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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 1998)
New senators learn the way of Legislature By Todd Anderson Assignment Reporter Only one week into their terms, the two new senators at the Capitol say they’ve learned a lot about how the Nebraska Legislature works. Sen. Jerry Willhoft of Central City was appointed to represent District 34. He replaces Sen. Janis McKenzie of Harvard, who resigned last July to be the director of gifted education for the Nebraska Department of Education. Willhoft formerly worked with the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service. Sen. Nancy Thompson of Papillion replaced Sen. Ron Withem to represent District 14. Withem resigned to become director of gov ernmental relations for the University ofNebraska. Sen. Ron Raikes, who was appointed during the 1996-97 Legislative session to replace Sen. Jerome Warner of Waverly, returns as an elected senator this year. Warner passed away in April. All three said they were taking their time to listen to debates to gain specific knowledge of rules and pro cedures of the Legislature. Raikes said he paid little attention to specific rules before he joined the Legislature, but how the process works interests him more now. Thompson, who has worked in Sarpy and Douglas counties for the past eight years, said she is not yet familiar with all the rules, but isn’t surprised by how long the process takes. “But I don’t think this is the nor mal way we’ll be functioning,” she said. She and Willhoft both said they, were trying to be “good students” by listening to debates. “It’s a tremendous learning process to learn the system,” Willhoft said. All three senators said they felt the rapport among legislators was u Senators can be at each other’s throats, but that doesn’t mean they can’t put it aside.” Jerry Willhoft senator positive. Willhoft said the other senators often offered to help and made them feel welcome. “Senators can be at each other’s throats,” Willhoft said, “but that doesn’t mean they can’t put that aside.” All three senators agreed that property tax reform was the most important issue facing the Legislature this year. “We will lose credibility if we don’t get something done this year,” Raikes said. Thompson said property tax relief along with making die income tax reduction permanent, were rea sonable goals. She said the extra money the state has will affect every bill the Legislature considers. Raikes said it was an unusual but favorable situation to be decid ing how to spend money instead of figuring out how to cut budgets, adding that legislators should be especially prudenf in spending excess revenue. Willhoft and Thompson also said the Legislature would have to decide how to spend while remaining fiscal ly conservative. “It’s because of a strong economy that we’re in a fortunate position,” Thompson said, “so we want to use the money in a way that will keep that jump-started by helping businesses grow apd expand.” TEXTBOOK MATHEMATICS A Best Selection ofj | Textbooks + Best Custoner Service + Short Lines at the Register = Best Deal at Nebraska Bookstore 'a. Tf-n --lr l#M, ■ . ■ SOI. RORRARBSOFUNCOUIstaatfeie AamA. MMMaAab Mam ALA AKkL RU^^^aA Ma unni as ssnaun toi uw zavn uisinci. n® died §f cancer last April. Senator inspired, prepared for challenges of succession RAIKES from page 1 nomic development. In his first full year in the Legislature, Raikes will have an input on these issues as a member of the Revenue and Education Committees. He said he is a candi date to be involved in “brain gain” legislation aimed at retaining the state’s top students in the work force. As he settles into the legislative process and begins his policy-mak ing efforts, Raikes said, he is inspired by the example of his predecessor. Many times, Raikes said, he wishes he had Warner at his side to offer his wisdom on a particular issue. “If I’m dealing with a controver sial issue, one of the first couple of questions I ask is, ’How would Senator Warner vote on this, and why?’” he said. Raikes said he can’t hope to emu late Warner’s voluminous knowledge of state government and legislative acumen. But Raikes noted that Warner, pressed for time by his involvement with complex tax and spending issues, wasn’t able to spend as much time with individual constituents as he would have liked. Raikes, of Lincoln, said he hopes to work close ly with constituents. In his short time in the Legislature, Raikes said, he has been impressed with his colleagues. Along with much of the public, Raikes said, he had harbored nega tive attitudes about some senators before coming to the Legislature. But his time in the Capitol has changed his perceptions. He described controversial Sen. Ernie Chaihbers of Omaha as one who knows the rules, works hard and is bright and honorable. As Raikes glanced out upon the floor from under the south balcony of the chambers, Sen. Don Wesely of Lincoln approached Raikes. “Like this guy here, I used to think he was areal jerk,” Raikes said, laughing. Wesely laughed and slapped Raikes on the back. Raikes commended his col leagues’ability to legislate under the pressure of the clock. Raikes, who began his legislative stint last May, recalled driving home one afternoon with about 10 days left in the session. As time dwindled, leg islators had yet to agree on a budget and prison-construction proposal. “I was thinking, ‘My God, this is a mess,”’ he said. But legislators pulled together and finished business before adjourning in June. Raikes said it was a testament to the legislative process in which he is happy to be involved. “At my age, I needed to think about what kind of contributions I could make at this level,” he said. “This was an opportunity to do that.” Michelle Waite, Who worked for 11 years as a legislative aide for for mer Sen. Ron Withem, now works as Raikes’ legislative aide. She said Raikes was well-quali fied to fill the legislative vacancy, as shown by his membership in two important committees. “Senator Raikes is a very bright individual, and he’s picking tilings up very quickly” she said. “It was quite a coup to get on both of these com mittees as a freshman senator.” Raikes said he doesn’t feel added pressure filling in for Warner. But as he acquaints himself with the Legislature, he continues to marvel at Warner’s accomplishments. “The longer I’m here, the more respect I gain for him,” Raikes said. “He epitomized what people like to see in a representative.” « Senator Raikes is a very bright individual, and he’s picking things up very quickly.” Michelle Waite legislative aide Chambers upset about proposed filibuster law RULES from page 1 some senators feared would set the tone for die rest of this yearV ses sion. However, Beutler said relation ships in the Legislature have remained collegial, noting sena tors’ ability to separate business and personal feelings toward each other. Debate on a proposal to empower die speaker to schedule amendments and motions raised several questions, most notably from newly elected Speaker of the Legislature Doug Kristensen. Kristensen, along with other senators, was concerned about being able to make final amend ments to a bill under the new rules, which would allow discussion of t only those on the agenda. Under an amendment intro duced by Sen. Pam Brown of Omaha, the speaker would make . his decisions based on the input of “all interested senators," who would contact the speaker. Beutler said the Rules Committee's main concern was saving time. f “In Nebraska we can't discuss legislation all year long,” he said. “We need to use our time as best we can. -?