Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is joining forces with Nebraska's craft brewers to fight proposals that would raise taxes on craft beer in an effort to reduce property taxes.
Ricketts announced a series of events dubbed "Raise Glasses, Not Taxes" on March 1 in Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island.
The events are designed to draw the public's attention to LB314 and LB497, both of which would raise taxes on craft beer, spirits, wine and other goods.
“We are urging the Legislature to oppose tax increases on craft brewers and other Nebraska goods and services,” Ricketts says. “In urban and rural areas across our state, these tax hikes will kill job opportunities for Nebraska families and inhibit continued growth in tourism and economic development.”
Ricketts argues that the bills amount to a tax shift that would do little to address the long-term trend of rising property taxes. Supporters say the burden has increasingly shifted to farmers.
Ricketts has unveiled his own competing plan to slow the increases and says he's open to other ideas as long as they don't raise taxes.