|
The second session of the 100th Nebraska Legislature was a short one, but it was jam-packed with big issues.
Topics like highway funding and the future of the State Fair dominated discussion during the session, which ended Thursday.
The Independent caught up with four Central Nebraska senators Dist. 33 Sen. Carroll Burling of Kenesaw, Dist. 35 Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, Dist. 41 Sen. Vickie McDonald of St. Paul and Dist. 34 Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton to find out their thoughts on Legislature's hot topics this year.
Cash reserve
Each of the four lawmakers was generally happy with the way their colleagues spent the state's $475 million cash reserve.
The state dipped into the reserve to move the State Fair, match federal funds for roads and pay Republican River irrigators.
But the overall amount used was dwarfed by the amount legislators chose to save, something that pleased the area's senators, who advised setting aside money for tougher economic times.
"I think we were disciplined well in that area," Burling said. "We're in a downturn now we just don't know how deep that's going to go."
Roads funding
None of the area's senators were particularly excited about the Legislature's compromise of using cash reserves to help match federal highway funds after Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed an increase in the state's gas tax.
But, as McDonald put it, while not everyone liked the bill, nearly everyone could live with it.
Still, McDonald, Burling and Aguilar said they'd prefer to fund the roads primarily through a user fee, like a gas tax, which those passing through the state would help pay.
"When we use any other type of funding, it all falls on Nebraskans," Aguilar said. "That, in my opinion, is just not the way to do things."
Water issues
One thing was easy for the four senators to agree on: The state did the right thing by borrowing $9 million from the cash reserve to repay Republican River irrigators who signed away their water rights last year.
The state had promised that money to them, Dubas and McDonald said, and it was obligated to fulfill its end of the deal.
And, as Aguilar said, it's good for the state to move forward, especially with a lawsuit from Kansas looming.
"Those are the kind of issues that you're just glad they're over and done with and move on," he said.
Death penalty
A year after the state's death penalty law drew renewed interest, this year's annual repeal effort by Sen. Ernie Chambers went down with a comparative whimper.
"The discussion that we did have was 'same song, second verse,'" Burling said.
The state was left without a method of execution, though, after the state Supreme Court ruled the electric chair unconstitutional.
Aguilar and McDonald said they didn't mind, as it's been years since the state executed an inmate, mostly because of concerns about the electric chair.
"We really haven't had a mode of execution for some time," McDonald said. "What's another year?"
Smoking ban
Senators also were pleased that the statewide smoking ban passed.
Aguilar, a prominent supporter of the ban, said the state would see benefits from the ban years down the road in reduce Medicare and health care costs.
McDonald and Dubas acknowledged that some of their constituents in smaller towns might be upset about losing the ability to smoke at local bars that may be one of only a few gathering places in town.
But both said they hoped the ban would draw new people into those businesses perhaps precisely because they're so central to their communities.
"Many times people go there not just to smoke, but to be social," McDonald said.
State Fair
In Central Nebraska, the Legislature's true big-ticket item was its decision to move the State Fair to Grand Island. Naturally, all four senators were enthusiastic about the opportunity for the area.
While much of the state was surprised by the swift rise to prominence of Grand Island's bid, Aguilar said he was never less than 75 percent certain that the fair would end up in his district.
Dubas, on the other hand, acknowledged some surprise, even though she was a member of the Agriculture Committee that helped craft the bill.
"I didn't see it coming," she said. "I really didn't think the State Fair would leave Lincoln."
Want to comment on this article?
Register on our forums and post your thoughts.
It's free and easy to do!
independentforums.com
|
