A deficit of experience on budget

LINCOLN — Thanks to term limits, all but two Nebraska lawmakers will be venturing into unfamiliar territory today when the special budget-cutting session starts.

It’s hard to predict how their lack of experience might affect the session and their ultimate choices, although one observer said it could strengthen Gov. Dave Heineman’s hand in determining how cuts are made.

The two legislative veterans — State Sens. Cap Dierks of Ewing and Brad Ashford of Omaha — returned to the Statehouse in 2006 after sitting out for several years.

Both endured budget-cutting special sessions during their previous terms in office.

Only four, including Dierks and Ashford, have been through major budget-cutting sessions at all. None is on the Appropriations Committee.

Sens. LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth and Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center started their legislative careers with the 2003 regular session, when lawmakers combined tax increases and spending reductions to balance the budget.

The others have been in office only when major budget cuts weren’t needed — and the newest one, Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, took office this summer.

Under term limits, lawmakers cannot serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.

Legislative observers offered a mixed bag of predictions about how the lack of experience may affect the special session.

Longtime lobbyist Walt Radcliffe predicted that Heineman would benefit, even though this is his first special budget-cutting session as well.

“Ninety-five-percent-plus of what the governor proposes is what the Legislature will do,” Radcliffe said.

Term limits also make lawmakers more dependent on their staff, Radcliffe said. Fortunately, he said, most employees in the legislative fiscal office have had many years in their positions.

Other veteran lobbyists said they weren’t sure how legislative inexperience would play out.

“They’re quick studies,” said John Bonaiuto, executive director of the Nebraska Association of School Boards. “They learn fast, but again, they’re getting thrown in the deep end of the pool.”

Legislators expressed confidence in their ability to handle the task ahead of them.

Heineman is calling lawmakers back to the Capitol to close a $334 million gap in the $6.94 billion budget for the two-year period ending June 30, 2011.

His plan includes across-the-board cuts to most state agencies and specific cuts to some. He also proposes tapping various cash funds and taking back savings achieved by agencies in the past year.

Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood of Norfolk said current lawmakers have demonstrated their fiscal abilities by holding the line on state spending despite growing revenues.

“I would argue those are tough decisions to make when the state’s flush with cash,” he said. “In the era of term limits, the citizens have sent us the very best from their districts.”

The lack of experience can be positive if it yields new thinking about solving the state’s budget problems, said Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha. He said newcomers are more likely to challenge the status quo.

“We’re going to have an opportunity to look at things with a new perspective,” he said.

Dierks, who is in his fifth legislative term and who went through budget-cutting special sessions in 1992, 2001 and 2002, downplayed the importance of experience.

“It’s just something you have to get into and learn about and get done,” he said of the coming session.

Dierks’ advice to colleagues about how to tackle that job?

“Pray a lot,” he said.

Contact the writer:

402-473-9583, martha.stoddard@owh.com

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