Wanted: Inexpensive ideas

LINCOLN — Ideas that don't cost money.

That theme, prompted by recession-reduced tax receipts, played out today as the 2010 session of the Nebraska Legislature began.

It's a theme expected to continue throughout the session, scheduled to last 60 days.

Early proposals planned for introduction included a measure to require public disclosure of settlements that involve public funds, like the secret deal that involved Papillion Mayor James Blinn and his executive assistant.

There also was talk of barring school districts from using public funds to hire lobbyists and of removing from the May ballot a proposed constitutional amendment to raise state senators' annual salaries from $12,000 to $22,000.

The common theme: They don't require more taxpayer dollars.

"It's going to be a rough ride" for any bills that increase spending, said State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, speaker of the Legislature.

Veteran lobbyist Walt Radcliffe, entering his 41st year at the Capitol, compared this session to those during the farm-crisis years of the 1980s, when budgets were slashed and there was little new money to spend.

Flood said he is exploring whether it's possible to pull the proposed legislative salary raise off the primary ballot.

"It's a difficult year to ask for a raise," he said, citing state budget cuts and the financial difficulties Nebraska workers face.

"We should not be asking for a raise in these economic times," added Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery.

The issue surfaced a day after Gov. Dave Heineman and the other five state constitutional officers asked lawmakers to freeze their salaries for the next four years.

Omaha Sen. Beau McCoy said he will introduce a bill inspired by the secret settlement in Papillion because the public deserves to know how taxpayers dollars are spent.

"Very few people in Papillion knew (that settlement) existed, much less the details," McCoy said.

A World-Herald investigation last fall revealed that $200,000 was paid to the city worker after a tryst between her and the mayor soured and the worker filed a sexual harassment claim. Blinn resigned without explanation in July.

McCoy's proposal would require a "brief description" of any such settlements to be listed as an agenda item at the next meeting of a public body. In the Papillion case, it would be the city council's agenda.

Flood and other senators cautioned that money could become the dominant issue if a Feb. 26 report by a state tax forecasting board indicates that tax receipts are lagging far behind projections.

Such a predicament prompted the Legislature to hold a special session in November and adopt $335 million in budget cuts.

Omaha Sen. John Nelson, a member of the budget-writing Appropriation Committee, said he's "holding his breath" over whether the recession will deepen, forcing more budget cuts.

This year, lawmakers can consider bills left over from the 2009 session, as well as new bills.

Wind energy is expected to be a big issue, as is how to finance road construction.

Not quite half the bills introduced last year remain alive, including five awaiting a final vote. The price tags on those five, which kept them from passing last year, could be an even bigger obstacle now.

Sen. Galen Hadley of Kearney, who introduced one of the five bills, said he plans to keep trying to work something out with his leftover proposal to provide a sales tax exemption for some nonprofit health care providers.

Among the carryover bills are ones to repeal the death penalty, require the collection of DNA from additional people and allow nurse practitioners to oversee tuberculosis care.

Flood said he plans to start debate on carryover bills Monday. Heineman will unveil his proposals, including any budget recommendations, Jan. 14.

Public hearings will start Jan. 19. Senators can introduce new bills through Jan. 21.

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