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Letters, 4/25: No on raise for senators

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Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 - 12:10:01 am CDT

Do not let the legislators lull you into thinking they should get a raise. They all knew exactly what the salary was when they decided to run for the office.

They get $12,000 for the session which alternates between 60 days one year and 90 days the next.

The members who live more than 100 miles (round-trip) away from the Capitol are allowed 44½ cents per mile (one round trip per week). Also they receive $99 per day during the session. The members living fewer than 100 miles (round trip) receive $39 per day plus mileage every day.

The article in the April 9 Lincoln Journal Star concerning Sen. Chris Langemeier was quite demeaning. He and former state Sen. Doug Kristensen think we aren’t smart enough to know the difference between the Nebraska Legislature and the U.S. Senate. If Langemeier and the others pushing for a raise can’t make it, they should resign and let the people waiting in line to become legislators take over.

We voters better all study and look very close at proposed Amendment 1. They are quietly trying to push this through the last few days before the election.

Jim Le Butler, Lincoln

A new round of war lies?

If we all haven’t realized that the buildup to a war with Iran is just a continuation of lies built upon lies, we will never wake up. If we let the religious fanatics and the Israeli lobby control us again, then we deserve all the misery we will surely encounter in the aftermath.

The cabal in Washington is sick and you all know it … yet it seems we have lost our spine along with our morals.

Joseph Vocht, Lincoln

Op-ed cartoons slanted

Your political cartoons often show such a lack of respect for our “commander in chief,” almost on a daily basis. Why, when our world is in such terrible turmoil, would one want to pull our country apart? United we stand, divided we fall!

We are ashamed of the Lincoln Journal Star and its plethora of slanted political cartoons.

Shirley Tilman, Lincoln

Spending may destroy us

The Soviet Union spent so much trying to defend itself that it destroyed itself. Is the United States doing the same? Each man, woman and child in the United States owes $156,000 in federal debt, according to the Government Accountability Office as reported in Journal Star columns.

This is not a long-term mortgage. In 10 years much of it will come due — Social Security, Medicare, savings in government bonds, veterans’ pensions, debts to foreign governments, along with ongoing service payrolls. The day the public senses the government is bankrupt, the Second Great Depression could hit.

We too might be destroying ourselves. We are spending so much attacking enemies and potential enemies that we are becoming our own worst enemy.

Raymond Tiemeyer, Lincoln

Share smoking ban data

I’ve seen ads recently on television touting the success of Lincoln’s smoking ban and am wondering what prompted them to appear at this time. 

All I can assume is that, following our city attorney’s recommendation that the City Council wait a year (it’s now well over that) before assessing the efficacy of the smoking ban, they have amassed all pertinent information from the city and state revenue departments, along with figures from the health department on the ban-related reduction in secondhand smoke-related illnesses and/or deaths, and found the impact (if any) to be favorable to the city and her citizens. 

I look forward to this information being shared with the public, thus putting to rest, once and for all, concerns raised by the 38 percent who voted against the total ban: that the city’s health would suffer under what is one of the most progressive smoking bans in the nation.

Jan Karst, Lincoln


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Lindsay wrote on April 25, 2006 6:10 am:
" Shirley: Political cartoons are meant to poke fun of politicians! Should we suspend the first amendment just because some people don't agree with the cartoon? If you don't like them, don't read them - it's that simple. "
Hank wrote on April 25, 2006 7:25 am:
" The letter objecting to "slanted" political cartoons doesn't understand either political cartoons or the principles our nation is built on. First of all, political cartoons are always "slanted." They are supposed to be provocative. Second, arguing that we need to remain unified in today's turmoil ignores the fact that it is our administration that has caused much of the turmoil. To unite behind our aggressive, divisive, and incompetent administration would be the most foolish and un-American behavior imaginable. "
Scott wrote on April 25, 2006 8:29 am:
" I had begun taking the smoking ban for granted until I spent a week in Des Moines. I could not go into a restaurant, coffeehouse or bar without leaving with a body full of second hand smoke and clothes that reaked of it. After a couple of days of this, I decided to stay in my hotel room and order room service and drink hotel room coffee. Thank you to the majority of you who have made it possible to enjoy an evening out in Lincoln without the smoke. "
Brian in Lincoln wrote on April 25, 2006 8:53 am:
" The health of the City of Lincoln is not suffering from things such as the smoking ban, but from very bad leadership. The city is moving backwards more and more and the lack of solid leadership is to blame. Between a city council that is so messed up due to party afiliations and from a mayor who is so not in touch with the people of Lincoln, who also has a very personal agenda, the city is in bad shape. Elections can't come soon enough. If anyone thinks that something that is so progressive, such as the smoking ban, is hurting Lincoln, they are missing the big picture. "
Allen T. wrote on April 25, 2006 9:08 am:
" Has anyone paid any attention to the statements coming out of Iran or too the concern that the International (not just the U.S.) community has over Iran's aggressive position on nuclear power? While there are religious fanatics in the U.S., they are not forcing the Iranian president to behave as he is. The Iranian president denies the Holocaust and calls for the destruction of Israel, while supporting Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and he thinks that 12 Imam will return during his tenure, bringing an Apocalypse of sorts…but he’s not a religious fanatic? This was all on the news (all stations, not just Fox), not some top secret report that was made up by the administration. Israel was created, where it is, because of the undeniable involvement of the Palestinians in the Nazi regime during WWII, by providing advice, money, weapons and soldiers in Africa and Yugoslavia. Open your eyes and realize that, like WWII, this is a war we joined late, but we had better win. "
Mark wrote on April 25, 2006 9:52 am:
" If nothing else the Journal Star is one of the faires of all newspapers. The Journal Star ridiculed Clinton for 8 straight years too. This is just satire. It wouldnt hurt to lighten up just a little. The world is in a mess mainly thanks to our continous series of bloopers and boners from the Commander in Chief. Why not inject a little humor? "
Larry wrote on April 25, 2006 10:01 am:
" God bless the smoking ban! It's heavenly! "
Bill Buckley wrote on April 25, 2006 10:48 am:
" I live in Lincoln but am currently in Oslo, Norway on business. Last year they passed a law that bans smoking in all restaurants and pubs. The result, 114 new outdoor pubs opened in Oslo last summer. On Friday and Saturday evenings, you need a reservation to get into a restaurant. The pubs are packed every Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (soccer games) and of course Friday and Saturday until 3:00am. The smoking ban has had zero impact here. By the way, they have a "zero %" for alcohol and driving. Cheers to the Lincoln council for passing the no smoking ban. It is the only thing they have done right in a long time !! "
CG wrote on April 25, 2006 12:13 pm:
" Allen T: How many countries should the US occupy before realizing we're spread too thin? We still can't leave Afganistan - in fact, the Taliban is experiencing a resurgency there. And every account on record (including the President's) agrees there is no end in sight in Iraq, it will be many years before the US can even think of leaving them to stand on their own. Now you want to barge in to Iran as well? Then what about North Korea, Syria and anyone else doing things we don't like. At some point we will have so many troops spread so far and so thin that we here on American soil will be so vulnerable to any type of attack because there will be no one here to defend the home soil. If the international community is indeed up in arms about Iran, then let's allow them to handle this one. We're already busy. And running out of funds. "
Alexis wrote on April 25, 2006 1:25 pm:
" I agree that the legislators do not deserve a raise. Their pay for 60 days or 90 days is more than comparable. They are making more money in 2-3 months work that most people make in a year working on minimum. Also, the majority of these legislators have other jobs or own their own businesses that allow then to serve in the legislature. What about the other state agencies and other state employees? Are they going to get a raise too? There are many state entities and employees who have not even received a yearly cost of living raises. Let's pay the state employees what they are worth first. They legislators keep cutting the budget and people have been laid off. If they have no money in the budget to pay for cost of living increases for state employees for the past 5 years since 9-11 then they certainly don't have enough money in the budget for their own pay raise. "
Audrey wrote on April 25, 2006 1:55 pm:
" While I agree with Mr. Vocht that going to war with Iran is not a good idea I am uncertain why he thinks religious fanatics are calling for the US to go to war with Iran. Even if they are (which I have not really seen or heard)they are such a lunatic fringe that nobody in this country takes them seriously anyway. That is why they are called fanatics as opposed to ordinary religious individuals. As I said, I do agree that war with Iran is not in our best interests right now. Iran may be up to no good and the Iranian president is definitely a religious fanatic but our military simply can't handle anything else right now. If Iran truly does warrant a US military presence then we will have to pull out of other areas and relocate the troops, but more importantly, we need to deal with issues at home to revitalize our crumbling nation before we take on something of that magnitude. "
Chip wrote on April 25, 2006 9:25 pm:
" Smoking bans are fabulous! I didn't realize how unpleasant it was to go out to eat until Lincoln passed the smoking ban. Thank you city council. I hope the US govt. bans smoking inside ALL buildings except private homes. "
Phil wrote on April 25, 2006 10:57 pm:
" Chip, the WHOLE idea behind the smoking ban is to save us ignorant citizens from ourselves. A smoking ban in private residences is only a matter of time. I believe a city on the east coast has already tried such a law. It is only logical. Citizens can't carry a concealed weapon in Lincoln because despite the money spent, and the training required, and the back ground checks that are done, the mayor and police chief feel that despite the lack of it in the other 47 states with CCW laws, us idiots in Lincoln will shoot rude drivers when we get mad on the way home from work. Let's just outlaw EVERYTHING that may hurt us. Driving cars, smoking ANYWHERE, drinking alcohol, owning ANY weapons anywhere, riding bicycles, walking across the street, riding skateboards or roller blades, flying in airplanes, driving motorcycles. My goodness. We will be so safe and secure if we all just make it illegal to do anything that could be dangerous. "
Allen T. wrote on April 26, 2006 8:55 am:
" Audrey and CG: First, I'm not calling for an attack of Iran. I am, however, calling for realistic views of what is happening there. The "religious fanatics" have not put words into the mouth of the President of Iran. He has said everything on his own (reported widely in the entire news media) that should indicate that he is a threat. I simply am worried about the group of people that will ignore the wolf in front of them, simply because some kid may or may or have lied about a wolf last week. As far as out military being stretched too thin, we are barely using 10% of our war making capacity. We honestly could carry on battle in another 6 or 7 countries before we had to start worrying about being too thin. "
Sean wrote on April 26, 2006 10:46 am:
" Alexis: the fact that most senators own businesses or have professional jobs that allow them to take 2-3 months off and focus on legislating is the very reason that we need to give them a raise. Most Nebraska citizens do not own businesses or have such plush jobs. Until the average citizen is able to support a family (or at least themselves) on the Legislator salary, average citizens will not be able to be represented by those that most closely resemble themselves. "
James wrote on April 28, 2006 8:40 am:
" Senators need a raise? I should say not. I'd like so see a good company run by its executives who are there 2 or 3 months??? Like NE it would be floundering. I'm retired and live on a small fixed income which never changes except for property & state taxes & insurance taking an extra hunk out every year. Wonder how these "professional" "intelligent" people think one is suppoe to live. Under a bridge I guess, at least it isn't all the glammer people think of being retired these days. "
Jack wrote on April 28, 2006 9:18 am:
" (RE J Karst 4-25) Mr. Buckley I thought I had heard it all when it comes to anti-smoking rhetoric. But your claim that Oslo opened 114 new bars in a single summer as a direct effect of Norway's ban truly takes the cake. Even the most rabid anti-smoker should have trouble swallowing that claim. The idea that business owners aren't smart enough to run their establishments in the most profitable way has been one of the most annoying notions throughout ban debates. If their was such a high demand for smoke free bars the process within a free market would surely produce many such taverns. I don't have a problem with prohibiting smoking in public places that are a common necessity for all. Yet the applications to bars is un-American. Nobody has to go to a bar and nobody has to work at a bar. Prior to a ban you have a choice. Why wouldn't a non-smoker patronize a non-smoking bar? And why wouldn't they flourish? Once the government interferes with the free market we all lose. Don't fool yourself just because such a mandate is tailored to your particular taste. If you enjoy the government playing the role of nanny maybe you should spend some time in China or N Korea. "
applies to other things too... wrote on April 28, 2006 8:07 pm:
" Smoking affects public health. It is no different than handicapped laws. Some people have asthma, emphazema, and other breathing problems. We have rules requiring businesses to accomodate a very small portion of the population so they can visit those establishments if they so choose. How are people with breathing problems any different? Or how about requiring people to wear shirts and shoes in public establishments? Couldn't people just choose not to go to places that don't require athlete's foot and chest hair to be contained? You talk about a free market, but if that argument were true, wouldn't all the bars have gone out of business now? When I was in college I went to the bars a lot, and even though hardly anyone was smoking, the whole place would be a haze. The bars are going to be full no matter what, the bar owners have no motivation to instigate change. "

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