Finding, keeping a bargain

Last night my step-daughter and I were discussing the joy of shopping. But not just any shopping, the kind were you can find good bargains and buy even more with what you have in your pocket. There are a lot of us out there. Some are closet shoppers who wouldn't admit buying something off the sales rack if their life depended on it. Then there are the people like Tisha and I who proudly proclaim the price of their newly purchased treasure.

Which ever category people fall into, I'm betting there are more bargain shoppers than the straight, pay the regular price, shoppers. Our discussion got me to thinking about the move that's currently under way to repeal Nebraska's LB775, the tax incentive bill that is used to entice corporations to the state. LB775 is like a big sale. States around the country use the same type of program to entice businesses to their state. Without LB775, Nebraska simply can't compete. And without some type of competition, the state of Nebraska eventually will have to conduct a going out of business sale and shut the doors. While LB 775 may cost taxpayers in the short term, it's important to remember that in the long term, it is bringing in workers who pay property tax, sales taxes and income taxes. Those same workers are going out into their communities and spending the money they make at the LB775-sponsored company at the local mom and pop retailers. The repeal of LB775 is a bad idea. It simply makes no sense to take away a tool the state of Nebraska can use to improve the conditions of its residents.

Another issue that will face the state Legislature this year is a move to repeal the term limit laws for the Nebraska Legislature. That's a good idea. As it stands, Nebraska Legislators are allowed to serve two terms in office. After that they are out of there. In keeping with the whole business theme -- can you imagine a company allowing its employees to work only for a certain period of time before they are required to move on? That's no way to run a business -- and it's certainly no way to run government. Anyone who has ever worked in management understands the importance of longevity on a job. Once you've spent the time training someone, working with them to understand the company's objectives, building a sense of duty and commitment, you certainly aren't going develop a rule that requires you to let them go after a certain period of time.

Most businesses will do what they can to ensure good employees stay as long as they will stay. And just like any business, residents of the state of Nebraska have always had a term limit option -- it' called voting. If we don't like the way our employees are doing their job, we can fire them at the polling booth.

-- Gloria Masoner covers governmental affairs for the McCook Daily Gazette.