Is the Husker Nation really broke, governor?

Governor Dave Heineman

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 94848

Lincoln, NE 68509-4848

Dear Governor:

I have been trying to understand the Nebraska state budget, and I’m a bit confused. According to the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nebraska ranks first in the nation in the production of commercial red meat, and second in the nation in cattle and calf sales. We rank third in the nation in the production of corn for grain, and sorghum and dry edible beans. Over the last 15 years, Nebraskan corn farmers alone received more than $8 billion in farm subsidies. Corn surpluses in December were almost 8% lower than a year ago, and it is perched above $6 per bushel and expected to rise further. 

As of 2009 we only have approximately 1.8 million residents. Our state appropriations increased only 2.5% from the 2009-10 to the 2010-11 budget, and from 2008-09 to 2009-10 appropriations dropped almost 1% (http://www.budget.ne.gov/). 

I don’t know how the state handles the agricultural economy, but how in the world can we be in a deficit when so much is being produced here? I’m always hearing that the tax receipts are lower than expected, or that we are spending way too much on teachers and chalk. Could you help me out here? Where is all this money going, and is there really a deficit, or is this manufactured in order to cut the budget for the middle class?

Sincerely,
DocD