1 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: On this episode of News World, My guest today as 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 1: Governor peat Ricketts of the State of Nebraska. Pete was 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: sworn in as Nebraska's fortieth governor on January eighth, twenty fifteen. 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,119 Speaker 1: He was re elected in twenty eighteen and is currently 5 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: serving in his last year. I wanted to have Monday 6 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: because when I was out recently in Omaha, we had 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: this great conversation, and the things they're doing in Nebraska 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: are so remarkable and such a contrast with the sort 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 1: of national mess that I thought having him talk about 10 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: it would really be exciting. And frankly, I was triggered 11 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: in particular when he announced that he was going to 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: give back four hundred million dollars in surplus to the 13 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: people of Nebraska. It's an extraordinary move. So many other 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: states are looking for a way to use every penny 15 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: to increase government, but Governor Ricketts, true to his philosophy, 16 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: actually thought it was the people's money. All through his governorship, 17 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: he's worked with the state legislature to deliver three billion 18 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: dollars in direct property relief, dramatically reducing the rate of 19 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: states spending growth, and cutting on necessary red tape to 20 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: bolster Nebraska's business friendly climate, and as a result, Nebraska 21 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: won the Governor's Cup for the most economic development projects 22 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,479 Speaker 1: per capita three years in a row from two thousand 23 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: and sixteen to two eighteen. And today, while you have 24 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: a number of states that are suffering, particularly blue states 25 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: with big public unions and huge bureaucracies, Nebraska has the 26 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: lowest unemployment rate in all fifty states. Here to talk 27 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: about his remarkable achievements somebody who I've really admire a lot. 28 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: He's also just a heck a lot of fun and 29 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: comes out of a family with somewhere between the Chicago 30 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: Cubs on one front a ranch in Wyoming on another. 31 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: All of the Rickets are active people, and Pete is 32 00:01:54,400 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: no exceptions. Governor, I think you're the only governor in 33 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: modern history who is a World Series champion through your 34 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: family ownership of the Cubs. They won the World Series 35 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: in twenty sixteen under Rickett's family leadership for the first 36 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: time since nineteen o eight. It gives you some flavor 37 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: of the family's competitive attitude. So I want to actually 38 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: start there, if you don't mind, can you tell us 39 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 1: about the pledge you and your brother Tom made when 40 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: you bought the team, and what it was like to 41 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: be there when your goal was achieved on the night 42 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: of November two, twenty sixteen, as you were facing the 43 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: Cleveland Indians. Yeah. Absolutely, So. We bought the Cubs through 44 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: family trust back in two thousand and nine, and at 45 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: the press conference, Tom, who's our executive chairman and now 46 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: so on behalf of the family. We had three goals. 47 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: D Championship to Chicago, to fix up Brigley Field, and 48 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 1: to be a good neighbor. And so, just like any 49 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: rate CEO, I'm laid out, hey, here's the vision for 50 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: our organization. Here's we're gonna deliver on, and pulled the 51 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 1: whole organization behind it, and he put his business experience 52 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: to work and basically reforming how the Cubs was going 53 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: to run. It's kind of crazy, you know. Baseball teams 54 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: aren't actually businesses. They're not hobbies, but too often to 55 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: run by hobbies. And Tom ran it like a business 56 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: and said, Okay, we're gonna start measuring people on success. 57 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: We're gonna start setting goals that our goal is to 58 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: bring a World Series of Chicago. And it took us 59 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: till twenty sixteen. We actually got to the playoffs for 60 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: the first time in twenty fifteen. But in twenty sixteen, 61 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: it all just came together and we've got that World championship. 62 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: In the meantime, we've also invested about seven hundred and 63 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: fifty million dollars or three quarters of a billion dollars 64 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: in Wrigley Field and the surrounding environs to be able 65 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: to keep that just beautiful old stadium up and running, 66 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: and we dramatically increased the amount of work that we've 67 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: done from the Cubs charities giving back to the city. 68 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: But getting back to your question about what it was like, 69 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: it really was a fantastic time. If anybody was watching 70 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: that game in Cleveland, Game seven in Cleveland, it was 71 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: back and forth. There was no guarantee we're gonna win. 72 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: That raindelay certainly helped us get reorganized and pull all out, 73 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: and then being in the locker room afterwards was really 74 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: a fantastic experience. You want an eight seven victory and 75 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 1: ten innings, Yeah, using a lot of adrenaline going on. Yeah, absolutely. Actually, 76 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: I was standing with my brothers as that raindolay was starting. 77 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 1: We looked at each other said, Oh, we're gonna lose 78 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: this this is crazy. We were waiting what happened. But 79 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: it just gets back to one of the the things that 80 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: I want to stress is that Tom talked about you know, 81 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: they kept talking about it comes curse. There was no curse. 82 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: It was just bad management. It just hadn't been managed properly. 83 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 1: And frankly, that same lessons applies to state Government's the 84 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: same thing I've done in Nebraska is bringing things that 85 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: I've learned in business to running state government better. You know, 86 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: people think government and business are so different. And obviously 87 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 1: we're not a for profit organization to stay in Nebraska, 88 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: but the same things that allow any organization to be 89 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: successful setting a vision, getting the right people in place, 90 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: holding of accountable for results, measuring those results. That works 91 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,799 Speaker 1: whether you're a state government, a baseball game, or a business. 92 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: Let me ask you one last baseball question and then 93 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,239 Speaker 1: I want to dive into Nebraska. But the Cubs became 94 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: only the six team in World Series history to come 95 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: back from a three to one deficit. When you were 96 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: down three to one to the Indians, I mean, how 97 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: did you and your brother feel as you faced that 98 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:32,479 Speaker 1: pretty big mountain declimb? Well, obviously it was very disappointing 99 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: to be down that much three to one, But I 100 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:40,479 Speaker 1: was talking to some of the players and they were down. 101 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: I remember they were saying, Oh, don't worry, we got this. 102 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: We're coming back. David Ross in particular, who is now 103 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: the manager of the Cubs, was one of the catchers 104 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: on the team, and he pulled the team together some guys. 105 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: Throughout the course the season, We've won, play a series, 106 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: three games and nothing. So this is not a big deal. 107 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: We got this, certainly, you know, from me, since I 108 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: was not involved day to day the operations of the Cubs, 109 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: it was very concerning. I gotta tell you. Once I 110 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: talked to some of the players and they were like, yeah, 111 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: don't worry, we got this. It's not a problem. Just 112 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: talking about what their mental attitude was in the locker room, 113 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: they weren't sweating it, and that made me feel a 114 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: lot better. That gave me hope that, hey, we're going 115 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: to turn this thing around. Well, you know, you apply 116 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: a similar kind of approach to vision for the state 117 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: of Nebraska, and when you first started running for governor, 118 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 1: I mean, did you have any sense that you could 119 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: achieve the scale of success, on the scale of change 120 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: that you have in the state. Yeah, I gotta say 121 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: that there was a lot of room for improvement. So, 122 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: for example, when I walked into the governor's office before 123 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: I officially took over, so I was governor elect, walked 124 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: into his chief of staff's office and I said, hey, 125 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: I would like the job description for everybody reports to 126 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: the governor. And he said, we don't have job descriptions. 127 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: I said, you don't have job descriptions. How did you 128 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: do any reviews? He said, we don't do those. We 129 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: review people daily when they step out a light. We 130 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: yell at him, and he was only half kidding. And 131 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: so I knew from the get go that there was 132 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: gonna be a lot of opportunity for us just to 133 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: do basic, simple things like say, hey, you have goals 134 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: for the year, and here's what we want you to do, 135 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: and start just bring some of those basic business practices 136 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: into right state government better. So I knew we could 137 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: make a tremendous amount of difference in the way we 138 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: delivered our services. And of course we got a great 139 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: team and that was part of as well. One of 140 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: the other things that we did that was pretty radical 141 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: for state government, at least in Nebraska at the time, 142 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: but not so for business was. I actually raised private 143 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: money before I was sworn in to hire a couple 144 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: of talent search firms to be able to help me 145 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: find my cabinet members. And I've searched for key positions 146 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: of corrections and health human Services because there are big 147 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: organizations that were in dire need of reform, and then 148 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: also my Department of Transportation it was called roads back 149 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: then because that's so important for economic development and of 150 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: course the Department Economic Government. If I could have raised 151 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: more money, I would have tried to get more cabinet 152 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: members as part of the talent search, but we ended 153 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: up getting fantastic people from all across the country. Of 154 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: My Corrections director came from Washington State, my Health and 155 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: Human Services person a first one, came from Louisiana. I 156 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: got my Department of Transportation person from Kansas. My first 157 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: hire for economic development was not successful. So like in 158 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: any organization, if you find that a person is not 159 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: a good fit, it's just best for both parties to 160 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: move them on. So I moved that person on, and 161 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: but I ultimately hired a woman from Nebraska to take 162 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: over that position. So we got a cross section of 163 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: people from in state, out of state, private sector, previous 164 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: government experience, no previous government experience, my CIO. I used 165 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: to work with it at my previous firm, a merit trade. 166 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 1: A lot of these people frankly took a pay cut 167 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: to come work in state government. But it's just we 168 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: put together a great team. When you looked out your 169 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: cane to what extent did you try to build them 170 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: as a team as opposed to dealing with them one 171 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: on one. You know, we really focus on team absolutely 172 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: because one of the things I want to do is 173 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: break down the silos between the different agencies so that 174 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,079 Speaker 1: we'd cooperate better. One of the things we do is 175 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: we did the Gallop Strength Finder with my executive team 176 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: so people would know their strengths and weaknesses so they 177 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: know how to work with each other. We pull together 178 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: cabinet members, I tell them go out to lunch, take 179 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: each other out to lunch. I take them out to 180 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: lunch in groups so that we can get to know 181 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: each other. We do fun activities, you know, like Christmas 182 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: parties and barbecues and things like that, just social settings 183 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,439 Speaker 1: so people can get to know each other. And I'll 184 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: tell you it really paid off. And I'll give you 185 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: one example. We were trying to get Costco to build 186 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: a chicken processing plant in Nebraska. They had a lot 187 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: of states to look at, and because we have a 188 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: team that works together, it was the Department of not 189 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: only Economic Development, but the Department of Agriculture, the Department 190 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 1: of Transportation, Department of Environment and Energy, the Department of 191 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: the Labor working together with the local folks to be 192 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: able to meet the needs of Costco. They chose Nebraska 193 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 1: and that's greyed over a thousand jobs. Now it's over 194 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: a billion dollars impact on our state's economy. But it 195 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: was really that team environment, both from the folks locally 196 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: in Fremont and the great work they did, but also 197 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: my team at the state that was able to support 198 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: the needs of Costcos to help them make the decision that, oh, 199 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: it's easy to do business in Nebraska. Look all these 200 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: agencies work together and they're answering our questions and making 201 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: it really easy for us to say yes. Well, when 202 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: you compare your attitude, will say the challenges in New 203 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: York and California. Aren't these states with huge bureaucracies and 204 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 1: tons of regulations aren't they gradually just killing themselves. I 205 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: gotta believe so, because I'll tell you that's what I 206 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: hear from companies that are doing businesses in those states. 207 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: You know, one of the things I do is I 208 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: give my cell phone out to people, right And I'm like, 209 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 1: trying to get Gavin do some cell phone see if 210 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: that works. I was just meeting with some groups last 211 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: week and we were talking. I'm like, hey, in Nebraska, 212 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: you will get to meet with decision makers, you get 213 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: to meet with me, You'll get to be with my cabinet. 214 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: And I got companies that tell me that directors of 215 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,439 Speaker 1: departments in states like California won't even return their phone calls. 216 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 1: Where And I'm like, you got myself phone them. You 217 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 1: can call me. Directed my cabinet members not return your call, 218 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: you call me, you can get through all that red 219 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: tape in Nebraska, where there's no chance of getting through 220 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: that in a state like California and New York. How 221 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,359 Speaker 1: much of the growth you've had in the seven years 222 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: has been sort of homegrown and how much has been 223 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: new people coming in? Well, First of all, my belief 224 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: is that you always want to go to your existing 225 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: customers first. Right. Those are the people who know you, 226 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: and they're going to be the ones that are going 227 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: to continue to invest. So I would say it's an 228 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: eighty twenty rule. About eighty percent of our growth has 229 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 1: come from Nebraska companies that are already here. We've got 230 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: great companies like Kamasaki last year they just announced another 231 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: three hundred million dollars investment. They've got the contract frankly 232 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: to build the rail cars in places like Washington, DC 233 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: in New York, and they just start delivering on that. 234 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: It's like a billion dollar contract. They've had an aerospace 235 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: division here. But as I mentioned with for example of 236 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: Lincoln Premium Poultry and Costco, by showing folks who are 237 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: not for those Nebraska what we can do for them 238 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: and creating a welcome space for them, you can get 239 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: those folks too and get those new projects. But I'd 240 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: say that, you know, just like an a business, if 241 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: you want to grow your business, to start with your 242 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: existing customers. When you have the scale of growth you've 243 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 1: head and you managed to get unemployment down to like 244 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: one point eight or one point seven percent, how does 245 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: that affect the poorest communities in Nebraska? To what degree 246 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: are they also pulled up the John F. Kennedy line 247 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: that a rising tide raises all boats, and you've had 248 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: a heck of a rising tide in Nebraska. Has that 249 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 1: had an impact on the poorer parts of the state. 250 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, absolutely. Now it doesn't mean we still don't 251 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: have challenges. We absolutely do. But when you create those 252 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: sorts of opportunities, and we really focus on trying to 253 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: create those opportunities all across the state, so not just 254 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: growing link in an Omahaul, but growing all across the state, 255 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: and that creates those job opportunities for Aska families. That's 256 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: a big deal. In one of those stats supporting to 257 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: the any E. Casey Foundation, Nebraska is the second best 258 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: state for children's economic well being. So when you have 259 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: great job opportunities, children are taken care of. And actually 260 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 1: it's one of the things that we're the second best 261 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: for economic wellbeing, and our overall stat with any E 262 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: Casey Foundation moved up from twelve to nine to seven, 263 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: so we continue to improve, you moving up the rankings 264 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: in their overall ranking as well. And again I think 265 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: that all goes together. You have job opportunities for Nebraska families, 266 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: children are taken care of, you then made a decision, 267 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: building on what you'd already done earlier, that you wanted 268 00:13:56,400 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: to return the third plus back to the taxpayers in Nebraska. 269 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 1: How did you reach that conclusion that's certainly very different 270 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: from an awful lot of states. Well, this is actually 271 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 1: one of the things I start off when I became governor. 272 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: I was telling people this is how it's going to work. 273 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: There's no silver bolt solution of tax leafe. Right as Republicans, 274 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: we always talk about we want to do tax leaf. 275 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: And what happens a lot of times people on the 276 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: other side will say, oh, you're going to cut some 277 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: program to deliver tax leaf. Well, that doesn't work in business. 278 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: You can't go to your customers stay. I'm going to 279 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: reduce your pain and services, but I'm also going to 280 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: cut your service because your customers will go someplace else. 281 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: So what you have to do is create a culture 282 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: where you're doing the best job of leveraging technology and 283 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: process to be more efficient and more effective and how 284 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: you provide your services, and by doing that control you're 285 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: expending and let your revenues continue to grow. So my 286 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: philosophy was our revenues grow at four to five percent 287 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: and it ain't twenty or thirty year period on average. 288 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: Like if you look at a long period of time 289 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: twenty thirty years, our revenues grow at four to five percent. 290 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 1: I think the legislated physical office at four point seven five. 291 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: If you can keep your expense growth at two to 292 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: three percent, you will be able to have access revenues 293 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: to give back a tax relief. Right, It's pretty simple. 294 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: It's like the profit of business, except that you're going 295 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: to give it back a tax relief. So that's what 296 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: we've done. The budget was growing at six and a 297 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: half percent, which by the way, is above what our 298 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: long range revenues were growing at before I took office. 299 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: I've now passed two year budgets with the legislature. The 300 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: average growth rate across those four two year budgets is 301 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: two and a half percent, and so by keeping our 302 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: expenses down to two and a half percent while still 303 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: doing a fantastic job of doing our services, we've been 304 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: able to generate those revenues to be able to provide 305 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: tax relief. So we signed a bill in twenty twenty 306 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: that this year will deliver five hundred and forty eight 307 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: million dollars in property tax relief. In addition to the 308 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: other the programs we had. This equivalent of everybody in 309 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: Nebraska this year will get twenty five percent back on 310 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: whatever they paid to their local school and property taxes 311 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: twenty percent back. And then when I'm proposing an addition 312 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: to that is taking our income tax right down by 313 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: a full percentage point. Because we've got revenues and access 314 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: of what we need to run our state government. That's 315 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: the people's money we should do it back to. And 316 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: by the way, we're still doing a wonderful job of 317 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: providing services. We measure all this stuff so we can 318 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: show it, and we're not meeting our goals. I'm on 319 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 1: my people to say, hey, you got to do better. 320 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: You got to get this back into what our goals are. 321 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: You know, if we're supposed to be answering the phone 322 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: in five minutes or less than our economic assistance line 323 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: and we're not, I'm like, I talked to my CEO 324 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: of Health and Human Services. I say, hey, you've got 325 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: to get this back in line. You know, you've been 326 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: out of whack now for several months. You got to 327 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: get it back in line so I can make sure 328 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 1: we're still doing a good job of providing our services. 329 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: We've actually implemented Lean six sigma, which is a process 330 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: improvement methodology. We've got a Center for Operational Excellence to 331 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: manage that across all of our agencies. We've done five 332 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy five projects, saving six hundred and twenty 333 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: thousand hours of our teammates time. So that frees up 334 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: people from doing stuff that they're really not value add 335 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: to providing services. But it also costs less money to 336 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: do that. So it all works together synergistically to run better, 337 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 1: be more efficient, more effective, save money provided back to people, 338 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: and tax relief. What's the total budget for the state, 339 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: So our general fund budget in a given years about 340 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: five billion dollars. And actually just on that note, so 341 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: over a two year budget period, we'll do about ten 342 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 1: billion dollars this two year budget period between our property 343 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: tax relief and the other tax relief we passed last year, 344 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: like we no longer tax military retirement benefits, we did 345 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: some agg relief, tax relief, we're not taxing residential water anymore. 346 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: Those kind of things. We're going to get back two 347 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,640 Speaker 1: billion dollars a tax relief over these next two years. 348 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: That's just the equivalent of twenty percent of our state budget. 349 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: That's never happened in the basket history. So when you 350 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: hear as a manager and as a governor that California 351 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: may have paid out thirty one billion dollars in fraudulent unemployment, 352 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: doesn't that strike you as almost unimaginable. Well, I know 353 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: how it happened because during the pandemic, the big focused 354 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: by the thorograment was get the money out the door, 355 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: get the money out the door, And the Thorograverment told 356 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: us we could loosen some of the restrictions on that. 357 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: And when you lose the restrictions, you open yourself up 358 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: to fraud. And so you got to go back and 359 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: tighten those restrictions down once the emergency's passed. And I'm 360 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: guessing California never did because I just wanted to get 361 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: money out to people. And we're actually one of the 362 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: best states for controlling that fraud during the pandemic, and 363 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: I'll tell you, we got hit a lot by people 364 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: trying to fraud only claim those unemployment benefits. And you 365 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: want to get it out to people who needed but 366 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 1: you got to be careful about how you do that, 367 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 1: or else it is it's going to go out fraud. 368 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: I talked to the district attorney in Sacramento who has 369 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: been pursuing the unemployment theft, and she said a very 370 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: large part of it was actually criminals in the California 371 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: prisons using the California prison computer systems to create identity theft. 372 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: I mean, you can't make that stuff up. Yeah, there's 373 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: an old saying, which gets measured gets managed. You got 374 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,120 Speaker 1: to measure it. If you're not measuring it, of course 375 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:07,239 Speaker 1: it's going to get out of control. Well, you know, 376 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: given what you have achieved already. When I was speaker, 377 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 1: we balanced the federal budget for four straight years, and 378 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: it strikes me that there's enough waste and enough fraud 379 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: that you can go a long way towards rebalancing the 380 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: federal budget if we applied the kind of clear minded 381 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: management that you've had in Nebraska. I mean, what would 382 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: your sense be about that potential? Yeah, just coming into 383 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: state government and a relatively small state like Nebraska and 384 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: what we had to do. It takes years to change 385 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: a culture, even the private sector, and has taken us 386 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 1: years to get the point where we make sure every 387 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 1: one of my teammates has a goal for the year 388 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:47,640 Speaker 1: that the managers are managing. I mean, our managers didn't 389 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 1: even know how to manage. Now you take that to 390 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: an organization like the federal government, the amount of opportunity 391 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 1: is huge. It would take years to do it in 392 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: a lot of concerted effort. But if we could do 393 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 1: for the federal government what we did in Nebraska, the 394 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 1: results will be studying as far as how much better 395 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: we could run our operations, how much better the federal 396 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 1: government could provide services actually do a better job serving people, 397 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 1: because that's what we've demonstrated. I'll give you one quick example. 398 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: When I walked into office. We have a second aplic 399 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 1: assistance line. This is how people applied for things like 400 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,959 Speaker 1: food stams right a snap program. And it was taking 401 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: us in the August twenty thirteen before I got elected, 402 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: twenty three minutes to answer the phone on average, whichween 403 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: some people were waiting a lot longer, and it was 404 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: taking us forty days the process the applications, these are 405 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: people who need food as stays, to take us forty 406 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: days to do it. We set a goal answer the 407 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: phone in five minutes and procect the applications in ten days. 408 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 1: And we were able to hit those by applying better 409 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: process and better technology, and so we're actually doing a 410 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: better job providing services. The federal government could do the 411 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: same thing. Let me tell you the Federgram. Many times 412 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: there's a poor job on those operational excellence kind of 413 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 1: things because I'm guessing nobody's taught anybody how to manage it. 414 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: Always putting any controls in place, aboy's managing anything or 415 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 1: same measurements. The potential for the fairgroment would be huge. 416 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: It would be a lot of work for the potential 417 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: be huge, you know. But one of the side effects 418 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: of the whole approach you've taken is not on idea 419 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 1: have the lowest unemployment rate in the country, but you 420 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: have the second highest labor force participation rate. You're at 421 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: like sixty eight point four percent, And frankly, I think 422 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 1: much of the current unemployment under states for around the 423 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: country what's really going on because you have so many 424 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: people who have dropped out of the workforce right now. 425 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 1: But how do you get your labor force participation up 426 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: to that kind of level, which is in terms of 427 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,119 Speaker 1: your employment to population ratio at sixty seven point two percent, 428 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: It's number one in the country, and in terms of 429 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 1: labor force participation at sixty eight point four percent, it's 430 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:54,959 Speaker 1: tied for second in the whole country. How do you 431 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 1: get people into the labor pool who, otherwise in other 432 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: states would be sitting at home. Well, I'd love to 433 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 1: take credit for all this, but we've got a great 434 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 1: culture here in Nebraska, a great work ethic. You know, 435 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: Nebraskans want to work. So the first thing is, you know, 436 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 1: we started a great place where Nebraskans actually what to 437 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: have a job, and so part of it is just 438 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 1: making sure we're not putting up obstacles to it. During 439 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: the pandemic, there was that six hundred dollars a week 440 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 1: unemployment benefit. You know, people were being paid to stay home. 441 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 1: Six hundred dollars a week was more than eighty percent 442 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: of what the people were receiving that benefit we're getting, 443 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: and when it dropped three hundred dollars a week, it 444 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 1: was about fifty percent people receiving We're still getting paid 445 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: more money to stay home than they were in a 446 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: regular job. And I heard this from employers all the time, 447 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: and so we just continued that, you know, as quickly 448 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: as we could. So we didn't have a distance in 449 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: it for people to get back in the workforce. Another 450 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: one of the things we've done here in Nebraskas, we've 451 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 1: really worked to create a talent pipeline so that we 452 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: can engage our young people at a young age to 453 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 1: take the jobs that we've got. We've got lots of 454 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: great jobs here. So we have what we called it 455 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: Developing Youth Talent Initiative, which is a program that encourages 456 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 1: private sector companies to grant program to work with school 457 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: districts in seventh eighth grade to expose kids to the 458 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:14,119 Speaker 1: idea of careers in manufacturing and technology and healthcare of 459 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: those high demand fields so that they can get exposed 460 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: in seventh and eighth grade, take a career academy in 461 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: high school, maybe get some post secondary education credit. Then 462 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: we've got a scholarship program for two year and four 463 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: year degree programs, so whether you want to go to 464 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: community college or university degree, it's appicle to both private 465 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: and public colleges. And then we also really focus on 466 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:38,919 Speaker 1: certification programs through the US Department of Labor and our 467 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: Department of Labor, we do a registered Apprenticeship program and 468 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 1: youth Registered apprenticeship programs so people can earn while they learn. 469 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 1: So we really focus on developing those skills early on 470 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: and getting people interested in taking those jobs so we 471 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 1: can create that pipeline for our young people to take 472 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: those jobs after they complete their post secondary education, whether 473 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: it's a registered pressure program, two year degree, four year degree, 474 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: we're really trying to encourage people to look at those 475 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: two year degrees, especially part by Arbor dollars. I propose 476 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,360 Speaker 1: about ninety million dollars to go to our community colleges. 477 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: Out of the billion dollars, we're getting a billion forty 478 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: million to help them build out their infrastructure to be 479 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: able to help get people into the workforce because we've 480 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: been impacted by this pandemic in that way. So it's 481 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,120 Speaker 1: part culture, but it's also part of us trying to 482 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: take proactive steps to develop our talent and not put 483 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: up obstacles for them to take jobs. I noticed as 484 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: a part of that process that you announced in December 485 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,959 Speaker 1: that the Nebraska Department of Economic Development is creating a 486 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 1: brand new field office in North Omaha, and as you 487 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 1: put it at the time, the office will work to 488 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: attract investments, support local entrepreneurs, develop the workforce and grow 489 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:55,360 Speaker 1: the inventory of affordable housing. In your mind, how important 490 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: is this initiative specifically in north Omaha. Yeah, that's a 491 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: really important one in North Filmaha. North Filmaha is primarily 492 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: an African American neighborhood, and while we've got a low 493 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,919 Speaker 1: unemployment rate statewide, we've got a high unemployment rate in 494 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: that area town and part of it is just it 495 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 1: hasn't been paid attention to by state government, and so 496 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: we've made a real effort to do outreach with business 497 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: leaders in the community to create an Economic Inclusion Council 498 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: about what are the economic development things we need to do. 499 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: We felt it was important for the state to have 500 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 1: a physical presence there both with not only with the 501 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,360 Speaker 1: Apartment of Economic Development, but also the Department of Health 502 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 1: and Human Services or Department Motor Vehicles to be able 503 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:40,199 Speaker 1: to provide services. And part of my armor budget is 504 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: also continuing to invest in North filmahall in things such 505 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:47,439 Speaker 1: as upgrading the fiber optics there or streetscape improvements, you know, 506 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 1: things like that that will help them because they've been 507 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: disproportioned to the impacted during the pandemic, help them recover 508 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: from that. So it is going to require effort and 509 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: investment for us to be able to make sure that 510 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: all the Braskans have the opportunities to be able to 511 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 1: take those great career jobs. And so again part of it, 512 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: you got to be present, and that's our responsibility of 513 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 1: the state to see, hey, we've got an area where 514 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 1: we know we need to do more work. We got 515 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: to be proactive and be present to help develop. One 516 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: of the things you did is a part of this 517 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: is really engage in a series of efforts to help 518 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: people with their taxes. One of the ones I frankly 519 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,919 Speaker 1: don't know about was a phase in of the Social 520 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 1: Security tax exemption. Would you explain that to me, because 521 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 1: actually don't know what it is. Yeah, okay, So most 522 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:37,199 Speaker 1: states don't TAXI security benefits. Nebraska is one of the 523 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 1: eight states I believe it does TAXI security benefits. It 524 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 1: drives our retirees out of the state. And we did 525 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:46,199 Speaker 1: the same thing with military retirement benefits. We were taxing 526 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 1: military retirem benefits to our veterans would leave the state. 527 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,880 Speaker 1: So we actually just finished up getting rid of the 528 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: military retirement benefit tax, so we no longer tax military 529 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: retirement benefits and last year we passed a bill to 530 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: or attend year period phase out the taxes on Social Security, 531 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: and I proposed this year that we accelerate that from 532 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: ten years to five years, so that we can stop 533 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: taxing Social Security even sooner. That's pretty helpful. I just 534 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 1: didn't know about it. They didn't know about it because 535 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: most states aren't that dumb to taxial security. That's right. 536 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: This is one of those places where I didn't know 537 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,159 Speaker 1: about it because most of the time it doesn't matter, right. 538 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: But I also noticed that over the next five years, 539 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: you're going to reduce the top individual tax rate by 540 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,120 Speaker 1: one percent from six point eight four to five point 541 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 1: eight four. Can you imagine a time in a future 542 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 1: governorship where somebody will actually be able to abolish the 543 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 1: individual income tax like Texas and Florida or do you 544 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,719 Speaker 1: think that the structure of your revenue system doesn't make 545 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:46,120 Speaker 1: that possible. Well, we didn't get to be a high 546 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: tax state of the income taxes overnight. In fact, Nebraska, 547 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: it used to not have an income tax back in 548 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,640 Speaker 1: the nineteen sixties, and that was back when the state 549 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: of Braska collected property taxes and the people voted to 550 00:27:56,800 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: this allowed the Nebraska stake care would collect property taxes, 551 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 1: so they implement of both an income tax and a 552 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,120 Speaker 1: sales tax. At some point, could you see the state 553 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 1: Abraska reducing that income tax to zero. It would require 554 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: a lot of work and a lot of reform in 555 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 1: other areas, but the potential is there. I think the 556 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 1: short term goal, though, is to just start taking that 557 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: tax rate down. You know, if we can get down 558 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 1: to say a tax rate to four percent, that makes 559 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: us very competitive with our surrounding states and other states. Now, 560 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: in a perfect world, I would love to have zero 561 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: income tax, but like I said, it took us more 562 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 1: than a half a century to get to where we 563 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 1: are today. We're going to have to start working get 564 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,120 Speaker 1: We're not gonna get this done overnight. And the first 565 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 1: step is getting that top rate down to five point 566 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: eight four percent. And by the way, that top rate 567 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 1: starts at thirty three thousand dollars for an individual. These 568 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 1: are middle income families that are getting tax at that 569 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: highest income tax proctate sixty six thousand dollars for a 570 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: couple of family. So we want to get that tax 571 00:28:50,840 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: rate down, and absolutely we can do it. I'm curious. 572 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: I hope you don't mind my asking us, But you've 573 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: consistently had a very active life, a very entrepreneurial life, 574 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: and you've been, you know, very aggressive as a leader. 575 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: What comes next for Pete Rickins, Well, I've got a 576 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: year left as governor and it's a big job, so 577 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: you can't take your eye off God put it on 578 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: in my heart to get involved in public service and politics. 579 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: I ran for Senate unsuccessfully back in two thousand and six, 580 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 1: but that really is what allowed me to be able 581 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 1: to put together my campaign for governor in twenty fourteen 582 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: to be successful. I was the people I've met in 583 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: six helped me get elected in fourteen, whether it's my 584 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: campaign staff or the relationships that had made around the state. 585 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: So you know, Guy's got a plan for people. Guy's 586 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 1: got to plan for everybody. So I'm gonna let God 587 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: worry about it. I'm gonna focus on being governor. I 588 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: absolutely want to stay involved. I absolutely love my I 589 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 1: was given in Nebraska. I love being involved in politics, 590 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 1: so I definitely want to stay involved. The first thing 591 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 1: we gonna do is go on vacation with my wife. 592 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 1: I remember when Lamar Alexander left the governorship after eight years, 593 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: he took his whole family. They went to Australia for 594 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 1: a year and being lamar, he then promptly wrote a 595 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: book about having spent a year in Australia, but he 596 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 1: wanted to just get his head clear, get closer to 597 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: his children, and if you isolate him in Australia, you 598 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 1: sort of have him captured. But I think it was 599 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:34,360 Speaker 1: that same feeling of I've invested myself. I've done this 600 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 1: three hundred and sixty five days a year, and maybe 601 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:38,959 Speaker 1: it's time to slow down a little bit so I 602 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: can fully sympathize with that. I do want to say, 603 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 1: just for the record, having been out there with you 604 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 1: a number of times, you're really a good politician. And 605 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: I mean that in the best sense of the word. 606 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: You're good with people. You listen to him. Well, I've 607 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 1: watched you at work in the crowds and I'm confident 608 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 1: that those skills were pretty good for you back in 609 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: the business world too, And whatever you do will be 610 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: interesting and fascinating. Maybe after you've been out for a year, 611 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 1: we'll ask you to come back and do another podcast 612 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:08,040 Speaker 1: and give us sort of a broad overview of the 613 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 1: Pete Ricketts world as it is evolving. All right, that'd 614 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 1: be great. I gotta tell you. One of the things 615 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: it does encourage me is we do see more people 616 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 1: in business getting involved in politics. You see in a 617 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 1: number of governors who've been elected. I think that's so 618 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: important because you know, we can debate the size of government, 619 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 1: what the proper role is. But so the things that 620 00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 1: we do do in government, we should do them really well. 621 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,000 Speaker 1: Operational excellent should be to watch work. Government should do 622 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 1: the things that they do, we should do them really well. 623 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 1: And it just doesn't happen. It only happens on purpose 624 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 1: if you actually work toward those things. And if young 625 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: people ask me, I want to get involved in politics, 626 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 1: what should I major? And I say in business and 627 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 1: go run something after you get out of school and 628 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 1: then start your political career. You know, it's interesting. I 629 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: was thinking as you were describing how you led the state. 630 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 1: One of the great challenges is that Congress has managed 631 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 1: to screw up the federal government in terms of so 632 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: many rules, so many elations. At one time, when George W. 633 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: Was in the White House, they had recruited a really 634 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 1: smart medical doctor who was also a PhD in information science, 635 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 1: who had done great work in Santa Barbara, California, and 636 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,360 Speaker 1: they got him to come in and he grew up 637 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:18,160 Speaker 1: as a poor boy in West Virginian. By the time 638 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:20,360 Speaker 1: they got to him, he was worth about two hundred 639 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: million dollars and had a place next to Oprah in Hawaii. 640 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 1: He was doing all right. So they got him to 641 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: come in and he worked with me. We had the 642 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: Center for Health Transformation at that time, and we put 643 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 1: together the concept of an Office of Innovation and Technology 644 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,239 Speaker 1: for the Health and Human Services people. And so he 645 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: designed this exactly the way you would as an entrepreneur. 646 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: And Bush liked it so much that he asked him 647 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: if he would be willing to come in and actually 648 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:51,240 Speaker 1: run it. So he said yes he would so in 649 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:55,479 Speaker 1: order to kick off this brand new, exciting, change oriented office. 650 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 1: Tommy Thompson, who was then Secretary of Health and Human Services, 651 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: had been a remarkably creative governor in Wisconsin. He originated 652 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 1: school choice, he originated welfare reform. I mean, he just 653 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 1: was instinctively a great leader. So Thompson calls about, I 654 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: don't know, one hundred and fifty people together at the 655 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 1: Willard Hotel and we have this great meeting and people 656 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: are getting up with great ideas, and Tommy will say 657 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,160 Speaker 1: that's a terrific idea. We'll get together tomorrow and work 658 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 1: on that. Well, he gets back to the HHS and 659 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 1: the General counsel for HHS says to him, here are 660 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: the seven laws you broke today because you were saying 661 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 1: things you're not allowed to say without going through a 662 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: ninety day federal process. So this medical doctor goes in 663 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: the next day for his first full day on the job, 664 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 1: calls me about three in the afternoon and says, I 665 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: have to come see you today. So I said fine. 666 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:56,240 Speaker 1: He comes by and he says, the first three hours 667 00:33:56,240 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: of my new job was the general counsel expo mean 668 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: to me all of the things I could not do, 669 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: and I have no idea how to make this office work. 670 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:09,840 Speaker 1: I mentioned that too, because I think until we figure 671 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:13,879 Speaker 1: out kind of an omnibus management bill that would cut 672 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 1: across all the bureaucracies and just beat the Congress into 673 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,399 Speaker 1: passing it. I mean, all the great governor I talked 674 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:24,719 Speaker 1: to are all entrepreneurs, and they all operate like entrepreneurs. 675 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: And the minute you hit Washington, there are all of 676 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 1: these lawyers who stand around saying no, it's a fascinating difference. Well, 677 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,840 Speaker 1: you know, I certainly obviously have to comply with the laws. 678 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:38,760 Speaker 1: But you know what, I've always found the best general counsels. 679 00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: One in particular that I worked with at a merrit 680 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:44,239 Speaker 1: trade Ellen Coplo. She never told me no, she said, 681 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,400 Speaker 1: you can do that, here's the consequence, and let me 682 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,360 Speaker 1: help you solve your problem. Here's what you want to do, 683 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:51,160 Speaker 1: let me help you do it. That's what you need. 684 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:52,759 Speaker 1: So if the General Council saying here's all the things 685 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:54,839 Speaker 1: you can't do, you fire the general counsel. You get 686 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:58,080 Speaker 1: somebody else and say they may be possible for a government. 687 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:00,879 Speaker 1: You get somebody else to say, hey, I know we've 688 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,400 Speaker 1: got laws we have to follow. What I want you 689 00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: to do is help me comply with the laws and 690 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,760 Speaker 1: still do what I want to do. You just describe 691 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:10,640 Speaker 1: my career, and I would say that with one or 692 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 1: two exceptions, that's worked. And those one or two have 693 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:16,960 Speaker 1: been moderately painful, but they were worth it, because otherwise 694 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,400 Speaker 1: you hunker down and nothing happens. But I agree with 695 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:21,640 Speaker 1: you entirely. I mean, but it does mean you got 696 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:23,719 Speaker 1: to get a really good lawyer who is a real 697 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:27,359 Speaker 1: risk taker and who understands his job is to say, yes, 698 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 1: you can do this. If well, you don't do. When 699 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 1: I interview people, I ask him to tell me about 700 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,080 Speaker 1: the time they failed. And if they can't tell him 701 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:37,280 Speaker 1: about the time they fail, I don't hire them because 702 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:39,879 Speaker 1: if you're not trying hard, like if you're taking risk, 703 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 1: risks are called risk for reason, things can go bad. Right. 704 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:45,240 Speaker 1: If you're not taking risks, you're not pushing the envelope. 705 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:47,839 Speaker 1: You're not making progress. And sometimes when you take risk, 706 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:50,840 Speaker 1: things go bad happen. You're failed, that's just going to happen. 707 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:52,680 Speaker 1: And if you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough. 708 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 1: I can tell you, having lost two congressional races and 709 00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:58,840 Speaker 1: then lost eight consecutive efforts to create a majority, I 710 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:04,640 Speaker 1: could answer your question and pretty enthusiastically. Listen, it's wonderful 711 00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:08,720 Speaker 1: talking with you. Congratulations on an amazing job in Nebraska, 712 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,399 Speaker 1: and I think anybody listeners thought to know that if 713 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 1: you think about expanding your business, you know going to 714 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,680 Speaker 1: Omaha wouldn't be a bad deal, not at all. Actually, 715 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 1: Politico just ranked Nebraska the best state for pandemic response. 716 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:24,320 Speaker 1: We've got companies growing like crazy, so yeah, come to Nebraska. 717 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 1: It's a wonderful place. We've got wonderful people, and there's 718 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 1: tremendous opportunity. It's called a good life for a reason. Listen, 719 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:32,360 Speaker 1: thank you for joining me, and I wish you and 720 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:35,359 Speaker 1: the people in Nebraska well and it's extraordinary. I can't 721 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:37,719 Speaker 1: wait to get with you and talk about other things 722 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:39,879 Speaker 1: we're gonna be doing together. Thank you, all right, great, 723 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:44,239 Speaker 1: Thanks a lot, dude, Thanks for having me up. Thank 724 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:46,960 Speaker 1: you to my guest, Governor Pete Ricketts. You can learn 725 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,640 Speaker 1: more about Governor Rickets's work for the people of Nebraska 726 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 1: on our show page at newtsworld dot com. News World 727 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 1: is produced by English Sweet sixty and iHeartMedia. Our executive 728 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:01,439 Speaker 1: producer is Gornsey Sloan, our producer sir is Rebecca Howe, 729 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 1: and our researcher is Rachel Peterson. The artwork for the 730 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 1: show was created by Steve Penley. Special thanks to the 731 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:12,960 Speaker 1: team at Gingwish three sixty. If you've been enjoying Newtsworld, 732 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,960 Speaker 1: I hope you'll go to Apple Podcasts and both rate 733 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:19,160 Speaker 1: us with five stars and give us a review so 734 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:22,520 Speaker 1: others can learn what it's all about. Right now, listeners 735 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 1: of newts World can sign up from my three free 736 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:29,400 Speaker 1: weekly columns at gingwish three sixty dot com slash newsletter. 737 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:32,279 Speaker 1: I'm Newt Gangwidge. This is Newtsworld.