Norris' legacy lives on in Nebraska's Unicameral

NOTE: THE LOCATION OF THE NORRIS BREAKFAST IS McCOOK ARTBANK (the old Well's Fargo building) AT 108 WEST D STREET. THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THE CORRECT LOCATION.

Partisanship — some would say toxic partisanship — is threatening to derail Nebraska’s officially non-partisan Legislature, with some even suggesting we should put the east chamber of the capitol back into use after abandoning Sen. George W. Norris’s nonpartisan Unicameral Legislature. Friday’s Norris Breakfast should be especially relevant this year.

The speaker is Sen. Danielle Conrad, who was executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska before resigning to represent Lincoln’s District 46 in 2022. She was term-limited out of office in 2015 after two consecutive terms.

She will speak at 7 a.m. Friday at McCook ArtBank, 108 West D Street, McCook.

Despite what some would have us to believe, nonpartisanship is alive and well in conservative Nebraska.

Yes, Republicans outnumber Democrats nearly two-to-one in the Cornhusker state, about 600,000 to 334,000 by the latest count, but those of us in Sen. Norris’s camp as nonpartisans, number about 272,000, not to mention 5,000 in the nascent Legal Marijuana Now party and 18,000 Libertarians — although the latter are more likely than not to vote with the GOP.

Nebraska’s one-chamber system, the only one of its kind in the United States, was designed to reflect the state’s commitment to governance without the trappings of political parties. Instead, Nebraskan lawmakers are supposed to be elected without party labels and serve their constituents as independent representatives, free from party loyalty.

Operating as it should, under Nebraska’s Unicameral, elected officials are directly accountable to their constituents rather than party leaders, fostering a more responsive and representative government, as lawmakers must prioritize the needs and concerns of their constituents over party ideology.

Nonpartisanship encourages lawmakers to focus on practical solutions rather than adhering rigidly to a party platform. This pragmatic approach allows the state to address pressing issues with flexibility and adaptability, free from the constraints of partisan dogma.

The nonpartisan approach can minimize the divisive and polarizing rhetoric that often characterizes modern politics. Ideally, it encourages cooperation and compromise, fostering an environment where lawmakers from different backgrounds can find common ground.

By removing party labels from the ballot, voters are encouraged to research and engage with individual candidates on the issues that matter most to them, creating a more informed and engaged electorate, which is vital to a healthy democracy.

Nonpartisanship acts as a bulwark against extreme policies that can result from unchecked party dominance. It helps prevent one party from having absolute control, thereby promoting moderation and balance in governance.

Of course, the tradition of nonpartisanship in Nebraska is not without its challenges. As political polarization has intensified nationwide, maintaining a commitment to nonpartisanship requires ongoing effort and vigilance. It is crucial for Nebraskans to safeguard their unique political culture and resist the pressures of partisan politics that threaten to erode the state’s distinctive approach to governance.

In a time when the nation is deeply divided along partisan lines, Nebraska can serve as a beacon of hope—a reminder that politics need not be a zero-sum game and that the common good can still prevail over party interests.

As Nebraskans continue to demonstrate the value of nonpartisanship, they not only preserve Sen. Norris’ legacy but also provide a roadmap for a more functional and united America.

In these tumultuous times, Americans should look to Nebraska as a model of how to put aside partisanship and prioritize the well-being of the people above all else.