LB 485, the bill to provide special protections for sexual orientation and gender identity is set for debate in the Legislature tomorrow morning.
While I am personally and wholeheartedly opposed to any form of discrimination, I also believe business owners should reserve the right to make decisions regarding their business without coercion from the state. If they engage in discrimination or any other form of negative behavior, they must live with the consequences of those actions. I believe the free market serves as a sound and effective coercive influence on their decisions.

Furthermore, I believe this bill is worded in an overly ambiguous manner which is conducive to abuse, lends room for broad interpretation, and exposes business owners to the possibility of endless litigation. Rather than equal protection under the law, LB 485 demands special protections for a specific class of citizens.

Lastly, there have been widespread rumors of vote trading by several senators involving LB 485. In fact, many credit these backroom deals with the about-face from our senators which has led to LB 485 advancing to the floor after it appeared dead in February.

No matter what your view on the bill, we can all agree this sort of behavior is beneath what we have come to expect from our elected representatives. Your vote should match the voice of the constituents you represent. They should NOT be calculated and used to garner political favor and clout.

Whatever your opinion on this bill, I urge you to contact your senators and let them know how you feel. Find their emails below:[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected],[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected]

Thank you for your continued support,

Signature

Bryan Baumgart
Chairman, Douglas County Republican Party
(402) 920-0853
[email protected]