Bold Nebraska would like to thank all the artists and sponsors our first fundraising event, Bid Green to Keep the Aquifer Clean. Check out our sponsors’ websites and information below.

ART ITEMS
Andy Colley
Nolan Tredway
Brian Tait
Rebecca Hepburn 
Josh Powell
Sarah Bauman
Bart Vargas
Kathryn Gabig
Jamie Burmeister
Juanita Rice 
Bill Sitzmann
Deanna Larson
Eddith Buis
Ransom
Justin Kemerling
Patty Curl
Sharon Lacy Cech
Nina Colgan 
Deborah Murphy
Ki Slaymaker
Joel Sartore
Jane Eckert
Michael Forsberg
Andrei Sorokin
Shelly Burge
Iggy Sumnik
Mads Anderson
Bob Hall
Jean Lewis
Andrea Davis
Neal Obermeyer

It's the two year anniversary of the Citizens United v FEC decision that has sent us down the rabbit hole.

I read today that an independent, national  poll of small business owners reports that 66% believe that the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizen's United vs FEC two years ago hurts small companies, and 88% hold a negative view of the role money plays in politics. Those are big numbers folks, but as a small business person, I'm not surprised.

As much as we pipeline opponents have been accused of being "too emotional" by TransCanada, by their pet supporters at AFP and Nebraskans for Jobs and Energy Independence, and by TransCanada-sponsored politicians and contrary to Nebraska State Sen. Christensen's arm-waving assertion that we simply don't understand basic economics, some things have come to light that even fuzzy-headed environmentalists can recognize as risky business.

No, we're not talking about TransCanada CEO Russ Girling sliding stocking-footed across a wooden floor, dancing in briefs and a pink oxford while blaring Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock N' Roll," although that might be a more effective marketing strategy than their regurgitative efforts at convincing Nebraskans that "the aquifer will be safe" in the event of a spill on the Keystone XL. We mean business--dollars and cents. In the case of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline, not only is it environmentally hazardous, but it might also be a bad bet for Nebraska and other states along the pipeline route.

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 8, 2011 — Dan Danner, the president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business, issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress this evening.

“Small-business owners needed to hear something bold from President Obama tonight, but instead just heard more of the same. His plan does not address the fundamental problems facing small business today. In addition, recent history tells us that a huge federal stimulus program is the wrong approach, and again sends the message that the president thinks he can spend his way out of this recession.

“The truth is that small businesses need the government out of their way. Tax breaks are always a welcome help to small businesses, especially in these tough economic times. But those outlined tonight by the president are temporary, and avoid the question of meaningful business tax reform. Lack of sales is still a major concern and there is a great deal of uncertainty among small businesses thanks to the threat of higher taxes and the thousands of pending federal regulations. The president’s speech did little to ease those concerns.”