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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 1996)
nator in 24 years -—-toSSSST ov. Kim Robak addresses a crowd of Democratic supporters after Nelson was u Tm going to be on the right side of the gun tomorrow.” . Gov. Ben Nelson Even though the claims that Nelson raised property taxes were false, Wesely said, Nebraskans should have recognized that property tax wasn’t even relative in a senatorial campaign. During Nelson’s one-hour com mute from Lincoln to Omaha, the race was decided. Before making his concession speech, Nelson phoned Hagel to con gratulate him and wish him hick. After the speech, during an Omaha rally at the Holiday Inn on 72nd and Grover streets, reporters asked Nelson what campaign trail he would take next Nelson said he hadn’t decided any thing yet but noted that Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey could leave an empty seat in 2000 by retiring or running for president As for die near future, Nelson said he would be busy catching up on gu bernatorial business, but only after a few hours of recreation. With dark circles undo: his eyes, die governor said he would spend this morning hunting pheasants. “Fm going to be on the right side of the gun tomorrow.’’ 1 412 sent i f by voters By Erin Gibson Staff Reporter Nebraska voters overwhelm ingly rejected ballot initiatives 411 and 412 Tuesday, proposed amend ments to the state constitution. Voters handed the proposed amendments a “resounding defeat” said Phillip Young, campaign man ager for die Coalition to Prevent m Increases, which opposed the initiatives. “.“Nebraskans made a well-in formed decision,” Young said. Young said the initiatives would have issued a $539 million shock to Nebraska’s current system of taxation. Legislative Bill 1114, which is set to provide property tax relief next year, is a better alterna tive, he said, because it does not mandate spending. Randy Moody, campaign man ager of Citizens for 411 and 412, said Nebraskans , were confused about the initiatives — and that spelled defeat. The initiatives would have meant radical changes for how Ne braska funds public schools, Moody said. “This is a major change, and people just weren’t ready for the change,” he said. Initiative 411 would have made providing a quality education to Ne braska youth the “paramount duty of the state.” Initiative 412 would have cut Nebraska’s property taxes in 1998. Moody said LB 1114 will still provide property tax relief next year, but could leave public schools at a $250 million loss for revenue previously raised by property taxes. School districts will have to show the Legislature ways they have worked to become efficient to receive replacement revenue. Citizens for 411 and 412 will now focus its attention on the Leg islature, he said, where group mem bers will lobby for die return of funding to school districts. “We certainly want to protect schools,” Moody said. “We’re committed to that.” John Clark, communications di rector of the Nebraska State Depart ment of Education, said the depart ment opposed the initiatives be cause of the permanence of a con stitutional amendment. “The last time an amendment was rescinded was the prohibition,” Clark said. I Two amendments pass in state By Erin Gibson Staff Reporter Voters defeated all but two pro posed amendments to the Nebraska constitution Tuesday night. Only proposed amendment 2, which would provide for die con solidation of local and county gov ernments, and measure 409, which supports term limits, will be added to the state constitution. Amendment 1 By voting down proposed amendment 1, voters chose to re tain the current law that requires all gambling on horse races to be con ducted within licensed racetracks. Pat Loontjer, Gambling with die Good Life executive director, said die group was thrilled by the out come. “Nebraskans said ‘enough is enough,’” Loontjer said. “We have enough gambling. We don’t need it on every street comer.” Proponents said the amendment could have bolstered the popular ity of racetracks in South Sioux City, Grand Island, Columbus and Lincoln and could have saved the $250 million industry in Nebraska from a possible future collapse. Initiative 410 Because initiative 410 failed, the number of signatures on a peti tion required by law to get an ini tiative or referendum on the ballot will not change. ^ ' The initiative had proposed die number of signatures be changed to 10 percent of those voting in the race for governor during the preced ing general election. Proponents of the initiative had argued the number of signatures currently required makes it impos sible for volunteer petition drives to get a measure on die ballot with out hiring professionals to help. Amendment 3 Voters rejected this proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have allowed state sena tors to obtain the same health and life insurance and retirement ben efits offered to other state employ ees. These benefits are currentiy of fered to all state elected officials except senators. Initiative 409 Nebraskans overwhelmingly supported initiative 409, which amends the state constitution to in struct Nebraska’s congressional representatives to support the pas sage of term limits. Those term limits, include*. : %> t, — U:S. repnSsafoatives linntaf - to three 2-year terms. — U.S. senators limited to two 6-year terms. Under the amendment, if Nebraska’s representatives did not vote for term limits in the future, that would be noted on election bal lots in the following election. Amendment 2 Voters approved amendment 2, which authorizes the Legislature to pass legislation to consolidate cer tain local and county governments. Phillip Young, campaign direc tor for the Coalition to Prevent Tax Increases, said the amendment will help local and country governments become more efficient. Efficient government means lower taxes, Young said. “Nebraskans want government reduced,” he said. Legislative incumbents dominate vote OMAHA (AP)—Three incum bents in the nation's only one house, non-partisan Legislature were defeated T\iesday ami a fourth held on in a close battle for his seat Sens. Mike Avery of Gretna, Lee Klein of Battle Creek and Dan Fisher of Grand Island failed to win re-election. Sen. Bob Wickersham of Harrison closely defeated Cash Ostrander, a rancher and distant relative of author Mari Sandoz, for District 49 in the Panhandle. Business consultant Jon Bruning of Omaha defeated Avery 59 percent to 41 percent in District 3. In northeast Nebraska’s District 19, retired Norfolk businessman Gene Tyson defeated Klein 58 per cent to 42 percent. Klein had been appointed to fill theunexpired tom of Sen. Connie Day of Norfolk who resigned for health reasons. Grand Island businesswoman Chris Peterson defeated Fisher in District 35. Both are Republicans, share anti-abortion views, are pro business, live in die same neighbor hood and attend die same church. In west-central Nebraska’s Dis trict 42, Don Pederson won the seat to which he had been appointed. Pfederson defeated Dale Maigritz 53 percent to 47 percent. Gov. Ben Nelson had appointed Pederson in August when Sol David Bemard Stevens resigned. hi the Lincoln-area District 25, Sen. Jerome Warner of Waverly easily won his 10th tom with 75 percent of die vote in his race with Hal Stephens Dumas HI. Warner has served in the Legislature since 1962, longer than any other sena tor. Elections were held in 25 odd numbered districts and one even numbered district (District 42), where the resignation of the incum bent forced an election to fill a two year vacancy. • • •.
