thursday, january 29, 1981
lincoln, nebraska vol. 106, no. 14
n
2
U
Chambers rallies support for higher speed limit
By Palti Gallagher
State Sen. Lrnie Chambers. President Ronald Reagan
and Gov. Charles Thone are not three names often con
nected. But when the subject is increasing interstate
highway speed limits, the thicc sit on the same side of the
fence.
In testimony Wednesday on LB 1 43 Chambers' bill to
raise the interstate speed limit to ()5 mph the Omaha
senator said the change in the federal administration,
along with support of Nebraska's governor, will aid pass
age of his bill.
In the last legislative session. Chambers' attempt to
raise the limit failed by two votes. What caused the most
objection was fear that federal funds would be eliminated by
violating the federally mandated 55 mph speed limit.
But Chambers told the Public Works Committee
Reagan has publicly spoken in favor of allowing states to
set their own limits and funds, therefore, would not be
threatened.
Additionally, he said, the new secretary of transporta
tion. Drew Lewis, supported moving the decision to the
state level during his swearing-in speech.
Support for the change also exists in the U.S. Congress,
Chambers said. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa, (D-Calif.), is sponsor
ing a bill to abolish the federal 55 mph limit and allow the
states to set their own speed limits, he said.
Thone also has indicated support for LB143, he added.
Only two persons testified during the 45-minute hear
ing. A student from Norfolk supported the bill and an
insurance representative spoke against it.
Fuel savings possible
Chambers also argued that an increase in the speed
limit would be safer and more fuel-efficient. Interstates
are designed for high speed, he said. The 55 mph limit
often discourages their use when alternate routes are
available, he added.
When more cars begin using the interstates. Chambers
said, fuel savings will follow. Travel on regular highways
causes the need for acceleration and deceleration, both of
which waste fuel, he said.
Additionally, Chambers argued that fatality rates
are often misused in support of the lower limits. The
figures, he said, include pedestrian deaths and those on
city streets and other highways, and therefore cannot be
used as support for lower interstate limits.
Sen. Martin Kahle of Kearney said up to $90 million in
federal highway funds could be lost if Nebraska violates
the federal limit. But Chambers said, in addition to
Reagan's support, at least three other states New Mexico,
Wyoming and Colorado -arc planning to raise speed limits.
Chambers said he would reject a committee amend
ment offered by Sen. Peter Iloagland of Omaha that
would delay the change until the other states adopted it.
The delay. Iloagland said, would test federal reaction in
those states.
"To subvert the bill until other states initiated the
speed limit change would be improper delegation of
authority." according to Chambers.
Lower Omaha speeds
Chambers also said he would reject a Iloagland amend
ment to exempt the downtown Omaha interstate system
from a speed limit change.
Chambers said because the bill does not include an
emergency clause, it would not take effect until three
months after the end of the legislative session. Other
states may have set new limits by then, he argued, and if
federal funds were cut off to those states, Nebraska could
rescind passage of LB143.
lS
Out on a limb
Photo by Mark Biliingsley
Robert McEwen finds himself out on a limb, cutting the dead branches of trees for the UNL grounds crew.
McEwen is a UNL English teacher on leave for this semester. Various sources credit him with several jobs,
one of which is climbing trees for fun and profit.
Speaking against Chambers' bill was Roger Kctelscn, an
employee of Independent Insurance of Nebraska. He said
his major objection to increasing the limit is the severity
of accidents at higher speeds, which leads to increased
insurance rates.
In addition to increasing the cost of insurance. Kctel
scn said the cost to society the costs that cannot be
measured include a loss of productivity.
If a skilled machinist were badly injured, Ketelsen said,
the costs include a loss of production, need Mr additional
raw materials for that production, removing a parent from
a family and possibily changing the person from a produc
tive to a dependent member of society .
Fowler has advice
for UNL lobbyists
By Sue Jepsen
The most common mistake students make in lobbying
is to get impatient and angry with a senator, according to
Lincoln Sen. Steve Fowler.
At a recent strategy meeting with Government Liaison
Committee members. Fowler cautioned against threaten
ing or arguing with a senator.
Not being organized is another fault in student lobby
ing, he added, especially when several student groups
lobby at the same time. The senators get the groups con
fused, he explained.
Fowler said the two most critical times concerning the
fate of the proposed NU budget will be the Legislature's
Appropriations Committee vote on it and after a possible
uovernor's veto.
"When the budget is on the floor it is not cut. or at
least not significantly," he said.
Because students are not a traditional "political force,"
Fowler said, tactics like filling the Legislature's balcony
aren't effective unless senators know beforehand that
students are going to do it.
He also cautioned against over-building expectations of
crowd size at such rallies.
"Always underestimate it (turnout) by half and call it
an immediate success." he said.
GLC members asked Fowler how effective each of
their planned lobbying activities was, from his viewpoint
as a senator.
Campus tours complete with brown bag lunches for the
senators were called very important by Fowler.
"You've got to trade on things that are uniquely "stu
dent." he said.
He also suggested that students do role-playing to pre
pare to meet senators and to have three or four good argu
ments to back up each of their budget demands.
"Know what you are going to ask the senator to do
and why you want that," he said.
Fowler also urged the GLC lobbyists to play to the
senators through their backgrounds, to find someone the
senator can identify with, or play to what he is most
interested in.
Fowler gave GLC background information on the
members of the Appropriations Committee and guessed
which of GLC's budget priorities each senator would
be most receptive to.
New appropriations members Vard Johnson. Larry
Stoney and returning member, Myron Rumery should
be key members in GLC's lobbying effort. Fowler said.
ASUN makes formal campaign restriction policy
By Boh Glissmann
An act which prevents ASUN candidates
from using ASUN resources, facilities and
offices for campaign purposes passed by
voice vote at the ASUN meeting Wednes
day night.
Organic Act Number 5 prohibits candi
dates use of the ASUN. Government Lia
son Committee and Legal Services offices,
as well as the Credit Union. ASUN Presi
dent Renee Wessels said the restricion had
been in effect in the past, but it was infor
mally acknowledged. This act put it into
policy form, she said, so that no politic
al party would receive ASUN support.
In other action. GLC chairperson Nette
Nelson reported lobbving efforts in the
N braska Legislature have begun. Nelson.
v' o is a registered lobbyist on behalf of
vN and GLC. said she has contacted
( tte senators and has organized a series of
'omul meetings which will be open to
.v interested students
"We're after interaction with the sen
ators," Nelson said. "We have an oppor
tunity to share with them a student per
spective." Nelson said the meetings include Tues
day morning breakfasts. Thursday after
noon "brown bag" lunches and meetings at
the capitol with senators. Nelson said in
terested students could also "adopt a sen
ator." preferably one who represents the
student's home constituency.
She said Sen. Vard Johnson of Omaha
will attend the first luncheon today at
12:30 p.m. in the Pewter Room of the Ne
braska Union. Subsequent meetings will in
clude each senator at least once, and inter
ested students are invited to attend and ex
press student concern. One of which. Nel
son said, involves Governor Thone 's pro
posed budget increase for the university.
Thone has recommended a 1 2 .8 percent
UNL budget increase, but Nelson and GLC
strongly support the 18 percent increase
requested by the university, she said. She
also said GLC supports legislative positions
which would increase UNL faculty salaries
so they would be comparable to that of
other land grant institutions.
"They are far below the average," Nel
son said. She said GLC also supports in
creases in UNL Affirmative Action fund
ing, capital construction improvements on
Bessey, Architecture and Former Law
halls, and increased state funding for
UNL's libraries.
While GLC understands the Governor's
policy of fiscal restraint and appreciates his
support of the university. Nelson said GLC
disagrees with his recommendation.
Nelson said students should contact her
or GLC committee members Drew Beltz or
Laura Lonowski for further information.
In other action. President Renee Wessels
said she is "pleased with the recommenda
tion" of $65,000 for the 1981-82 budget
by the Committee for Fees Allocation.
That figure includes a $20,000 allocation
for a State Student's Association and
S9.000 for a director of development for
ASUN, Wessels said.
A resolution, which states the ASUN
Book Exchange enjoyed unprecedented
success this semester and should receive
ASUN's full support in the future was
passed.
Gimme Shelter: The Lancaster County
Civil Defense Agency tells where to go in
the events of nuclear attack Page 6
Hans Solo-Mio: Opera veteran Hans Beer
visits LINL to help with product ion .Page 8
The Good Life: Nebraska's Jerry Shoecraft
says he plans to stay in Nebraska after
graduation Page 10