Krusin' the Capitol
By Nebraska State Senator Lowen Kruse
2005
Week 6
February 12, 2005
Hi-
New word: bliptime. As in, "Oh-Oh, it is bliptime again for (an agency)."
Most of the agencies go into overtime trying to figure out how to impress the
Appropriations Committee, as we clearly are the gate keepers. So some will
stay flat for two or three years, then come in with a blip up, on the basis
that they have had no increases for a while. Bliptime.
This was Lowen's "in the news" week. One good, one not-so. I do not grouse
about reporters. The ones we deal with are fair and try hard to be clear,
even on confusing subjects. The problem comes when the reporter is trying to
illustrate a legitimate point and takes a sentence or two from me as I criticize
that point.
Good example this week. We were on voting rights for felons. The bill will
allow ex-felons to register to vote two years after completing all terms of a
sentence. One objection was that we should think about the victim families of
those felonies. Some would like the ex-felons to continue to be punished,
even if the court is through with them.
So I pushed my light and said, as well as I can remember: "I am part of a
family which is a victim of a felony offender. There is indeed tremendous pain
in the memories and in the ongoing losses in our lives. However, I want that
man to vote, to get back into society and take his place there. This is not
to be nice to him. I doubt he will vote. I would not be surprised if he
re-offended. But his value is not our value. I want him to vote and hope that
this might, in some small way, help him to participate in the community, be
active in his family, and to turn away from a future offense."
The paper quote took the middle and made it appear that I thought this guy
was not worthy of voting rights: "I doubt this offender will vote. I would not
be surprised if he re-offended." Argh.
The other, by the same Lincoln paper, took my whole quote. We have a Class I
schools bill which is picking up a lot of heat. It would force
elementary-only schools to join with a K-12 district. The residents then would be able to
run for and vote for the K-12 board, but of course their school would be
operated by that board and, if it is small or considered not necessary, could be
closed by that board.
I said I reluctantly supported the bill, but was firm in that support.
(Translation: don't start lobbying me.) I am reluctant because of the warm
cultural values that have been expressed in the open country schools, where I
attended, and the good education most of them provided. I am firm because it is time
to move on and to let all residents be full participants in the district that
educates their children, from Kindergarten through Grade 12."
That became the first paragraphs lead-in for the article, summarizing how the
body feels and how the vote will probably come out. Fair enough. It is a
painful debate, hard to summarize, that is going for hours and days.
We have a mess. The papers do not quote all of it, because someone could be
sued. Six districts have no students. One of them has a $100,000 budget,
paying salaries to board members to keep the money (and budget) flowing. Many
were formed in an area where they could reduce property taxes by keeping out
families with children. Also, we clearly have those who are providing excellent
education.
The worst: one fair-sized town quickly became mostly Hispanic. So the
parents in town transfer their kids to one of several Class I schools in the
country. Those schools pay more per student than the town school, which has by far
the greatest need with second language students well over half of the
population. That is clearly segregation and is illegal. Our system enables it! Our
bill will not force any to close, or control how they distribute their
students. But it will force them to be in one unit and to come up with a plan.
My Mother would be 100 years old this Sunday. So let's hear it for a very
gritty Dane! Mother was crippled in a field accident, as a child, which caused
chronic osteo and led to several surgeries at the med center. The worst was
when my sister and I were small, in a bitter cold winter, with her by herself
in a frightening situation where some surgeons felt they did not need to inform
the patient about the surgery that would take place the next morning.
Imagine.
To get through the surgery, they gave her a direct transfusion from a person
with critical asthma. She lived, but when I was 16, we did not think she
could make it through the night because she could not breath. Panic feelings all
around. The Dr. said when she passed out from lack of oxygen she would relax
and the body could breath a bit. He was right.
Mother went at life with a focus and fury like I have never seen in another
rational person. She was determined that we would have a good education and
that we would think independently from those who sought to impinge our lives.
In old age, she was furious with the nurses who resurrected her from pulmonary
arrest (from asthma) in a Grand Island hospital, after she told them daily
they were not to do anything to keep her tired old body going.
Several of you who know me personally tease me about being stubborn. Well,
not as stubborn as my teacher.
I look at myself, my sister, our kids and our grandkids and see so much of
that gritty Dane there. I am most grateful for resolute gifts I cannot possibly
repay.
Count your blessings!
Lowen
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