About 180,000 Nebraskans are caregivers for a family member.

Nationally, family caregivers spend an average of more than $7000 a year on related expenses. A bill in the Nebraska Legislature would help offset some of those expenses.

Legislative Bill 937, introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, provides eligible caregivers a state tax credit equal to 50% of eligible expenses for a maximum yearly credit of $2,000, or $3,000 if caring for a family member who is a veteran or has dementia.

Jina Ragland, associate state director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Nebraska, called family caregivers the "backbone" of the state's long-term care system, especially with the current workforce shortage.

"We are relying more and more on our family caregivers, who are unpaid, and many of them are carrying full-time jobs," Ragland pointed out. "To honor their loved ones, and to help them stay in place and age in place, we are relying more on them to provide that type of care."

The bill has an adjusted gross income cap of $50,000 for single caregivers and $100,000 for married caregivers. The person being cared for would need help with at least two activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing and personal hygiene. The Revenue Committee held the first hearing on the bill Jan. 26, but has not yet taken action. As of 2023, six states offered some form of family caregiver tax credit.

Such caregiving expenses as home modifications, medical equipment, a home-health aide, adult day care and respite care would qualify under the measure. Ragland noted nearly half of family caregivers report financial setbacks, as they tap into their own savings, work fewer hours, or reduce what they save for their own retirement.

"Any time employed family caregivers are forced to leave the workforce, or reduce their hours to fulfill caregiving duties, it can result in a loss of income, retirement savings, benefits and career mobility," Ragland outlined.

Ragland pointed out Nebraska family caregivers save the state nearly $3 billion in care costs annually. She stressed they will only become more important as the population ages.

"Because our workforce can't keep up and be sustainable," Ragland contended. "We have to rely more on family caregivers and finding ways to provide them support, so they can continue to not only care for their loved ones at home, but also be sustainable in the community and keep working as well."

A bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress in January, which would provide a federal tax credit of up to $5000 for eligible family caregivers.

The Internal Revenue Service will be in the crosshairs in the second Trump administration, as the president-elect's recently announced choice to run the agency has called for it to be abolished.

Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long, Trump's choice for IRS Commissioner, cosponsored a bill to get rid of the IRS and implement a national sales tax in its place.

Ryan Polk, assistant professor of accountancy at Clemson University, said if the new administration starts laying off IRS workers, taxpayers and businesses in California and across the U.S. would see big delays.

"When you defund or reduce the funding at the IRS, you run the risk of a less helpful IRS," Polk contended. "The average, everyday taxpayer might be worse off when they have a question."

During the Biden administration, the IRS got an $80 billion boost in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and used it to overhaul old computer systems and add agents, raising its phone call response rate from an abysmal 15% to over 80%. And the agency added a portal allowing people to upload documents instead of mailing them.

The IRS also debuted Direct File, a system allowing people to file their federal income taxes without paying a tax preparer, available in California and 22 other states. Polk argued the new Congress should understand cutting the IRS budget will limit its ability to pay for the administration's priorities.

"Just last year, they audited taxpayers and collected 100 additional billion dollars that wouldn't otherwise have been collected," Polk pointed out. "That's a pretty significant amount of money. It can go a long way, depending on regardless of the government program or tax cut you're trying to get through."

The IRS said it collects $100 in revenue for every 34 cents it spends on enforcement. Conservative critics of the agency alleged it has been weaponized, with some audits being targeted for political reasons.


get more stories like this via email

The word "fraud" is likely to circulate in the upcoming Minnesota legislative session. One political expert said state agencies are being targeted but the response requires careful thought.

The recent Feeding our Future scandal has spurred demand for more oversight of government spending in Minnesota. There are renewed concerns about organizations claiming to provide various medical services but engage in phony Medicaid billing.

Tim Lindberg, associate professor of political science at the University of Minnesota-Morris, said larger entities are making a more coordinated effort to defraud key agencies. He pointed out it mirrors global crime rings preying on consumers.

"There is some legitimate concern out there but it is also a global phenomenon that is increasing in size and importance," Lindberg observed. "I think government from the top down needs to sort of figure out a new way to deal with this."

Lindberg pointed out the state has investigative resources and internal controls but he thinks the public sector at large likely has some outdated monitoring approaches, especially as technology evolves. He argued it is important to remember agencies in the spotlight are helping people in need who are not part of these scams, and even with the best controls, completely eliminating fraud is impossible.

The cases have garnered headlines and since Democrats have the upper hand in controlling Minnesota government, Lindberg predicted Republicans will use the trend as part of their push for restrictions or cutbacks. He believes Democrats might agree to certain moves to win back public trust but stressed fraud against government is not a partisan issue.

"People doing these frauds, they don't care who's in office," Lindberg asserted. "They don't care who's in power. And Republicans and Democrats themselves have been in various levels, in various states, overseeing governments where this happens."

Taxpayer dollars are at the center of what's happening. Lindberg added the private sector must also mitigate fraud with steps like major retailers locking up essential items in cases. He suggested lawmakers have to avoid veering off-path.

"What are these ways in which government can work better, more efficiently, but also not eliminate the benefits that these programs are designed to do?" Lindberg asked.


get more stories like this via email

Four east Texas communities will share more than $1 million in grant money to upgrade their radio infrastructure systems.

The grants are funded by House Bill 442 from 2011 and construction is slated to start next year.

Lindsay Vanderbilt, director of communications for the East Texas Council of Governments, said smaller communities do not have the budgets to upgrade equipment regularly and the funds will improve security for first responders and the community.

"It's kind of a lot of technology that people don't think about," Vanderbilt pointed out. "In the governmental world, these are systems that are in place to handle emergency response and to back up that response system for safety. "

The projects will take place in Rains, Harrison and Van Zandt counties and the City of Kilgore.

Funds in the State Emergency Radio Infrastructure program are distributed by the governor's office. Vanderbilt noted the council of governments is the primary planning entity for 911 communications in 14 east Texas counties.

"It's very common for these opportunities to get proposed to us by the state, and then we connect with our local governments and we reach out to them to see who has needs and who would be eligible to apply," Vanderbilt outlined.

She added the Rains County project will address a serious communications problem.

"They're currently having severe operability issues and it's actually keeping their officers and their dispatch from being able to communicate effectively all the time," Vanderbilt observed. "That's a safety risk for the officers, it is for the public."

Other projects include construction of new Motorola towers and expansion of the TX-WARN program, which works with water and wastewater utilities during system outages.


get more stories like this via email