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LINCOLN — About two-thirds of Nebraskans believe the state is on the “wrong track,” according to a poll commissioned by the Omaha-based Holland Children’s Institute.
That’s the highest level since the pandemic era’s 2020 poll in the institute’s ongoing Nebraska Voters’ Outlook series intended to track insights into policies that impact the state’s children and families, says Holland CEO Hadley Richters.
“Nebraskans are dissatisfied with the direction the state is heading,” Richters said of the results. “They are deeply worried about the affordability of basic needs and services, groceries and healthcare, in particular.”
The Holland organization, which describes itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit that researches income disparities and access opportunities for Nebraska children and families, conducted the annual survey in partnership with Nebraska progressive think tank OpenSky Policy Institute and Patinkin Research Strategies. The Washington D.C.-based Patinkin polling firm has worked often with Democratic candidates and unions.
About 500 registered voters across the state were surveyed March 4-6. Richters said her organization has conducted the statewide public opinion surveys for more than a decade.
A telling response for Holland officials this year followed the question: Generally speaking, do you think things in Nebraska are headed in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten off on the wrong track? About 34% answered, “right direction.”
Quizzed about common expenses, here’s the share of voters who said they are “very worried” or “somewhat worried” on:
- Health care, 66%
- Groceries: 60%
- Monthly utilities, 56%
- Gas and other transportation costs: 52%
- Rent or mortgage payments: 51%
When asked about balancing the state budget, 81% of participants said the Legislature should close tax loopholes, as opposed to 19% who said lawmakers should cut programs in health care, education and workforce development.
President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law, referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in the poll, provoked some concern. About 40% of respondents said the law that passed last summer would be helpful to them and their family. About 68% said it would help large corporations.
Pollsters said that under that law, Nebraska’s income tax code would undergo several changes to align with the federal tax code, reducing state revenue by $200 million that funds things like education, healthcare and infrastructure.
To that, 79% of voters surveyed said they believe decisions should be made by state lawmakers and not by members of Congress in Washington, D.C.
“The public opinion poll expresses clearly that Nebraskans call for commonsense approaches to taxation, strongly preferring their locally elected legislators to make decisions rather than inheriting them from Washington, D.C.,” said Rebecca Firestone, OpenSky executive director.
“We encourage lawmakers to exercise their authority to make budget and tax policy decisions that are forward-thinking and sustainable.”
The goal of the voter survey, said Richters, is to provide an insight to lawmakers as they make policy decisions and attempt to balance the state budget.
“Policy makers should want to pay attention,” she said.
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