Krusin' the Capitol
By Nebraska State Senator Lowen Kruse
Special Session 02
Third Week
August 17, 2002
Hi
Briefly, the news covered it fairly well, so little behind the scenes.
They say we cut $119M. Some of that was claiming cash funds.
The governor simply would not allow using the road $$$ for anything except
cash reserve, so we had $14.4 we could not spend. Worst hit was higher ed.
It will really be rough there. We took a step backwards and that is not
easily recovered. But we had to balance.
Did save a few cuts, but did cut those who are blind or ride buses. Argh.
There is VERY heavy lifting ahead, with hearings and studies on several
subjects this fall and the need to review every aspect of revenue as well as
further cuts in January.
Some have expressed confusion about big figures in the "out years." Out
years in this case are the next two fiscal years, starting next July 1. We
try when we can to cut the current base, which triples our money, counting
this year and the next two years. So when we cut $15M from the Uni. of Neb.
that gives us $45M off of the huge figure that they keep quoting, like $700
million in the three years. We now have that down to something over 400.
Improvement in the economy could whack another 100 off of it pretty fast, as
it is a projected "out of balance" figure.
We get two Big Red tickets to each home football game. I give mine all away,
as it helps public relations for the charities. All the Protestants can
think to do is to sell them at face value. That gives them $70 to $110,
according to the game. Catholics know how to do a raffle, which can go up
into the thousands. So I give the really tempting ones to the Catholics.
It is hard to sell the darn things. I help some of them find a buyer, after
they announce it in church and get no takers. Last year I could not get face
value on one early game. Did not have enough time. I offered Troy State on
Aug 31 to the runners at our 10K run today. No takers. One fellow said "Is
that $35 for two?" No, for one.
"O my." So we are announcing them at a church tomorrow. Anyone interested
if we are still looking next week? All of these are GOOD seats, on the 45
yard line a few rows up. Will be a neat story in the World-Herald this week.
Mike Kelly liked the fun of a couple who are flying from Brattleboro VT,
where our daughter lives, because he has always been a Husker fan. He has
never been to Nebraska, or anywhere near it. I met them because of our
daughter's husband's band, which played at their wedding. So they come to
the park on the Fourth of July to enjoy the memories.
Will hang up until January.
Cheers,
Lowen
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