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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1982)
t y fi Daily n Monday, October 18, 1982 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vol. 82, No. 42 U.S. Senate candidates debate at Grand Island ByPatHiggins GRAND ISLAND - President Reagan's economic policies sparked debate Friday between the three candidates for a Ne braska U.S. Senate seat at The Associated Press Convention here. Sen. Edward Zorinsky and Republican challenger Jim Keck agreed that Reagan's economic program deserves support, but they argued about who would be more effective in that support. Independent candidate Virginia Walsh said that she would try to oppose Reaganomics if elected. Zorinsky and Keck agreed on most issues facing the country, but Keck said that a Republican should hold the office. Walsh disagreed with the two major party candidates on almost every issue. Concerning his support for Reagan, Zorinsky said that the president's economic program would not have passed the Senate without his support. However, Keck said that the president will be endors ing him in an upcoming 'commercial. "President Reagan said that Jim Keck can help make this country great again," Keck said. "The main issue in this election is one of reaffirming the mandate of 1980. like it or not, this election will determine if ,we continue in the same direction or reverse course." Democrats the minority Keck said that Zorinsky is ineffective because the Democrats are the minority party in the Senate. A Republican would do more for Nebraska, he said. Zorinsky said that there are too many Republican and Democratic senators but not enough U.S. senators. Both parties are moving toward the center, Zorinsky said. But because of his independence, Zorinsky said that he is able to support the president when he is right on the issues. "I don't think that either party has a monopoly on idiots," Zorinsky said. "I supported President Carter when he made the right decisions, and I do the same with President Reagan." Walsh said that she entered the race ;,' f ) :': i ' f ' rterr; , t ' ') I , iff ( Vt, - . TV ' w. J y : .: TSentz taf fiioto iiv Dave Incumbent Sen. Edward Zorinsky, left, Republican Jim Keck and independent candidate Virginia Walsh await questions at a niuay lugui. ucuaic ui vinuiu isianu sponsored oy ine Associated rress. because the cost of Reagan's economic Security system may have to changed in the future, he said. policies has been too high. It is wrong to cut back on social programs while the Pentagon is given "a blank check. . . A supporter of the nuclear freeze pro posals, Walsh also is concerned about social justice for women, minorities and the handicapped, she said. "It is quite evident that the other candi dates agree on policies," Walsh said. "I m the alternative to Reaganomics." Social Security favored All the candidates -said they favor SocM:rSectyt.enefittpo the elderly Zorinsky said that the Social Security program has to be put on a sound actuarial basis. A bill sponsored by Zorinksy would eliminate waste in the program, he said. "If we ever break our commitment to (the) elderly, our country will cease being different from every other one," Zorinsky said. "Social Security benefits to the elderly will be cut over my dead political body." Keck said that all government programs should be cut back, except for Social Se curity and defense. Payments for the elderly should continue, but the Social Walsh said that if the Social Security system is falling short of funds, more should be transferred to it from general revenue. Money for Social Security could be made available by cuts in the defense budget, she said. Zorinsky and Keck strongly supported right-to-work laws. However, Walsh did not. "I have a strong commitment to organized labor. I have a vivid memory of time as bumper crops. Foreign exports should not be relied on because of high transportation costs, she said. On social issues, a variety of stances were taken by the candidates. Zorinksy said he favors a constitutional amendment for prayer in school, opposes abortion and supports tuition tax credits for private schools. Endorsed by the Ne braskans for Right to Life, Zorinksy was co-sponsor of a bill that would ban abor tions. Private schools need support because their financial collapse would endanger the public school systems, he said. Keck said , he also is against abortion whatlife was like before Many union were and thai ft bsi$S 6ptsiye.r organized- wprooienr is mat woneing amendment people don't have as much power as cor porations, Walsh said. Plan needed Keck said that an aggressive commodity export plan is needed. He also said that more effective work in the Senate would make a difference. "I find it interesting that agriculture problems have increased since Ed Zorinsky took office," Keck said. Walsh said that it was "ludicrous" to have low commodity prices at the same flnrf tiiitfnn tax credit: Pravpf in school should be permitted but not required, he said. "I'm a religious man, and I think that there are ample opportunities to pray," Keck said. Walsh said that she is a pro-choice supporter, and is opposed to the prayer in school amendment and tax credits for private schools. Walsh's seven children attended parachial schools. "The term (voluntary) is always used with the school prayer amendment, but I can't picture t really being voluntary," Walsh said. "This is a pluralistic society with no consensus on any one religion." Gub epiatorial ca ates souare off on issues By Pat Higgins GRAND ISLAND - Gov. Charles Thone is calling the Legislature into a special session Nov. 5, three days after the election, to discuss the estimated $30 million shortfall in revenues. At a debate with Democratic challenger Bob Kerrey, Thone said an across-the-board cut in the operating expenses of state agencies should be made. In 1981,-a 3 percent across-the-board cut was made that affected the v budgets of all agencies except the correctional system. "Of course, it's not popular to be calling a special session," Thone said, "but the budget has to be cut. It would be a political zoo if the special session would be called in before the election." Kerrey opposes an across-the-board cut. Education and transportation budgets and state revenue sharing with local governments should not be cut, but cuts in government operating expenses like office equipment, data processing and postage costs should be made, Ker rey said. "Spending cuts should begin at home," he said. "The r - , f' , j x Royalty crowned The UNL 1982 Home coming king and queen were crowned during halftime of the Nebraska-Kansas State game Saturday. Brenda Hey den, a junior agricultural economics major, and Chip Winter, a junior integrated studies major, were chosen as Home coming royalty. The king and queen were chosen by a student vote Wed nesdays Runners-up were juniors Sandra Bushey, a speech pathology ma jor, and Joel Long, a bus iness adminstration Staff Photo by Criifl Andrtstfl major. expense of running the Governor's Mansion has gone from $25,000 in 1978 to $67,000 in 1982." Kerrey said he has asked a committee of SO promi nent Nebraskans, headed by Lincoln tax attorney Bill Wright, to look, at Nebraska's financial situation -and provide long-range information on funding and revenues and some analysis of New Federalism . "I've scrutinized the record of the chief executive officer of the state and he hasn't stepped forward to make any long-range plans," he said. Thone said he would not raise taxes and that the hall mark of his administration has been economy and ef ficiency. Nebraska's mix of sales and income tax is a fair one and with "heads-up leadership," the Legislature will respond to the revenue shortfall, he said. "My tax council is the Unicameral," Thone said. Kerrey is unrealistic in his proposed budget cuts. Because state aid is 55 percent of the budget and aid to education is more than 20 percent, Kerrey's proposed cuts would come out of too small of a base in the bud get, Thone said. "I faced the financial crunch last year," Thone said, "I find it interesting that Bob Kerrey didn't support budget cutting just eight days ago." President Reagan's New Federalism program must be analyzed, Kerrey said. Because Nebraska piggybacks its tax rate to the federal tax rate, the next federal tax cut on July 1 will also decrease state revenues, he said. "I'm not blaming Mr. Thone for the state of the national economy, but we need to be making long-range ' plans. We're only planning three months ahead now " he said. "I can't stand here and say that I'm a thousand per cent behind the president's policies," Kerrey said. "1 will say that I created 600 jobs in the last few years," he said, referring to his Grandmother's Skillet and Lounge restaurants. "Mr. Thone took credit for it, but I was the one who did it." Continued on Page 3