Platte Institute Hires State Lawmaker Targeted for Defeat by Ricketts

Omaha, NE.—Try this on for size. An influential Nebraska think tank, founded by Governor Pete Ricketts, has hired a state senator who Ricketts targeted for defeat. News Channel Nebraska has learned that soon to be former State Senator Laura Ebke—she lost her bid for re-election earlier this month—has been hired by the Platte Institute. It's the latest chapter in a recent tug of war between Ricketts and the conservative leaning Institute. (Read more below)

(See Joe's Full Video Report on the Ebke move including the Ricketts-Platte Institute battle over sales and property taxes first reported by News Channel Nebraska).

Ebke starts work in January as the think tank's new Senior Fellow for Job Licensing Reform, according to this statement from the Institute:

"The Crete-area senator, who championed a new law to review Nebraska's nearly 200 job licenses, will lead a Platte Institute project to educate policymakers and workers about the law’s upcoming implementation. Legislative Bill 299, also known as the Occupational Board Reform Act, requires legislative committees to review 20 percent of the job licenses under their jurisdiction each year, in a continuous five-year cycle."

"One of the highlights of my time in the Legislature was working with my colleagues in a truly nonpartisan fashion to pass LB299. The law is considered by many to be a national model for job licensing reform," said Sen. Ebke.

Follow Joe on Twitter and Facebook