Partisan Messaging on State Website Leads to Lawsuit

By Gordon Hopkins A message on a Nebraska government website blaming Democrats for the government shutdown has resulted in a lawsuit. The MessageA quote from Governor Jim Pillen is featured on the homepage of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, “Due to a failure by Democrats in the U.S. Senate to pass a clean funding bill, resulting in a government shutdown, SNAP benefits that many Nebraska families and kids depend on are now unavailable in November. Sadly, there is a wealth of misinformation coming from Senate Democrats. This shutdown was absolutely preventable. We urge members to approve a clean funding bill and stop using Nebraska's most vulnerable people for political leverage.”The quote was originally presented without attribution but was recently changed to make clear it came from the governor. Basis for the LawsuitAttorney Vince Powers, a former chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, filed the complaint in Lancaster County on behalf of Kay Siebler, an English professor at UNO (University of Nebraska at Omaha). According to the lawsuit, DHHS CEO Steve Corsi is in violations of a Nebraska state statute that, “prohibits a public official or a public employee using public resources or funds for the purpose of campaigning for or against the nomination or election of a candidate for political office or for other political activities.”In the complaint, Powers argues, “The Defendant is continuing to violate the law by posting a political statement which aids Senator Pete Ricketts’ campaign as he is a Republican and it aids and promotes all Republicans running for political office in November 2026, if they are running against a member of the Democratic Party.”The complaint includes a request for restraining order or injunction, requiring DHHS, “to immediately remove the offending language from the public website paid for by the taxpayers of the State of Nebraska.”The message on the DHHS website is not the only one out there. A message on the Nebraska Rural Development page of the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) website reads, “Due to the Radical Left Democrat shutdown, this government website will not be updated during the funding lapse. President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.” Are Any Other States Engaged in Similar Messaging?According to Harvest Public Media, a Midwestern journalism collaborative, Nebraska is the only red-leaning state to feature such partisan language regarding the shutdown on government websites.However, some websites in blue-leaning states have featured messages blaming President Donald Trump for the shutdown, including California and Illinois. The Hatch ActFederal websites have sported similar messaging blaming Democrats, which has led some to accuse the Trump Administration of violating the Hatch Act. Common Cause, a watchdog group, has filed a number of ethics complaints alleging just that.The Hatch Act was passed in 1939 and intended to limit political activities by federal employees when they are acting in their official roles.This is so government officials cannot use taxpayer-funded resources to benefit a particular political party or candidate while on the job.

Scam Text Messages Impersonate Nebraska Department of Revenue

Bipartisan Legislators Propose “Statement of Principles” to End Shutdown

Related Articles

High Winds Fuel Multiple Wild Fires in SE Nebraska

Sen. Ricketts Makes the Case for War

City Offices Closed During Move

A Broken Wire Over Railroad Tracks Leaves City in the Dark