LINCOLN- LB727, an omnibus tax credit bill originally sponsored by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, advanced on Tuesday in the Nebraska Legislature with only a few questions about whether it provided unwarranted "corporate welfare." Included in the proposal are generous tax breaks for the expansion of the Nebraska Crossing shopping mall, as well as convention centers in Lincoln and Omaha and bonding for freeway projects.

Containing 27 bills in total, LB727 was proposed as a way to help keep young people in the state by enhancing shopping, tourism, and concert venues via state tax breaks. "This is a huge investment in our future," said Linehan. However, Sen. Carol Blood questioned whether the proposal is simply "corporate welfare." Under the bill, at least 20% of shoppers at Nebraska Crossing must be reported to have been from out of state for the tax breaks to be awarded.

Blood proposed that that requirement be raised to 30%, and that the Legislature should require retailers in the district to pay a "living wage" to workers for the extension of tax breaks. "We are giving a special offer to basically the community and one project," said Blood during debate, "This is not an even playing field." Sen. Steve Erdman also decried LB727, arguing that the additional sales tax exemptions the bill provides are exactly the opposite of what a fair tax system should provide. Despite these concerns, the bill advanced through its first round of debate on a 44-0 vote.

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