The Nebraska Legislature, which has been in power for 151 years, is facing a budget shortfall with a projected $472 million. The executive branch has proposed sweeping cuts to essential programs and services to balance the state's budget. These include the removal of the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, the only public-private cultural trust in the nation, and the proposed sweep of the Veteran’s Aid Fund, which provides funds for emergency health care but could result in significant reductions to quality of life in the state. The state's current budget woes come from decisions made in Washington, D.C., which are cutting into our tax collections to the tune of about $100 million per year. The author suggests that the state should consider more independence in its tax code to allow for a more predictable and sustainable path.