LINCOLN- Last Friday, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen reached his first 100 days in office. Despite the fact that the bulk of his legislative agenda was stalled in the Legislature, much of it is on the course toward eventual enactment. "This legislative session is intense," said Pillen of the slow pace at which the Legislature is moving towards enacting his proposals, which was further complicated by a session-long filibuster fueled by a sturdy minority of urban senators.

Pillen's package of major tax cuts and his proposal to increase and reshape stated aid to schools appear almost certain to pass in the nonpartisan Legislature made up largely of Republican senators. "We think we have tremendous momentum," said Pillen in a recent interview. Pillen came into office last January with no experience in state government and limited activity in Nebraska's political arena.

Despite this, Gov. Pillen is increasingly comfortable and pleased with his new role, saying, "I'm having a ball. This is a privilege beyond words." Within his first 100 days, Pillen indicated that he wanted to work to implement legislation that would help ensure that all Nebraska children have the opportunity to join the workforce and attend community college should they so choose. He also indicated that one of his priorities is LB626, or the Heartbeat Act, which would restrict abortions in Nebraska after roughly six weeks.

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