stockyards rules that were part of the 2008 farm bill. He says it’s a slap in the face to livestock producers, especially to those who depend on contracts.

“These were small but important and incremental steps in order to try to help USDA to do its job to enforce the packers and stockyards provisions,” Hansen says.

Hansen says both the Senate and House versions of the farm bill have positives and negatives and amendments will need to be offered on the floor to address them.

He says it’ll then be up to the conference committee to iron out the differences and, hopefully, get a final package approved this year.

By Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton

Filed Under: Agriculture, Featured Stories, Legislature & Government, News

UNMC specialist reacts to Angelina Jolie mastectomy

May 17, 2013 by

The big news out of Hollywood this week was actress Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a double mastectomy. Jolie says she made the decision after learning she had an increased risk of developing breast cancer because she carried had a mutation of the BRCA1 gene and her mother died of breast cancer.

University of Nebraska Medical Center professor and surgical oncologist Dr. Edibaldo Silva says this is a rare condition impacting five out of every 100 women. He says genetic testing is imperative when a woman is concerned about the risk of breast cancer. He says if a woman does not have the gene and gets breast cancer the risk of developing cancer in the opposite breast is rare so there would be no benefit of a double mastectomy. He encourages women with small early breast cancers to look at the preferred option of surgery and radiation instead of a mastectomy.

Dr. Silva says a double mastectomy in Jolie’s case was an appropriate option because her risk of breast cancer was so high and she carried the genetic mutation.

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Health & Medicine, News

Congressman Smith quizzes IRS head about targetting conservative groups (VIDEO/AUDIO)

May 17, 2013 by
Congressman Adrian Smith

Congressman Adrian Smith

Congressman Adrian Smith questions Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller about the added scrutiny the IRS gave to conservative groups seeking tax exempt status during a Congressional hearing in Washington.

Smith quizzes Miller during the hearing held by the House Ways and Means Committee.

“Donor lists were requested by the IRS, is that accurate?” Smith asks.

“That’s accurate, in some cases, not all these cases by any stretch of the imagination, sir,” Miller responds.

“Did those lists trigger any further inquiries or new inquiries?” Smith follows.

Miller says IRS officials should not have asked for the donor lists of so many conservative groups.

“But they certainly shouldn’t be in every case, they shouldn’t be asked in every case,” Miller states during the hearing. “Because they can be relevant if a donor has a contract with the organization, if the donor is doing it for a political purpose; but to just ask for a donors without a rationale shouldn’t be done.”

Smith presses Miller on whether IRS personnel simply didn’t follow procedure.

“Can you share whether there were safeguards in place that were not honored to try to prevent the bias before the situation came about?”

“Whether it was bias or perception of bias will play out over time,” Miller responds, stating that the IRS has a special committee in place to handle such applications, to reduce the bias of any one individual.

Miller denies the IRS targeted conservative groups requesting 501(C)4 non-profit status. The IRS has disclosed, though, that groups with “Tea Party”, “9/12” and “Patriot” came under much more scrutiny than other such groups applying for tax exempt status.

Miller has resigned, but won’t officially leave the office until next week.

AUDIO: Congressman Adrian Smith questions Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller during House Ways and Means Committee hearing. [4:36]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Legislature & Government, News
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