Penny saved? Nebraska bill would round prices after one-cent coins discontinued
Rising costs hit working families hardest while Washington debates spending priorities.
The press is treating the end of the penny like a quirky cultural milestone, with rounding framed as a harmless tweak. But money is not trivia. When government changes the unit people use every day, the real question is whether the change is predictable, transparent, and fair to the person at the register.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
On Thursday, Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte introduced a bill (LB837) to provide guidance to Nebraska banks and businesses on how to navigate a penniless world.
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
The press is treating the end of the penny like a quirky cultural milestone, with rounding framed as a harmless tweak. But money is not trivia. When government changes the unit people use every day, the real question is whether the change is predictable, transparent, and fair to the person at the register.
A “penniless world” can quietly become a nickel tax if rules are sloppy. Nebraska’s bill should make clear that rounding applies only to the final cash total, not item by item, and that receipts show the adjustment plainly. Otherwise small rounding errors stack up, and public trust erodes fast.
Conservatives are not sentimental about coins. We care about fairness for consumers, rule-of-law clarity, and stable commerce. If the penny is going away, the state’s job is to set simple, uniform standards that prevent gamesmanship. The principle is straightforward: everyday transactions should stay honest and legible.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.