Senator Mike Johanns News

Date: November 6, 2009 Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831 Kris Humphrey, City Engineering Services, 441-7592 Mike Mascoe, Lower Platte South NRD, 476-2729 Kelly Bartling, UNL, 472-2059 Traffic Camera The east leg of the elevated roadway near the Devaney Center opened this morning, about nine months ahead of schedule.

Health Care Reform Legislation still has many issues yet to face, according to Nebraska's U. S. Senator Mike Johanns.

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns said Thursday that his concern for Nebraska families is what's driving his opposition to legislation that would turn control of student loans over to the government - not lobbying from private student loan provider Nelnet Inc.

If the House bill were to become law, some changes in the way health insurance would work in the United States would result.

Climate Change Legislation is out of Committee and on the Senate Floor. Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns explains the need and purpose of the legislation.

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns will be holding another round of town hall meetings in Nebraska to address health care reform.

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns says his concern for Nebraska families is driving his opposition to legislation that would turn control of student loans over to the government - not lobbying from private student loan provider Nelnet Inc.

A look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: Republicans are the minority party in both houses of Congress.

The U.S. Senate vote unanimously Wednesday to extend aid for jobless workers and broaden tax breaks for homebuyers and businesses in a bid to breathe life into the struggling U.S. economy.

Conservative media outlets accused Democrats of crafting health reform in secret Dobbs surprised "lightning didn't strike [Hoyer] down." On the October 29 edition of his radio show, Lou Dobbs "[couldn't] find words" to describe how "outrageous" he found remarks by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

Candidate Barack Obama made a big deal about government transparency and giving citizens ample opportunity to read pieces of legislation before they're voted on.

Two groups seeking to pressure Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., into supporting a new government health insurance plan, or public option, say they have some home-state poll numbers to back up the effort.

Not very creative, those Republicans. From Roll Call [sub req.]: Acknowledging they can't stop the Senate from bringing up a health care reform bill, Republicans have mapped out a strategy to draw out the debate, attack the measure's core components and force difficult votes on vulnerable Democrats.

Another Democrat has entered the race for Nebraska secretary of state. Fremont attorney Janet Stewart, 60, says she is in the process of putting together a campaign, talking to friends and potential supporters.

Those tax-free spending accounts that you and your co-workers use to help pay for dental work, insurance copayments or over-the-counter drugs face a hit under the health overhaul bills in Congress - unless a coalition that includes a powerful union, insurers and others can stop it.

What's all the fuss about? After all the noise over Democrats' push for a government insurance plan to compete with private carriers, coverage numbers are finally in: Two percent.

Republicans say the Democrats' proposal to overhaul health care is far too complicated, intrusive and expensive and are urging several steps they claim would bring down costs while not greatly expanding government involvement.

Things looked so promising Tuesday night when the Senate voted 87-13 to invoke cloture on HR 3548, the bill to extend unemployment benefits.

Nebraska's political leaders are praising China's move to lift its ban on U.S. pork imposed last spring out of fear of swine flu.

Consumers would be spared having to pay huge medical bills under Democratic health care legislation that's moving through Congress, as lawmakers agree on the need to put limits on how much people would pay out of their own pockets.