Krusin' the Capitol
By Nebraska State Senator Lowen Kruse
2005
Week 19
May 13, 2005
Hi
Phrase of the week: short winded. As in, "I will be short winded." May the
speaker's tribe increase.
We had interesting research distributed on the floor this week, presenting
the trends in the components of our total state budget.
Tax Incentives, the subject of the week: 3% of budget in 1990, 7% in 1996
and 4% in 2004. One hears a lot about a $140 million average paid on tax
incentives. That is the high amount, from four years ago. This past year it was
$100 million. Breaking it down, we spent $100 for each tax payer, which is not
too heavy when one is thinking about future economic development. Will be
$150 this next year, which is getting a bit heavy.
Other figures: Medicaid was 8% in 1990, is now 15%. That is pushing some
other things out. Higher Education, university, colleges and community
colleges, took 25% of the budget in 1990, now get 19%. State Aid to local schools has
grown from 20% to 31% in this same time, so it is another budget-buster.
Tax incentives were the subject every day. We went until 10 o'clock one
night on it. We have added a number of incentives for rural communities, have
public disclosure required on every project that is benefited, and have raised
the lower salary limit to qualify. We will pay the present 5% rebate on certain
taxes for salaries above $32,000, down to 3% for salaries above $19,000.
Pretty modest change, but at least it is better than the old plan, which was 5%
on $11,000.
If we did not give tax breaks we would have the highest tax rate for
businesses in the Midwest.
During the dull moments of debate I have been pondering the meanings of a
slippery word: freedom. It is used often, with stained-glass voices and flags
flying from both ears. However, I am not sure how many truly love it. The
word is used more as a club.
Those who say they want freedom for Iraq usually do not want it for
dissenters in our own country. Many Christians want it, but not for Moslems. A few
are adamant that the freedom of a fetus trumps the freedom of an adult. The
freedom to smoke trumps the freedom to breathe clean air. The freedom to breathe
clean air trumps a business decision not to provide clean air. The freedom
to drill an irrigation well trumps the freedom to take water out of the stream.
Freedom to pray in schools is more important than freedom not to pray in
schools. Freedom to carry a concealed weapon is more important than freedom to
walk down a street without worrying about how many "good" citizens are carrying
guns. Freedom to have air through the hair on a motorcycle competes with the
public's freedom not to pay for lifelong injuries. Freedom not to wear a
seat belt competes with our freedom to have emergency health care.
There are hierarchies of freedom on which we would be well advised to
reflect. For openers, basic personal freedom trumps life itself. "Give me liberty
or give me death." We send troops into Iraq, telling them they may give up
life but freedom is worth that. Alongside of such realities, it is disheartening
to hear shallow shouting for a personal advantage.
The non-news of the week: a court has ruled Nebraska's anti-gay marriage
amendment unconstitutional. Well, Duh. It was written to be unconstitutional.
It was a copy of a law already declared by the Supreme Court to be
unconstitutional. It was a sham managed by a few unprincipled profiteers.
I understand when people speak out against "gay marriage." It is a free
country. See above. But I grind my teeth about those who use persons with these
convictions to build a self-serving base and collect more money. In this case
they planned for two campaigns. I remember quotes from these slimey types,
who, when asked why they did not go for reasonable wording, said "our people"
will be just as upset again when it is declared outside the law and will then
build up antagonism toward judges for "overriding the will of the people."
Do remember that "gay marriage" was illegal in Nebraska before the amendment.
This was just to stir fears. The first sentence defines marriage as between
a man and a woman. No public problem there. I agree and most courts agree.
I put "gay marriage" in quotes because I feel it is confusing language.
Words have meaning. We know what marriage is, so will have to come up with
another word for a same-sex contract. I recognize there is room for discussion
there. Great!
The second sentence declares, among other things, that domestic partnerships
are not valid under law. Let's see. That would invalidate the contract a
father and son draw up on how they are going to manage their farm. Or prohibit a
mother and daughter from a shared agreement on their Living Wills and how
they want to be cared for in illness. Or block a gay couple with joint home
ownership from going to court to protect their property. The judge said it would
place restrictions on roommates, tenants, foster care parents and shared
living arrangements (as a woman caring for her Aunt).
Our legislature tried to pass a statute that would enable two persons of the
same sex to contract with each other to make hospital decisions if one were
incapacitated. Our Attorney General said the gay amendment prohibited even
discussing the proposal in the legislature. (That is the same Attorney General
who says we must object to the court's ruling. Help!)
The judge said this amendment amounts to a punishment of a class of citizens.
"It goes so far beyond defining marriage that the court can only conclude
that the intent and purpose of the amendment is based on animus (feeling of
animosity) against this class."
Well, I have some animus against those self-appointed organizers who are
using good people to stir up false fears, get signatures, collect funds and
promote the idea that the world is about to come to an end. Send more money!
Send prayers and good will,
Lowen
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