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Debate in Nebraska over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.
Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.
These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.
This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Nebraska in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:
- Debate over the stay-at-home order
- Debate over school closures
- Debate over religious service restrictions
- Debate over election policy
- Debate over economic impact
- Links to coverage of responses to the coronavirus in Nebraska
Debate over reopening plans in Nebraska
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the reopening in Nebraska.
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Omaha World-Herald Editorial Board (Omaha World-Herald): The Omaha World-Herald Editorial Board argued that people must follow public health guidelines and the state must act with caution when reopening the economy to avoid a second wave of the virus.
"It will be tremendously welcome when businesses can reopen more fully, giving the economy a much-needed boost. But to reach that point, we all must proceed responsibly in the meantime. Otherwise, a resurgence of the virus could short-circuit the progress." - "Nebraska and Iowa are starting to reopen. It's important to go slowly," June 2, 2020.
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State Senator Adam Morfeld (D) (The Daily Beast): State Senator Adam Morfeld (D) argued that Governor Pete Rickett's (R) decision to start opening a portion of businesses in the state was motivated by political calculation and not medical data.
"I think this has gone from being medically informed to a political calculation and that’s dangerous when we haven’t reached our peak." - "Coronavirus Is So Bad in This Nebraska City a Survivor Was Afraid to Go Home," April 28, 2020.
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Grand Island Independent Editorial Board (Grand Island Independent): "People should continue to wear masks while out in public. Hands should be washed frequently. If you are not feeling well, stay home. The last thing anyone wants to see is a spike in cases that negates all of the hard work and sacrifices that have been made so far. So, good job, Grand Island, in lowering the number of new COVID-19 cases, but the job isn’t done. We need to keep the trend going in the right direction." - "A major step forward in our COVID-19 battle," June 21, 2020.
Debate over stay-at-home orders in Nebraska
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Nebraska.
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Governor Pete Ricketts (R) (KMA Land): Governor Pete Ricketts (R) defended not issuing a stay-at-home order by arguing that directed health measures and county-specific policies are right for Nebraska.
"What we have done is issue those directed healthy guidelines. ... We know that we are flattening the curve, and spreading it out. ... And, we know that we have not overwhelmed the health care system. ... We're asking Nebraskans to recognize their personal responsibility, their civic duty to do the right thing." - "Ricketts: Nebraska's plan on flattening the curve working," April 16, 2020.
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State Senator Megan Hunt (D) (Omaha World Herald): State Senator Megan Hunt (D) insisted that Governor Pete Ricketts (R) should issue a formal stay-at-home order to emphasis the need to social distance.
"If the governor says he is issuing a stay-at-home order, that’s something everyone in the country can understand. At this point, I think it’s both a psychological and practical need to emphasize how critical it is that we not fill up the stores and parks and go to each other’s houses." - "No stay-at-home order? Nebraska still rates well in coronavirus cases and deaths," April 11, 2020.
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Drs. Libby Crockett and Rebecca Steinke (ABC News): Drs. Libby Crockett and Rebecca Steinke published an open letter to Governor Pete Ricketts (R) insisting that he should issue a formal stay-at-home order because residents are not taking his health directives seriously enough to slow the spread of the virus.
"COVID-19’s arrival has been much swifter than we ever imagined. And we know from very clear data from other places throughout the world, that the incidence is going to increase dramatically in the next two weeks if nothing further is done to mitigate the spread in our community. ... The physicians in Grand Island need the Governor to recognize what is happening here and work more closely with the Central District Health Department to implement more rigorous policies that force people to stay at home." - "Nebraska doctors urge governor to impose tight restrictions," April 4, 2020.
"What Does A Mall Reopening Look Like During The Coronavirus Pandemic? Nebraska Will Be The First To Find Out." - Forbes, April 23, 2020
Additional reading
Debate over school closures in Nebraska
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Nebraska.
We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.
Debate over religious service restrictions in Nebraska
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Nebraska.
We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.
Debate over election policy in Nebraska
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Nebraska.
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Governor Pete Ricketts (R) (Lincoln Journal Star): Governor Pete Ricketts (R) said that vote-by-mail is a good alternative to voting in-person despite calls from President Donald Trump (R) to resist vote-by-mail changes.
"It's a great way for people to be able to vote. I'd encourage people to take advantage of that." - "Ricketts encourages vote by mail, eyes gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions possibly in May," April 8, 2020.
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Editorial Staff (Omaha World-Herald): The Editorial Staff argued that Nebraska needs to consider alternative ways for ballot measure campaigns to gather signatures, such as downloading the petition and mailing it in, faxing or emailing petitions to supporters, or online signature collection. Alternatives for signature gathering protect a citizen's right to initiate laws or amendments. - "Editorial:Virus hits Nebraska petition drives. State should consider signature innovations," April 17, 2020.
Debate over economic impact in Nebraska
- See also: Debate over economic impact during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- See also: Debate over economic impact during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on economic impact in Nebraska.
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Editorial Board (Lincoln Journal Star): The Lincoln Journal Star Editorial Board wrote that the property tax reform bill (LB 1106) sponsored by State Senator Lou Ann Linehan (R) is not feasible with the expected economic impact of the coronavirus on tax revenue and should be shelved by the legislature. The Board recommended instead that the legislature work on legislation that would better balance property, income, and sales taxes. - "Editorial, 4/17: Virus should lead senators to take new look at taxes," April 16, 2020.
"The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on the Nebraska Economy: Second Cut" - Platte Institute, April 22, 2020
Additional reading
Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Nebraska.
- Changes to election dates and procedures
- Statewide stay-at-home order
- Statewide travel restrictions
- Executive orders
- Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus
- Enacted legislation
- Legislative session changes
- School closures
- Court closures
- Prison inmate release responses
- Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies
General resources
The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.
Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Education
- World Health Organization
- Trends in Number of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in the US Reported to CDC, by State/Territory
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations, Our World in Data (Number of vaccines administered)
- Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker, New York Times (Progress of vaccine trials)
See also
- Ballotpedia: Political responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- State government responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021
- Changes to ballot measure campaigns, procedures, and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2022
- Ballotpedia's elections calendar
Footnotes
