T ff Daily X
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Friday, February 5, 1982
Vol. 109 No. 20
Lincoln, Nebraska
Copyright 1982 Daily Nebraskan
Testimony heard about lobbyist accountability
By Alice Hmicek
Another chapter was written Thursday in the six-year
battle over the Nebraska Political Accountability and Dis
closure Act voted into law in 1970 and amended in 1981.
Opponents of the so-called Sunshine l;iw testified in
favor of a bill that would eliminate most provisions of the
law and reinstate part of a 1943 accountability law.
LB6N9 would bring accountability law under the con
trol of the secretary of stale, and disband the Nebraska
Political Accountability and Disclosure Commission, ap
pointed to regulate disclosures.
Sen. Peter Iloagland, who led a lobbyist's movement
for the 1976 act, said the law now provides that public of
ficials disclose a minimum amount of information each
year about their campaign finances and conflicts of inter
est. The law also says that lobbyists must register and fill
out reports.
The information is essential, he said, so that the public
can check on its officials, making them more careful in
their dealings.
Iloagland cautioned the Nebraska Legislature's Miscell
aneous Subjects Commit tee not to vote that the bill be
ASUN rejects moves
to increase members,
alter senate structure
By Betsy Miller
Another attempt to change the structure of the ASUN
Senate was rejected by the senate at its Wednesday night
meeting.
Organic Act 20? which, would enlarge the size of the
senate from at least 35 to 40 members and make it man
datory that at least 15 percent of the senators be non
traditional and nonwhite members, was voted down by a
15-10-1 vote. To pass, two-thirds of the senators present
would have had to vote in favor of the proposal.
This proposal came right after the senate defeated
Organic Act 19, which called for election of senators
from living units rather than by college. This act failed
by a vote of 13-12-1 .
However, the issue could still be on students' election
ballots March 3 if 858 signatures are received on a petition
drive now under way.
Sen. Dave Mumbaard, one of the petition drive spon
sors, said he is confident they will have the necessary
number of signatures.
Mumgaard along with Sen. Fran Grabowski introduced
the two acts to the senate.
Mumgaard and Grabowski are running for senate pres
ident and vice president of the Working Coalition Party.
Their involvement with the acts have prompted some sen
ators to label their action as political moves.
"I don't think this is the appropriate time to discuss
these things. It's not fair or proper for the senate to be
passing them or giving them an appearance of approval,"
Sen. Kathy Roth said.
Sen. Brian Stonecipher, who indicated he will run
for ASUN president, said the proposal would hurt his
constituents, students in the engineering college. He said
if senators were elected from living units, concerns of
engineering students might be overlooked.
Stonecipher said he thought Mumgaard and Grabowski
were using the proposals to get more publicity for their
campaign.
"Mumgaard and Grabowski are getting all the press
time and using it to their advantage," Stonecipher said.
Grabowski said the important thing about the acts
was that they made an attempt to change the system,
which he said is not perfect.
"I don't care if it is a political move, at least we're
moving," he said.
Grabowski defended the living-unit election of sen
ators. He said over half of the senators in ASUN are mem
bers of fraternities and sororities, but if living units got
proportional representation, only 18 percent of the sen
ate would be fraternally affiliated.
"The interests of the Senate are academic in nature,"
Roth said. She said she favors the current represent
ation that selects senators from colleges.
Sen. Becky Stingley said the acts have some merit
and, if some time is taken to smooth out proposals, she
would not mind seeing them on the ballot. However,
they are not ready for a vote this year, she said.
"I would commend them if they get signatures (on
the petition). I think that's the way they should have
done it all along ," Stingley said.
considered by the Legislature because he is "terrified of
this taking up a day or two days."
Long debate possible
List year's amendment to the law, LB134, prompted
6! hours of debate and a barrage of other attempted
amendments.
"If this gets out on the floor of the legislature and gets
decorated like that Christmas tree last year. LB 1 34, then
it could be a disaster," Iloagland said.
However, Lawrence Liekhoff, a member of Save Your
Home Committee in Falls City, said the law invades pri
vate business affairs of lobbyists.
People are discouraged from lobbying because of forms
they must submit to the Political Accountability and Dis
closure Commission, he said.
"I feel the commission should be abolished," Liekhoff
said. "The funds provided for the commission are not
enough return for what we get."
But Thomas Burke, executive director of the commis
sion, said that lobbyists should be controlled by an "inde
pendent agency" rather than the Legislature.
Too much persuasion
"A lobbyist's sole reason for existing is to influence
legislation," Burke said. The "special relationship" be
tween lobbyists and senators could mean that senators
would be persuaded in favor of lobbyists in regulatory
matter, he said.
Burke said he saw no reason to exempt certain local of
ficials from financial disclosure, as recommended in
LB689.
The bill would exempt county appointed and elected
officials, he said.
The commission is charged with enforcing compliance
and reviewing reported disclosures, duties no other agency
has been given, he said.
"LB689 is not consistent with what Nebraskans are en
titled to," Burke said.
Walter Radcliffc, an attorney for some 40 lobbyists,
said he agreed that regulation should be outside the Legis
lature. lie suggested that lobbyists should be allowed to make
campaign contributions and that there should be a better
definition of who must register as a lobbyist. Radcliffc
said he favors increasing the $25 semi-annual filing fee for
lobbyists and increasing penalty violations for not submit
ting reports.
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Photo by Dave Bentz
The worst winter in years hasn't destroyed the beauty of the Bronze Torso sculpture in the sculpture garden by the
Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery.
Student views wanted about insurance
By Vicki Ruhga
Alternatives for a different UNL student insurance
policy were discussed at Wednesday's University Health
Center Advisory Board meeting. According to health
center business manager Gary Wilkinson, this is the first
time students have had an opportunity to participate
in developing the plan.
Board president Roy Miller said the current student
insurance policy with Mutual of Omaha is "basically
a piece of junk."
"You have to get hurt substantially before it does
you any good," said Miller. "The policy does not offer
any options for students, either."
According to the 1981 UNL student handbook, stu
dents are "strongly encouraged to have health insurance.
A UNL student group hospital and accident insurance
policy is available" if students are not covered already
by their parents' or one of their own. The UNL student
policy covers only accidents, hospitalizations and sur
geon's fees, not costs of illnesses, according to the hand
book. Wilkinson said the student policies operate on a yearly
basis. Single student coverage from Aug. 15, 1981, to
Aug. 16, 1982, costs S83. Policies also are offered for stu
dents with spouses and children.
The current policy allows the insurance company to
define emergency situations, rather than allowing a
physician to determine the patient's status, Miller said.
Students with fewer than four credit hours are not elig
ible to buy it either.
Other problems with the plan are its lack of definition
for dental treatment, allergy shots and preventative med
ication, Miller said. The areas of sports injuries, elective
surgery and minor surgery also are not covered, he said.
"It's not equipped to handle smaller, everyday ill
nesses," Miller said. "Only 9 percent of UNL students
have purchased a policy, compared with a national aver
age in similar schools of 30 percent for policies which
sometimes cost twice as much."
"Either our poeple don't know about it, or it's not
worth the money; it's probably the latter," Miller said.
"I don't think most people would mind paying more
for better coverage."
Board member Mike Grier said students' views would
be used to help determine the additions and changes for
next year's policy. Bids will then be sent to various in
surance companies to determine the lowest price.
Miller encouraged all students with suggestions for
policy changes to attend a brainstorming session Wed
nesday at 3 p m. in the health center conference room.
