Jayden Speed

Make a plan to vote on or before November 3rd! Nebraska can’t afford more of the same broken promises and empty rhetoric.

28 years of lies and broken promises... your property taxes haven't decreased but data centers have recieved $519 million in tax exemptions and $317 million in credits. You can't vote for more of the same and expect different results.

I’m proud to continue to speak up for my community. Cass County farmers and residents don’t want hyper-scale data centers burdening our land, natural resources, or residents. Thank you to the Cass County Commissioners for their leadership and thoughtfulness on this issue. 3newsnow.com/news/local-news…

Anyone running for office on fiscal conservatism needs to be willing to call out the budget and taxing decisions of Governor Pillen and the Legislature over the past four years. Turning a $1.2 billion surplus into a $1 billion deficit is disastrous stewardship of the state's resources.

Remembering the spirit and history of Labor Day is more important now than ever. Today we honor American workers who organized on factory floors, in coal mines, and farms to demand fair wages, better working conditions, an 8-hour workday, and an end to child labor. Today massive gaps between the wealthiest and the working class have resurfaced. Working families are struggling to keep up with inflation, tariffs, and price gouging while billionaires exert undue influence on government. Remember that the labor movement is far from ancient history. A resurgence of unionization and working class solidarity is desperately needed in these times. Our politics isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans, it’s about top vs. bottom.

200 people gathered in Tecumseh, Nebraska tonight for a Rally for Democracy supporting @lynnewalz and Democratic candidates. Nebraska’s farmers and rural communities have been left behind by our current elected officials. It’s time for a change! – at Nebraska, USA

Reporting on the data center issue in Cass County and around the country by the Associated Press. I appreciated the opportunity to speak alongside Chris Backemeyer for Congress at his roundtable in Murdock. This isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans. It’s about ensuring responsible development that centers communities and protects our land and natural resources. apnews.com/article/data-cent…

Well said Senator Walz! Nebraska needs a change. One party rule is killing our agricultural markets and harming rural communities.

It’s time to stop electing the fox to watch the hen house. Nebraska farmers and ranchers take hit after hit. When will it be enough?

I spent the afternoon at the Ben Nelson BBQ hosted at the Laborers’ International Union Hall in Omaha. Great food and even better candidates. Nebraska can break out of this cycle of high prices, large deficits, and deep divisions by electing new leaders in November. 🇺🇸🌽 – at Omaha, NE

Cass County and all Nebraskans deserve elected officials that will put working people, rural communities, and family farmers first. We're grappling with major challenges including a gridlocked Congress, a $1 billion state deficit, and the proliferation of hyperscale data center developments. I trust that these candidates will fight for everyday Nebraskans in office. I am proud to offer my personal endorsement.

The past several months I have worked to inform residents in Cass County of data center projects totaling nearly 6,000 acres of prime farmland surrounding the communities of Plattsmouth, Murray, and Beaver Lake. After hundreds of residents showed up between the County Planning Commission meeting, County Fair, and County Commissioners meeting, we successfully lobbied for a 12-month moratorium. This issue will shape the future of our land, natural resources, and rural way of life for generations. Data center developments have brought out strong feelings on both sides. A vocal minority has said we should build no matter the cost. Some have said we should block any development and others have asked that the costs and benefits be analyzed on an individual basis. Whatever position you take, these are discussions that we must have as a county, and it will take much more work before we can arrive at a final consensus. I support a moratorium because I believe we need to hit the breaks and take account of our priorities. No one has all the answers right now. The Planning Commission’s recommended regulations start the conversation, but they do not end it. As one member suggested, it would be wise to invite an independent third-party to evaluate best practices. As others have pointed out, the 500ft setbacks are an area for further consideration. The County Commissioners tabled the recommended regulations until September 22nd as they work to address these concerns. It is also important to note that most of what the public currently knows about the regulations, public hearings, and potential developments has come from sporadic news reporting and word of mouth. Cass County residents deserve more information and more consultation. As the county did with solar developments, there should be further public hearings in a venue and at a time when more people can attend. It is also desperately needed for the developers currently optioning land to engage in an open and honest dialogue with county residents. Tenaska, CyrusOne, and other developers should be willing to hold town halls and answer questions. If they’re not, they shouldn’t be able to proceed with their projects. A moratorium is the only mechanism available to halt development until a time that the county feels fully prepared to thoughtfully review, respond to, and defend in court any permitting decision. I am grateful that the County Commissioners agreed. In the past, this county has rightfully noted its solemn responsibility to protect prime farmland as defined in the county’s Comprehensive Plan. We all must continue to be good stewards of the land and servants of the people.

Very informative webinar tonight on the state of Nebraska’s farm economy hosted by Courier Nebraska. Panelists included John Hansen, President of the Nebraska Farmers Union, U.S. Senate Candidate Dan Osborn, and Dan Nerud from the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. The truth is farmers are struggling. We’re seeing farm bankruptcy numbers climb year after year to levels not reached since the farm crisis of the 1980s. Solutions require leaders from both parties to step up in Congress and the State Legislature. At the federal level, farmers need an end to disastrous tariff policies, right to repair, and an updated complete Farm Bill which has not been fully reauthorized since 2018. At the state level, Nebraska continues to face real budget challenges. Our current tax code is heavily reliant on regressive property taxes and is still producing a structural deficit. Conversations like this help to build momentum towards solutions that make a real difference not just for farmers but for rural communities and working families too.

Cass County's only pediatric clinic is preparing to close. This news is detrimental to our community and the patients the clinic serves across southeast Nebraska. For me, this is also a personal loss, like most Cass County kids I grew up receiving care from the doctors and nurses at this clinic. From birth to college, they provided me with quality physical and mental healthcare. Rural low-income families, just like mine, will be the ones to suffer the most from this loss. The closure of this clinic will leave a significant healthcare gap across southeast Nebraska communities. Nebraska Medicine, who owns the property that houses this clinic, and Children's Nebraska must reconsider. ketv.com/article/childrens-p…

The evidence is piling up month after month that Nebraska's structural budget deficit is unsustainable. Our state is staring down $855 million in deficits by fiscal year 2028-29. The Governor's and the Legislature's approach of tax cuts for the wealthy and raiding cash funds has failed Nebraskans. We need to make changes to our tax code and our budget priorities that actually protect working people while delivering a balanced budget. journalstar.com/news/state-r…

In Nebraska, if you’re a single mom making $24,760 you’re in the same income tax bracket as Pete Ricketts and Warren Buffett. Not only has the consolidation of income tax brackets led to a massive state budget deficit, most of the cuts are going back into pockets of the ultra wealthy. At the same time, Pillen proposes raising taxes on working families through higher sales tax. Nebraska’s tax code is rigged for big corporations and a select few. If we’re going to balance our state budget and invest in working Nebraskans again, the Legislature needs to go back to a stair-stepped income tax and corporate tax that makes the wealthy pay their fair share. ketv.com/article/nebraska-go…