Erin Bamer
@ErinBamer
State government reporter @NE_Examiner : Formerly @OWHnews/@YorkDispatch/@TheIdahoPress : Standard redhead : she/her
Proposed EMERGENCY regs that if approved today would go to Gov. Jim Pillen for the July 1 deadline. Broad strokes appear very similar to a legislative bill this spring, defeated 23-22 (it needed 33 votes). No smoking/vaping or raw plant. No vertical licensing. (1/x)🧵
It is 1.5 hours before the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission is set to meet at the Nebraska State Office Building in Lincoln and there is still no public copy of draft regulations set to be considered, either in person or online. @NE_Examiner nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/24/neb…
NEW CANDIDATE CONFIRMED: Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District has another familiar face seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House, Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades. #NE02 First in @NE_Examiner from @4nsmiley: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/21/dou…
VOTES TOSSED? The student panel in charge of elections at the University of Nebraska at Omaha invalidated this year’s winning ticket and disregarded the will of UNO’s student voters. From @unothegateway’s Kaitlyn Kelly: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/19/uno…
Touché, @ErinBamer. 🐂🐖🐓🐟 = Meat. 🧫🧪☢️🌿 = Not Meat.
New favorite Pillen quote just dropped: "When anybody is talking about meat and it does not come from a live critter, a four-legged critter, it ain’t meat." Poultry and fish industry, you have 24 hours to respond. nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/17/gov…
New favorite Pillen quote just dropped: "When anybody is talking about meat and it does not come from a live critter, a four-legged critter, it ain’t meat." Poultry and fish industry, you have 24 hours to respond. nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/17/gov…
CLEANING THE CLOSETS? Gov. Jim Pillen ceremonially signed four bills Wednesday that he said would increase government efficiencies, previewing his intent to tighten Nebraska’s belt by another $500 million. From @ErinBamer and @NE_Examiner: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/16/gov…
MED AND RECREATIONAL CANNABIS: The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska became the first government in Nebraska on Tuesday to fully legalize and seek to regulate both medicinal and adult recreational-use cannabis. From @ZachWendling2 and @NE_Examiner: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/15/oma…
STATE RECEIPTS DOWN: Nebraska ended the fiscal year about $86 million below its expected state tax revenues, further cementing the budget challenges lawmakers will face next session. From @ErinBamer and @NE_Examiner: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/15/neb…
Nebraska’s U.S. senators will choose whether to cut $9.4B in funding from public media and foreign aid this week Nebraska Public Media could lose 16% of its annual budget as Trump continues to push against NPR, PBS My latest @NE_Examiner nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/14/neb…
STATE AUDIT: State Auditor Mike Foley says some struggles continue for Nebraska’s African American Affairs Commission, citing how the commission has documented its meetings and expenses. From @ErinBamer and @NE_Examiner: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/11/aud…
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Nebraska grocers sounded alarm bells Tuesday about the potential negative impacts that incoming restrictions to SNAP could have on businesses and more than 150,000 people. From @ErinBamer and @NE_Examiner: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/08/neb…
CONGRESS: Former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom kicks off his GOP bid for Congress in Nebraska’s Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District (#NE02) today. He faces @BrinkerHarding in the 2026 primary to replace @DonJBacon. From @4nsmiley and @NE_Examiner: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/07/for…
In the same year that Nebraskans voted to cement an abortion ban beyond the first trimester into the state constitution, the number of abortions performed in the state rose by about 7.6%. Read more here: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/02/neb…
Nebraska's Rep. Don Bacon is a yes on the Senate’s “big beautiful bill.” The Medicaid changes gave Bacon concerns, but the Trump tax cuts will end if not passed. With that, the political drama ends here as the Nebraska delegation is ready to give Trump his domestic agenda.
BACON IS A YES. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., is a yes on the Senate OBBBA, he just told me. He is concerned about the Medicaid changes but “it would be a massive tax increase” w/out the bill. He is focused on preventing that.
MEDICAL CANNABIS REGS: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen approved the state’s emergency medical cannabis regulations. A regulatory commission can now solicit licensing applications. From @ZachWendling2 and @NE_Examiner: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/01/pil…
BACON RETIRES FROM CONGRESS: Five Republicans familiar with @RepDonBacon's decision-making process confirmed to the @NE_Examiner that he is set to step away next week from the 2026 House race, creating an open seat in NE-02. From @4nsmiley: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/27/neb…
HEALTH CARE PUSHBACK: As the U.S. Senate prepares for a vote as early as this week on budget reconciliation, Nebraskans called on their members of Congress to consider the bill's negative impacts on health care. From @ErinBamer and @NE_Examiner: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/23/neb…
Excited to announce I’ve joined @NE_Examiner — still sticking with statehouse reporting. My 3 years with @OWHnews offered me invaluable experience that I’m so thankful for. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done there, and eager to begin this new chapter.
As a jam-packed #neleg session nears its end, read @ErinBamer and @jdauzreyes: Diluting voter-approved sick leave/minimum wage: omaha.com/news/state-reg… Trans participation in sports: omaha.com/news/state-reg… Moving mayoral elections: omaha.com/news/state-reg…
Nebraska lawmakers did not accept a slate of four line-item vetoes Gov. Jim Pillen issued on the state's upcoming budget Thursday, claiming the governor missed his veto deadline. @ErinBamer has more: omaha.com/news/state-reg…