Hog Farmer Jim Pillen Takes Reins As Nebraska's Governor

From Nebraska Examiner:

By Aaron Sanderford

January 5, 2023

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s first farmer governor in more than a century was sworn in Thursday at the Nebraska State Capitol.

Jim Pillen, a 67-year-old hog operator from Columbus, is the state’s first governor to earn most of his living from farming since George Sheldon left office in 1909. Pillen has put his adult children in charge of the family business while he is in office.

He referenced his background during a brief speech after being sworn in by Chief Justice Mike Heavican, calling Nebraska a “very special place” where the son of a tenant farmer and a seamstress can lead the state.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau was among Pillen’s backers during the contentious Republican primary campaign for governor, which proved the state’s costliest ever, in which he defeated multi-state agribusinessman Charles Herbster.

Taxes and school funding

Pillen focused much of his campaign on issues important to farmers and ranchers, including K-12 school funding and property taxes, issues he said he aims to tackle during his first legislative session.

Pillen is taking office as the most conservative Legislature in years convenes this week, beginning a session flush with taxpayer dollars.

He told the Nebraska Examiner during a pre-session interview that he plans to prioritize tax relief this year, including efforts to address property, income and inheritance taxes.

His speech Thursday hit similar notes, describing Nebraska’s tax code as “burdensome and uncompetitive.” He extolled the need for “transformational tax change now.”

Pillen called again for changes to the state aid formula to provide a baseline of aid to every student in Nebraska, instead of the current system of equalization that leaves the majority of school districts without the aid.

He called the system “outdated” and “unfair to far too many of our students.”

“State aid to education must be modernized so that it is more equitable, meeting the needs of communities across Nebraska,” he said.

He said he hopes to work with the Legislature to make Nebraska more attractive to young people raised in the state and those from other states.

He has also said he expects the Legislature to consider additional restrictions on abortion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Senate seat

Pillen succeeds Gov. Pete Ricketts, his top political supporter. One of Pillen’s first major decisions could involve appointing Ricketts to Nebraska’s soon-to-open U.S. Senate seat.

Ricketts has applied for the seat that Sen. Ben Sasse is vacating Jan. 8 to lead the University of Florida. Ricketts said he has an interview scheduled with Pillen this month.

Sasse’s replacement will serve through 2024. The position will be up for election that year, as will Nebraska’s other U.S. Senate seat. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., has said she intends to run for re-election.

On Thursday, Pillen spoke to a standing-room-only crowd after being sworn into office.

The core of his message: “We can do big things by working together.”

Nebraskans want accountability from their elected officials and government. They want to know whether their tax dollars are being well-spent, whether state agencies and local governments are responsive to the people and whether officials, programs and policies are working for the common good. The Nebraska Examiner is a nonprofit, independent news source committed to providing news, scoops and reports important to our state.