Senator Ben Nelson | |
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The U.S. economy is suffering. Americans are
losing jobs, homes and their health care coverage. To ease the economic crisis, millions
of dollars will soon flow into Nebraska as part of the biggest budget package ever
approved by the federal government. What does this mean to a state such as Nebraska
that is already battling budget woes? And, who decides where the money goes?
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As representatives from transportation, schools and local government line up for their
share of the more than one billion dollars earmarked for the state, NET Television
examines these questions in "Blueprint Nebraska."
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is the largest effort of its kind in
history. Available money will spread from Washington, D.C., throughout the nation to
rebuild roads, fund education and increase interest in renewable energy. For the next
several months, federal agencies will provide the money and guidelines on how the
stimulus funds are to be spent. More than 50 state programs ranging from infrastructure
projects to money for schools and Medicaid will receive a portion of the money.
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Governor Dave Heineman |
In Nebraska, Gov. Dave Heineman is working closely with the state legislature to
distribute funds with the hope of lessening the impact of the slow economy. On Capitol
Hill, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson has been instrumental in shaping the stimulus package
through his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Heineman and Nelson join NET Television producer Perry Stoner in
the NET studios to discuss their views of the stimulus package and how Nebraska might
most effectively put the money to use. Comments and questions from Nebraska citizens
and local government officials will be included in the 30-minute program.
NET Radio will also produce stories related to Nebraska’s share of the federal stimulus
money. Coverage will include reports on projects in Lincoln and Omaha to repair and
upgrade storm and sewer water systems, as well as stories about how the federal money
can be used to improve water quality in communities in greater Nebraska. The "Blueprint
Nebraska" radio reports will air during "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered"
during the week of May 11. Links to these stories will be available from this website once they are produced.
Funding Support
 Blueprint Nebraska is funded in part by a grant from Blueprint America, a multi-platform public broadcasting initiative examining infrastructure issues throughout America.
Major support for Blueprint America is provided by the Rockefeller Foundation. Since its establishment in 1913, the Rockefeller Foundation has sought to identify and attack at their source the underlying causes of human suffering. The Foundation pioneered the frontier of global philanthropy and continues to find and fund solutions to many of the world’s most intractable challenges.
 The Rockefeller Foundation attempts to harness the creative forces of globalization, supporting breakthrough solutions to 21st century challenges. This is smart globalization: ensuring that the opportunities unleashed by globalization are accessible to more people, more fully, in more places — and that poor and vulnerable people are equipped to seize them.
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