Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1981)
page 2 daily nebraskan friday, february 20, 1981 Senators working to increase legislative salaries By Patti Gallagher The message was loud and clear: Let the citizens of Ne braska know state senators earn only $400 each month and let them know it's not enough. The message was repeated several times Thursday in the Legislature as the Constitutional Revision and Recrea tion Committee heard testimony on two bills to increase legislative salaries. According to Sen. Bernice Labedz of Omaha, taxpayers seem to be under the delusion that senators earn huge salaries. But they don't realize transportation costs to and from her Omaha home each day and the lack of an expense account cuts into her $4,800 annual salary, she said. Labedz, chairperson of the constitutional committee, presented LB519. This bill would allow state senators to set their own salaries by law. The current monthly salary of $400 has been written into the Nebraska Constitution since 1922, according to Sen. Vard Johnson. Both Labedz's bill and Johnson's LB 138, also heard on Thursday, if passed, would require voter approval to change the constitution. LB 138 proposes state senators earn an annual wage not to exceed one-third of the governor's salary at that time. Johnson said if the bill were law today, legislators could earn up to $ 1 3333 a year one-third of Gov. Charles Thone's annual $40,000 salary. Among Johnson's arguments for the salary increase was a comparison with other state's legislative salaries. "We Nebraska legislators are the second worst-off nationally in terms of pay and benefits," he said. "And you and I know the kind of work we have to do." Johnson said four states (Idaho, Maine, New Hamp shire and South Dakota) have lower salaries than Nebras ka. But when comparing in-session days and expense reim bursement, only New Hampshire ranks lower, the Omaha senator said. Johnson said he pegged the governor's salary as a base for comparison to give voters someone who is identifiable and who works all year. He emphasized the Legislature would not abuse the power of LB 138 by raising the governor's salary in order to increase legislative salaries. To persuade people that senators would not go "hog wild" in attempting to increase their own salaries, John son presented past governors' salaries. The governor salary was $18,000 between 1955 and 1972, and was $25,000 Social Security . . . Continued from Page 1 "Will students have to work more if funds are cut?" she asked. "I'm just questioning if that's fair." Scholarships won't work, she said, because they are be coming more scarce and don't take cost-of-living increases from 1972 to 1976 when it was increased to the present $40,000, he said. Johnson also said low legislative salaries prohibit some qualified persons from seeking a position. "I think we're cheating ourselves out of true represen tation " he said. "The persons who arc running for the Legislature are, by and large, relatively self sustaining" and usually earn upper-middle class incomes, he said. State senators have not had a salary increase since 1968, Johnson said, but the cost of living has increased 285 percent since then. During the 1970s, the Legislature put several constitutional amendments on the ballot to increase salaries. All were defeated. Speaking in favor of the bills were Martha Fricke, representing the Nebraska State School Board Associa tion; Herb Schimek. a lobbyist with the Nebraska State hducation Association, and lul Jaksha of Omaha. Although all supported the bills, Jaksha expressed con cern about voter reaction to them. lie said past public reaction has shown that "future attempts will fail unless this body can prove they repre sent the taxpaying public not political subdivisions." and EJCTiSLen We make your hair look, feel and manage just the way you want your hair to look, feel and manage. El Toro II is also at I3th and "P". Professional Barber Stylists Douglas III Bldg.f 13th & "P" 477-9555 or 477-5221 for appt. Park & Shop - Bank Cards too. Yocif oar rnr Family Hair Center WIN A VACATION FOR TWO Tucson, Arizona Keep Listening for More Details! KJ Immigration Lawyer Stanley A. Krieger 478 Aquila Court Bldg. 16th & Howard Streets Omaha, Nebraska 68102 (402) 346-2266 Member, Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers into consideration. "It might result in a lot of kids having to drop out of school if funds are cut," Mary, a UNL psychology major, said. The students said if Reagan does proceed with the Social Security cuts, he should allow those already receiv ing money from the program to finish school before tak ing away their aid. "The cuts should affect only freshmen," Renee said. "The juniors and seniors have depended on this money." Elizabeth Gildea of the local Social Security office said she thinks Reagan will allow those now in school to con tinue being funded until they finish college. "I would not say definitely," she said, "but a majority of programs phase in and out like that." Gildea said the proposed cuts were "not something that's brand new." The problem is one of money distribution, she said. "We're paying out the same amount of money as be fore," she said. Don Aripoli, UNL financial aid director, said he has had many students express cone rns about decreased stu dent aid. Aripoli said he supports the notion of students writing letters to protest Social Security benefit cuts. "While I can't lobby," he said, "I think it's a good idea for students to get organized." Rence said the best way for students to express their concerns is to write "just a regular, hand-written letter that says. 'Hey, this is going to affect me and I care about it.'" "I don't think anybody knows what's going to happen." Aripoli said. "We're all confused." The Godfather Invites you to behold The First Annual Conquer A Combo Pizza Eating Contest V Where: All three ( .odt.ithei s l.oi .it urns When: Preliminaries: l ues IVIi 24. Hpm: I I. I cons Downtown 12 ft Qu' Weds Vb 2r. Hpm; W esli .in Trams North 4H ft Vine Thins IVh 2f. Hpm. KI.MS. M MA'-TV KFMQ. ft ourn.d St.it South 4H ft ilu 2 Championship: Sat. Fell 2H 2pm; Downtown 12 ft Qui' Witness these gangs, with piranha like ,ipp t it. s battle it out .tt our joints SriO per pizza (leumrccl during 'he i hampionship round on Saturday will he donated to the I. mi oln Children s Zoo b the Codfather at the ompletion of the contest. "Meet the Godfather" Che k rridavs ad in the ournal Star for times and lot ations DOIT! , CioSlffatlier's PissaiM JIEL (Check our specials during Codfathrrs Week F vh 23-28. Mnn.-Sat.) II