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LINCOLN — The Academy Awards ceremony isn't the only place where politics creeps into acceptance speeches.
Saturday night at the State Capitol, Omaha philanthropist Dick Holland used his comments in accepting the Distinguished NEBRASKAlander Award to criticize a policy of the man handing out the awards, Gov. Dave Heineman.
“No one should be denied prenatal care in Nebraska,” Holland, who described himself as “free-thinking” and “a liberal Democrat,” told the gathering.
The day before, Heineman, a conservative Republican, had announced his opposition to a legislative proposal to resume government-funded prenatal services for low-income women who are illegal immigrants.
Holland, a retired advertising agency executive, was being honored for his support of the arts, the environment and education at the annual Statehood Day Dinner in the Capitol Rotunda.
The United States is a nation of immigrants who came here and still come here to better their lives, he said Monday.
As chairman of Omaha's Building Bright Futures initiative, Holland said he is keenly aware of the importance of early childhood education and proper prenatal and postnatal care. Some experts, he said, believe that the first three months of life are the most critical.
“So many children come to kindergarten not ready,” he said. “From there, everything goes downhill.”
Those at the formal dinner said the comments of the 88-year-old Holland prompted some uneasy moments for the governor, who, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment.
Holland said he didn't speak to Heineman after his comments.
“He didn't act like he wanted to talk to me,” said Holland.
Contact the writer:
402-473-9584, paul.hammel@owh.com
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