After 36 years of military service, including six combat tours in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, Col.Tom Brewer returned home to Gordon, Nebraska and was elected by the people of his home state and district to serve in the Legislature.
He was elected chair of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee in 2019, and has kept his promise to fight high property taxes, support our ag producers, and defend our private property rights and Constitutional gun rights.
FIGHTING HIGH PROPERTY TAXES
Nobody in the Legislature has fought harder than Tom Brewer to reduce property taxes. In his first year, he sponsored legislation to cap property taxes for four years and called for a special session to address the property tax crisis. Since then, Tom has voted for a property tax cut every single year he’s held office, and endorsed the ballot initiative to reduce property taxes.
As senator, Tom introduced or supported several bills to cut property taxes, including:
- Provide $550 million in direct property tax relief over two years (LB 294)
- Freeze valuations and cap property tax rates for four years (LB 158)
- Stop automatic tax hikes when property valuations increase (LB 103)
- Reduce valuations for property damaged by historic floods or other disasters(LB 512)
- Expand the Homestead Exemption for more homeowners and low-income seniors(LB 498)
- Eliminate property, income, and sales tax and replace with a consumption tax (LR 300CA)
LOWERING TAXES FOR RETIREES
As a lifelong Nebraskan with deep roots in our state, Tom understands the challenges facing many older adults and retirees who are sometimes forced from their homes and property because of high taxes. He has worked to cut income taxes for retirees and veterans so that generations of Nebraskans can continue to enjoy the Good Life here for years to come.
As senator, Tom has introduced or supported bills to lower taxes for retirees, including:
- Cut income taxes on military retirement benefits (LB 153)
- Eliminate income taxes on Social Security income (LB 819)
SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE
Tom Brewer spent much of his life around agriculture, from leading his FFA Chapter in high school to working the CO-OP in Gordon. As our senator, Tom led the effort to reform the Brand Committee and lead it to solvency, and he’s fought to cut regulations, protect our natural resources, and improve the infrastructure needed to help Nebraska producers feed the world.
UPHOLDING PROPERTY RIGHTS
Tom believes that the rights of property owners in our state are slowly being eroded by profit-seeking local governments and private businesses. He has worked tirelessly to defend the private property rights of Nebraskans looking to protect their land and preserve the Sandhills in the ongoing fight against unnecessary powerlines and industrial wind energy companies.
As senator, Tom introduced or supported legislation to protect property rights, including:
- Two-year moratorium on wind energy projects in the Sandhills (LB 504)
- Protect property rights from eminent domain by wind interests (LB 155)
- Restrict use of eminent domain by out-of-state corporations (LB 823)
- Require counties to have zoning ordinances that address wind energy (LB 373)
PROTECTING GUN RIGHTS
As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, avid hunter, competitive shooter, and retired Army Ranger, there is no greater champion of our Constitutional gun rights than Tom Brewer. He led the effort to defeat the so-called ‘Red Flag law’ and the assault weapons ban in the Legislature and has been a strong supporter of the bill to allow Constitutional carry.
Tom is the only senator in the state to receive an ‘A+’ rating from the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association PAC, representing gun owners and sportsmen from around the state.
DEFENDING INNOCENT LIFE
Tom believes in the sanctity of human life and has supported legislation that protects and defends the unborn and stops abortion in our state. He strongly supported the ban on the barbaric practice of dismemberment abortion and voted for the creation of ‘Choose Life’ license plates to celebrate our culture of life and faith in Nebraska.