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Krusin' the Capitol

By Nebraska State Senator Lowen Kruse

2003
Week 5
February 7, 2003

Hi

Looks like we could start getting taxes from Internet sales, possibly in a year and a half. Some are dragging their feet because it means cooperating with other states. Duh. I will be speaking in favor, briefly, about 9:15 a.m. Monday. Not often that we know when we will get the floor.

Had the most depressing day of my legislative career this week. In Appropriations, we were cut-cut-cutting all afternoon. Cutting staff in small agencies, health care, children, widows, the elderly.... on and on the dreary list. After working steadily all afternoon we had a pile of cuts worth $10 to 12 million over the next two years. So very little in the scheme of things. It is $10 for each taxpayer.

Then we received the deficit request from corrections (prisons) for THIS year -- to go through June. To be clear, they are not requesting more deficits. They have one. They are $8 million short of paying medical bills. What a downer. Most of our work to fill one hole. (We are scrambling with a co-pay bill, among others.)

We had just gotten word in the hallways that the public schools will be short $30 million next year and we are supposed to pay that bill. The governor has shorted them $68 million before getting the new figure. Do we make it $100? That would be a huge hit to property taxes, which we are trying to protect. Call me

Depressed.

Lowen

I will finish out by listing the bills I sponsor or cosponsor. There is much more detail on them at my website, where all thirty are listed: www.lowenkruse.com.

LB 117 Route all receipts coming to any Nebraska agency through the treasurer's office.
LB 122 Change the cap on park entry fees.
LB 124 Place the investment council under more direct control of the treasurer.
LB 152 Permit undocumented students who intend to become citizens to attend college in Nebraska at the instate tuition rate.
LB 206 Add to penalty for breaking into an auto to steal small items.
LB 207 Take more funding for city bus companies from highway funds.
LB 208 Complete restructure of the DUI section of Nebraska statutes.
LB 233 Require licensure for animal control facilities and shelters.
LB 338 Add alcohol tax to provide funding for substance abuse treatment.
LB 454 Authorize more drug court programs.
LB 474 Charge driving drunk with a child on board as child abuse.
LB 482 Allow children of police and fire fighters who die in the line of duty to attend state schools of higher education for free.
LB 501 Restrict the use of a mobile telephone to "hands free" while driving.
LB 502 Provide double fines for speeding on the interstate.
LB 503 Provide for the restoration of voting rights upon the completion of a felony sentence.
LR 19 CA Constitutional amendment to allow these voting rights.
LB 516 Provide for a partial Homestead exemption for disabled veterans.
LB 525 Minors could lose their drivers licenses for trying to buy alcohol.
LB 546 Prohibit smoking in indoor restaurant.
LB 588 Mental health conditions to be treated on parity with physical health conditions in health insurance policies.
LB 590 Increase tax on non-methanol fuel, for ethanol incentives.
LB 598 Provide for a study group on term limits.
LR 7 CA Constitutional amendment to change term limits from a limit of 8 years to a limit of 12 years.
LB 608 Provide for more open information on the use of LB 775 funds.
LB 746 Prohibit housing discrimination against a person who appears to be homosexual.
LB 756 Allow cancer medications which are not opened to be donated to other cancer patients.
LB 774 Eliminate local board tax levy caps and budget limits.
LB 775 Repeat offenders (DUI) would be prosecuted more appropriately.
LB 781 Allow past judicial race discrimination to be a defense in death penalties.
LR 4 CA Constitutional amendment to preserve the right to fish, trap and hunt.

These vary greatly in merit, as you would expect. The last one if pure fluff, but will make somebody happy. The repeat offender one will save lives. As you might expect, not one of them costs money. Several would save public dollars.

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