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As an affordable housing professional, I can tell you that Gov. Jim Pillen was right — affordable housing is a problem in Nebraska. Unfortunately, his tax plan would have directly increased the cost to build housing and pushed the price of new housing further out of reach for working families and seniors.

We need people in the Legislature who are not beholden to Pillen but who will do what’s right for everyday Nebraskans. That’s why I support Nicki Behmer Popp for Legislature.

She is a Realtor who understands housing needs, she voted against property tax hikes as an elected official, and she spoke out against Pillen’s crazy plan — unlike current Sen. Carolyn Bosn who was appointed by Pillen.

If we are serious about housing, we need leaders who understand the issues and cast their vote with the people not the powerful.

Ward Hoppe, Lincoln

A common-sense solution

I am writing as a concerned voter in the upcoming election. There are two ballot initiatives that have me quite concerned as they are making a change to the Nebraska Constitution. The state constitution has been amended a few times since our founding in 1867, but once amended by the citizens of Nebraska, it becomes difficult to take the amendment back. Nothing has ever been taken out of our constitution due to the extensive process to change it.

The Protect Women and Children Initiative (Initiative 434) is a more common-sense solution, protecting both women and children by upholding safety standards. It establishes scientific terms setting clear parameters for women and their physician and preserves parental notification. In the Declaration of Independence set forth by this country’s forefathers, it says “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Protect Women and Children gives those without a voice a right to life. Vote “For” 434.

There is much on our ballot this election year. Please take the time to research what is on your ballot so you can go into the ballot box educated and well informed on how to vote. Vote “For” 434, so we can continue to keep Nebraska’s common-sense protections.

Glenda Ward, Lincoln

Behmer Popp will protect kids

As the former chair of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, I was puzzled to see Sen. Carolyn Bosn and her campaign touting her work protecting vulnerable children but not telling the full story.

While it’s true she was a prosecutor at one time, she turned her back on this experience and our most vulnerable citizens when she proudly led the fight against restoring access to justice for child sexual assault survivors. Despite Bosn’s filibuster the Legislature passed this long overdue measure 28-17 with strong bipartisan support, including from some of the most conservative state senators.

Passage of this bill finally delivered justice to families who sought to hold schools accountable when their children have been sexually assaulted. Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed this measure, vaguely citing some unrelated concerns about property taxes.

Bosn’s and Pillen’s actions came as a blow to impacted children and families, denying them justice necessary to access medical treatment and counseling services to cope with trauma. Voters need to ask themselves if they want a state senator who will fight to give special legal protections to big government wrongdoers, or do they want a state senator who will support our most vulnerable kids? Please vote for independent candidate Nicki Behmer Popp. She will side with child victims of sexual assault — not Pillen and his big government interests who want continued immunity when they have a role in hurting kids.

Steve Lathrop, Omaha,

former state senator

Initiatives will alter constitution

The article “Competing initiative may lead to confusion“ was not very clarifying. I believe both initiatives 434 and 439 have divided both camps and can be simply explained.

The pro-life camp is divided because 434 puts abortion language into our state constitution for the first time, under the guise of protecting the unborn in the second and third trimester. So pro-life people who believe the life of a person begins at conception are torn whether to support 434.

The pro-choice camp is divided because 439 puts abortion in our state constitution using the language of “protect the health of the pregnant patient,” likely including physical, mental and emotional health, therefore has no limitation on when an abortion can occur. So pro-choice people who believe a woman has a right to abortion early in the pregnancy but aren’t supportive of abortion up to time of birth are torn whether to support 439.

Our state constitution says in Article 1 section 1 ”All persons ... have certain inherent and inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness ... and such rights shall not be denied or infringed by the state.”

Article 1, section 3 says, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” If either initiative passes, our state constitution will be changed and will be, by default, redefined for the unborn.

Charlotte Ralston, Lincoln