Justin T. Wayne
District 13
1. What is your personal experience with nurses specifically, and healthcare issues in general?
I do not have any personal experience other than being treated.
2. What do you believe are the most significant factors affecting access to healthcare in Nebraska, for example, expanding Medicaid? And what is your plan to address those factors?
Providing affordable healthcare to Nebraskans. I will push for legislation that will ensure that all Nebraskans have access to low-cost high-quality health care. During my time on the OPS board, I helped launch healthcare clinics inside of our schools. We partnered with Charles Drew and One World to make sure more students and their families had access to high quality healthcare. As a State Senator, I will increase the number of insured Nebraskans, fully fund mental health services, and integrate mental health care with physical health care. It’s time to put action behind the great sense of hope the people of District 13 have. I will build a bipartisan coalition of elected officials to forge solutions that will grow the economy and eliminate waste. I will fight to provide resources in a responsible way to those who need it the most. We can implement Medicaid expansion while increasing funding for education.
3. This year LB 750 was introduced to help protect medical personnel when they report issues to the authorities from receiving retaliatory consequences. Please share your thoughts regarding this legislation. What other possible legislation would you consider a priority in Nebraska, such as workplace violence, safe staffing levels, safe patient handling, and nursing education?
I would support the protection of medical workers. I think staffing level would be critical, but this is an area I would love to work with your organization to learn and grow.
4. Please describe your experience as an advocate for health care, nursing, and/or human services through work on non-profit boards, community organizations, and/or as an elected official.
I am a proud Omaha Public Schools product. I attended Hartman Elementary, then King Science Center, formerly known as Horace Mann Middle School, and graduated from Northwest High School. I attended a public school system that laid the foundation for me to succeed in life.
During my times on the Learning Community Coordinating Council and Omaha Public School Board, I have worked with many current and former State Senators. I help lead the restructuring of the OPS Board, which has led to us passing the largest bond in this State’s history. The relationships I have with many of these State Senators will be invaluable to my ability to be a productive and collaborative member of the Legislature. These relationships may not get some Senators to vote for my underlying bill; but I do believe these relationships will get me a cloture vote. After watching the current Legislature, a cloture vote is often times more important than the final vote. My experiences on the OPS Board has helped me understand the need for transparency, need to be data-driven, and developed me as a leader, consensus builder, and listener.
In addition, I have significant professional and management skills, non-profit board governance, and community service experience. I attended Creighton University and Creighton University School of Law. I currently own a small legal practice and small construction company. These experiences have taught me to be an analyst, a consensus builder, and fiscally responsible. I am the President of Midwest Trailblazers Youth Program, which means every day I see how our laws, policies, and politics affect the everyday person. I served as the Vice-President and Director of Guide Right Youth Program of the Omaha Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. I also helped raise over $1 million for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, which reminds me that we can accomplish anything if we work together.
As a community member and current elected official who believes that a good education is the key to a thriving democracy and a strong economy, I want Nebraska to provide a world-class education for all of our children. As a State Senator, I will make sure we accomplish this goal together.