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Krusin' the Capitol

By Nebraska State Senator Lowen Kruse

2005
Week 9
March 4, 2005

Hi

New term. We have provision in statute for a "fence viewing board," to be administered by the County Clerk. It is just as it reads and is funded by counties when there is a dispute on keeping up a fence. A viewing board is formed, to follow a protocol which is not written down anywhere (CAN there be such an idea?) and which is known only in old farmers' mythology. The board finds the middle of the fence, then imagines the two owners facing each other at that point, across the fence. The fence to the right of each is that owner's responsibility. The hastily appointed board hears from each owner and writes a report which goes to the district court.

The organizing job is assigned to the County Clerk, one of whom last week described the process, the endless wrangling, and the frustrations of board members who really do not want to be there. "Senators, this is not a fun thing. We are not professional mediators."

My granddaughter, Lauren, is nearly two. She sent me artwork for my birthday. You will be surprised to know that I find it exceptional. Done with felt tips of many colors, on 11 X 13, suitable for framing. It depicts a colorful shopping center, surrounded by residential lights, with a highway crossing in front and a lovely small pond in the foreground.

Turn it upside down (such talent!) and you see, clearly, a wagon train at evening break, surrounded by campfires, with the horizon and Chimney Rock in the distance. All impressionistic, naturally, and I doubt she can even say that word. Not for sale. Yet.

The felony voting rights bill passed this week, 35 to 7. With seven not present. Amazing. If the governor is foolish enough to veto it we have the votes to override.

Had a long final debate. I do respect others' thoughts, but sometimes I do wonder. We received messages that this was a Trojan horse, to sneak more Democrats onto voting lists. Do Democrats have a corner on felons? What about the white collar Republican felons? Mere noise, as one can see by the fact that at least 24 Republicans voted for it.

The other larger argument was that this would be offensive to victims, who want their offenders to suffer more than the court orders. Well, we are a victim family and I can guarantee you that we would send up a small cheer if our offender decided to vote.

My "elevator survey" this week was to ask if spring came in like a lamb. Not one would say "Yes," even on a 50 degree day. Cautious midwesterns. As some may remember, during my first four years I climbed 1,000 steps a day, taking an elevator down to keep the trips going up as continuous as possible. I now do it half the time, alternating with aerobic. For fun, I figured out how high I have climbed. In the first four years, 33 miles. So I should make 50 miles in the eight years, which is a nice round goal. My knees (plus laziness?) will not let me jog, and I do enjoy this bit of puffing.

We have a resolution to amend the constitution to "guarantee forever" the right to hunt, fish and trap. I have not found one person who can imagine a legislature passing a bill to serious impede these activities. There are groups like PETA, but they have little traction. Most of us will vote for it, just to move on. The public will be charmed.

Senator Chambers is offended anytime we trifle with the constitution and he is correct in that. He will not vote for it, and has filed over 30 amendments to stop it. Since there is nothing of substance to amend, Chambers uses his ample imagination to have some fun. Here are a few of the amendments. To keep it simple, the first word in each case is in the resolution and the rest is his proposed amendment.

trapping trappers.
hunting for a way to defend and protect the Constitution of Nebraska from frivolous amendments that would clutter, demean and trivialize it.
hunting for the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's airplane.
hunting, running, jumping and sweating
hunting, creating, recreating, conversating and procreating
trapping moonbeams and daydreams
hunting an end to religious strife and intolerance
hunting for Noah's Ark
hunting for the link between Noah's Ark, Joan of Arc and Archimedes
fishing for the secret, if there be a secret, behind the enigmatic smirk of the Mona Lisa
hunting for weapons of modest destruction
hunting and supporting Big Red Football
fishing for compliments
hunting for and trapping liberal Nebraska Republicans
hunting for world peace
hunting, laughing, crying, sneezing...farming...scrounging, dancing (53 in all)
hunting and sitting on the front porch on a warm summer evening, drinking a glass of cold lemonade, dreamily watching the silvery moon rise to begin its journey across a darkening velvet sky powdered with stardust.

Hey! Do that, before it is prohibited.

Lowen

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