The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, September 04, 1998, Page 3, Image 3
-BTOn Johanns speaks to College Republicans Nelson criticizes Johanns While saying he wanted to stay out of the 1998 governor’s race, Gov. Ben Nelson criticized Lincoln mayor and Republican gubernatori al candidate Mike Johanns for mak ing remarks concerning Nelson’s record on state spending Thursday morning. Johanns said this week that he would have spent $800 million less if he had been governor for the past eight years. Nelson said Johanns’ comments were “irresponsible” and “mislead ing” and pointed out that the aver age growth rate in spending was higher for the city of Lincoln than for the entire state during the past eight years. He said the numbers Johanns used to compare state spending increases were inaccurate because the average annual percentage of spending increases for the entire state included state aid to local gov ernments - of which more than $107 million went to the city of Lincoln. If state aid had been cut, Nelson 10 more troopers to patrol Gov.Nelson announced at a rhursday morning press conference in front of the State Capitol that 40 more State Patrol troopers will be cruising Nebraska’s highway and interstate roads this Labor Day weekend. He said the State Patrol officers will monitor Nebraska to ensure compliance with traffic laws, including speed limit and safety belt rules. The additional troopers were drawn from administrative person nel who volunteered to patrol state roads during the busy holiday week end, State Patrol Col. Michael Behm said. He said the State Patrol’s goal is to prevent any accident-related deaths on a weekend when an aver age of three people are killed on the state’s roads. Ethanol fuel choice for state Nebraska has added 13 new f'hrvslor mini-vans desioned to run on high-percentage ethanol gasoline, Gov. Nelson announced Thursday. Of more than 1,200 vehicles in Nebraska’s fleet, almost 200 have engines that bum fuel made with 15 percent ethanol, making Nebraska the second largest user of ethanol powered vehicles in the nation, Nelson said. Nelson said the number of gaso line stations supplying fuel contain ing ethanol has increased since 1991, making it easier for more peo ple to purchase the higher-octane fuel. In the U.S. there are an estimated 250,000 vehicles built to use higher- , percentage ethanol fuel. >« ., , iVl Nelson encouraged more people to purchase so-called E-85 vehicles and said increased use of ethanol would have a positive impact on the price of corn and grain sorghum, which are used to produce ethanol. “It’s good for the environment and it’s good for the economy,” he , said. Compiled by senior staff writer Todd Anderson. said, increases in spending at the local level would have been greater. Using numbers supplied by the Johanns for Governor campaign, Nelson said the average rate of spending growth for the city of Lincoln during the last eight years was 4.1 percent, compared to a 3.1 percent increase in state spending when state aid to governmental sub divisions is accounted for. Nelson touted his conservative spending record, saying he’s proud of holding the line on state spend ing. “I’m a fiscal conservative,” l*T 'Nelson Said. **'": • • ' v “I’ve even been called a. fiscal conservative by other fiscal conser vatives.” Nelson called on the Lincoln mayor to point out where he would have made $800 million in cuts over the past eight years, but said he did n’t expect a response. “It’s hard to look people in the eye and tell them you’re cutting their funding,” Nelson said. CORRECTION Because of an editing error, the student government telephone num ber was listed incorrectly for organi zations interested in donating money to the Laura Cockson Memorial Scholarship. The Association of „ Students of the University of Nebraska phone number is (402) 472-2581. Find out what It takes to be a better dad. Call 1-800-790-DADS. □ IBB Dogs love us ’cause we’re crazy sniff able. www.unl.edu/ DailyNeb Alpha Omega campus ministries presents SON, SERVANT AND SAVIOR jpi • it mfe \ % y ^ | ! S By Brian Carlson Staffwriter The UNL College Republicans began gearing up for the campaign sea son by hearing from Lincoln Mayor Mike Johanns, who will be at the top of their party’s ticket in November. Johanns, the GOP nominee for governor, spoke to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln group Wednesday night In brief remarks before his partisan audience, he touched on famihar con servative campaign themes. He called for more efficient government, setting priorities and providing tax relief - things he said he had accomplished as mayor. “Part of the responsibility of gov erning is making choices about what are priorities and funding them at an appropriate level,” he said. “We should not define government so expansively as to try to be all things to all people.” Johanns was asked about his deci sion to oppose a constitutional amend ment to limit the growth of state rev enue, a proposal he had earlier endorsed. He said he changed his mind when he realized the amendment’s language would restrict the use of state surpluses « We should not define government so expansively as to try to be all things to all people Mike Johanns gubernatorial candidate to income and sales tax relief. That would preclude property tax relief in Nebraska, he said. Johanns also alluded to the scan dal-ridden past few months of Bill Clinton’s presidency and Clinton’s sup port from Johanns’ opponent, Democrat Bill Hoppner. “I take great pride in saying I voted for Bob Dole in 1996. And I voted for George Bush in 1992,” he said. “I don’t think my opponent is anywhere tonight telling people he’s proud to have voted for Bill Clinton in the last two presi dential elections. “That’s where we begin in defining the differences in this race.” Johanns also encouraged members to become involved in his campaign. Motivated, energetic workers and vol unteers would have a chance to move up in die campaign ranks and possibly earn a role in a Johanns administration, he said. Michael McDaniel, president of the College Republicans, said his group planned to be active in the cam paign, recruiting volunteers and pro moting discussion of important politi cal issues. The group also has scheduled speakers for the fall. Ward Connerly, who worked to pass California’s Proposition 209 end ing affirmative action in 1996, will speak Sept. 29. Omaha Mayor Haul Daub will speak Oct. 13, and 2nd District GOP congressional nominee Lee Terry will speak on a yet unspeci fied date. Johanns’ bid for governor tops the agenda, McDaniel said, ^ . n > | “We are 100 percept supportive of Mike Johanns,” he said “We share .the same viewpoints, and we support his platform.” HIGH MA MORNINGSTAB MONEY MAGAS We take a lot of pride in gaining high marks from the major rating services. But the fact is, we’re equally proud of the ratings we get every day from our participants. Because at TIAA-CREF, ensuring the financial futures of the education and research community is something that goes beyond stars and numbers. 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