The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 6

THE LINCOLN STAR Thursday. February 1. 1 990 PAGE 6 itete Local Use of biodegradables debated once again Parents, providers turn out for hearings Around The Rotunda Compiled by James Joyce and Boo Beeves f990 Whether anyone was impressed is anybody's guess. One person who didnt seem to be, however, was Warner himself who upon hearing Landis words utter forth, moaned: "Ob God. It's bad enough I have to decide for myself whether to run for re-election, but now Pve got to decide for two." What's the isue? A major Nebraska newspaper recently carried an editorial criticizing state senators for Red, white and blue Clothing colors have a special meaning within the halls of the State CapitoL Legislative pages wear navy blue vests, white shirts or blouses and black trousers or skirts.

Sergeants-at-arms wear bright red blazers. The members of the Legislature itself donl have a dress code, but sometimes their attire can give the wrong message At a Judiciary Committee hearing recently, Sen. Doug Kristensen of Minden was radiant in a red sport coat "I know you donl get paid much, but moonlighting as a sergeant at arms is pretty fishy," quipped Sen. John Lindsay of Omaha. By James Joyce of The Lincoln Sar As baseban Han of Famer Yogi Bern might have put it had he witnessed Wednesday's hearing of the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee: "It's deja vn an over again." And so it seemed.

On the one side were those claiming virtues for containers made of biodegradable materials. On the other side were those claiming the containers had hardly any virtue at an. A similar debate went on last year when the committee conducted a hearing on a bin, which was ultimately passed and signed into law, that banned non-biodegradable pop can rings, plastic bags and diapers. This year, the hearing was on a bul (LB933) which would carry that concept one step further. IT WOULD BAN non-biodegradable polystyrene foam starting in 1992; and would require an other food or beverage containers sold in the state by 1992 to be made of material that is either biodegradable, recyclable or reusable.

The two bUls, both introduced by Sen. Elroy Hefner of Coleridge, are part of a long-running debate, both here in Nebraska and across the nation, about how to solve the problem of overcrowded landfills. Some people, such as Hefner, claim biodegradable products win help prolong the life of landfills. In addition, he said, since biodegradable materials are made from corn, they win help improve the financial position of Nebraska's farmers. "So we kin two birds with one stone, be said.

Others don't believe it, however. The problem with biodegradables, they told the committee, is that they dontbiodegrade. "It dcesnt work. It's not there," said Walt Raddif a lobbyist for the Council of Solid Waste Solutions, a coalition of plastics manufacturers. Among those supporting the bffl were the Nebraska Corngrowers Association, the Nebraska Grange and Nebraska Citizens Action, a recently formed environmental organization.

NONE OF THESE GROUPS involved themselves in the technical aspects of the debate over biodegradable materials. Instead, they suggested that even if the technology still needs work the bin would help "keep the pressure on" to produce it. In addition to the plastics industry, the bin was opposed by the Nebraska Soft Drink Association, the Retail Mer-chants Association of Nebraska, the Sierra Club, the Retail Grocers Association and the State Recycling Association. The committee took no immediate action on the bin I introducing too many bills. Measures concern state mental retardation system, deficit funding for regional programs.

By JoAnn Young and Bob Reaves of The Lincoln Star Hearings on i bill to change funding methods for the state mental retardation system and a proposal to provide deficit funding for regional programs drew parents, providers and advocates to the Capitol Wednesday. The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee beard testimony for nearly three hours on LB 113, sponsored by Sens. Don Wesely of Lincoln and Jerome Warner of Waverly. THE BILL to fund individual client service contracts rather than regional programs is intended as a short-term solution to recent budget problems of the regions that have prompted the agencies to ask for .019,000 in deficit appropriation, plus another $4 million in additional funding for next year. Supporters of LB1129 say individual client service contracts that require prior approval of the Department of Public Institutions would increase fiscal accountability from the six regions and improve services Dee Everitt of Lincoln, whose daughter is a Lancaster Office of Mental Retardation client, said the quality of services is not what it could be.

LB1129 is a first attempt at quality assurance, she said. Six people opposed the bin, some say-ing it was not spechw rc ij or that the Legislature should wait for recommendations of a task force to be appointed by to study the entire system. Most had questions about how the contract would be administered. NEBRASKA Advocacy Services and the Regional Directors Council took neutral positions on LB1123, but pointed out more negatives than positives. Ronald Green, Region IV director, said the directors council would support the bill with amendments that included specifics on funding, assurance that all retarded citizens served in the previous fiscal year be assured of continuing contract, and quality assurance measures.

At an Appropriations Committee hearing on the DPI budget later Wednesday, Dave Merrill, Region director, said the deficit appropriation was the only fair way to handle the problem of regions taking on more clients than they have money to serve. He presented a new funding model, prepared by the directors council, that would raise state support to (4L3 million next year. The model includes a 5.25 percent annual salary increase to help stop the rapid turnover of mental health workers. The new model would give regions a clear idea of now much money they would get from the state, and the increase would make it possible to secure more federal funds through a Medicaid waiver, Merrill said. DALE JOHNSON, director of DPI, presented a budget calling for no deficit appropriation, and no change in the cost model that has been used since 1985 to calculate funds for each region.

Most regions added clients this year with no assurance of state funding be said. Merrill said there was a misunderstanding that anticipated federal funds would materialize, when in fact they did-nl The Lancaster Office of Mental Retardation has warned that it will terminate mentally retarded clients based on current revenue projections. "We need to know what our funding's going to be in order to provide services and make responsible decisions," Merrill said. Facing facts According ui uncuu sen. uon Wesely, the editorial writer had the wrong perspective.

"The issue is not having too many bills," Wesely said. "The issue is having too many problems." A dog's life Sen. Frank Korshoj of Herman is known for not mincing his words, including how much he doesn't like being a state senator. Not even Lincoln's nightlife, he said recently, is enough to offset the frustrations be feels at the way things are done in the Legislature. "In Lincoln I lead a dog's life.

Even a married man would have a better life than Fve got," said Korshoj, a bachelor, who often spends bis nights in his motel room staring at the television. There's no- Give Your Furniture A Face Lift! Quality Reupholstery To Your Sepcifications Full Line of Fabrics Free Estimates Commercial-Residential Free Pick Up Delivery Withem charges Orr trying escape 'to keep us in the dark' Tax-limit advocate Ed Jakdia's Lincoln Mattress Upholstery Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha went to Wisconsin earlier last month to oppose a "right to bear" arms amendment in that state. Nebraska voters approved a right-to-bear-arms amendment in 1988. At a news conference in Madison, Wis, Ashford noted that since the Nebraska amendment was passed, judges had ruled In favor of two felons who were carrying arms.

However, the Nebraska Supreme Court later reversed those rulings. Gun advocates in Nebraska are expected to use the amendment to fight Ashfonrs LB642, which would impose a seven-day waiting period for gun purchases, and it "may be impossible to ban any kind of assault weapon," Ashford sail "Many of the promises by the NRA (National Rifle Association) have been untrue," he told reporters. "Basically the NRA said the state could regulate firearm possession through regulation" despite adoption of the amendment, Ashford said. Decisions, decisions In a recent floor speech. Sen.

Dave Landis of Lincoln tried to emphasize the purity of his position on a bin by informing his colleagues that be had no political ambitions other than to remain In the Legislature. "My ambition is to stay in this body longer than Jerry Warner," he said referring to the senator from Waverly who has served for nearly 30 years. 435-2828 2. 221 So. 9th due utwm WHIER 1 partment study are LB866, sponsored by Sen.

Howard Lamb of Anselmo, and LB11M, which was introduced for the governor by Sen. Jerome Warner of Waverly. The Lamb bin would continue the fill million property tax relief program, commonly referred to as LB8i that was passed last year. bin would do the same thing, and would Impose a 4 percent lid on annual budget Increases by local government! State Tax Commissioner John Boehm refused Withem's request on the grounds that the bills Orr supported did not involve tax increases. According to Withem, the fact that the bills do not require state tax increases Isn't justification for not conducting a study of their Impact A state senator is accusing Gov.

Kay Orr of trying to treat the Legislature and the public like "mushrooms" in the current debate over school finance reform. "She's hoping to keep us in the dark so she can keep piling on the fertilizer," said Sen. Ron Withem of Papillion, chairman of the Education Committee. The senator's remark Wednesday came in the wake of the state Revenue Department's refusal to conduct a study of the impact on taxpayers of two major tax-related bills that the governor supports. Withem made the request after the department last week released a preliminary study it had made of the school finance reform bill, which was criticized as based on faulty assumptions.

The bills Withem requested the de petition to place a 2 percent local spending lid on next November's ballot Is like a boom hanging over this year's lid-conscious Legislature. Lincoln Sen. La Von Crosby found the couldn't escape Ed Jaksha's presence even in the House of the Lord. While in Omaha recently, the senator and her husband, former Gov. Bob Crosby, visited St Robert's Catholic Church.

"I didnt know Bob had a church named after him," she quipped During the service, when it came time to collect the offering, who should be passing the plate but Ed Jaksha! "I just cant get away from that man," she said. And neither can the other 48 senators, who are considering several versions of a lid bin as alternatives to his more stringent constitutional provision. $100,000 increase sought in domestic violence funding Men's women's sportswear, outerwear ski Legislative Calendar A complete selection of quality men's women's outerwear sportswear on sale now. This is the sale you've been waiting for! The new Spring Collection of Royal Robbing Sportswear has arrived! cases taken to court in Lancaster Coun- -ty, compared with more than 1,700 this year, she said. Sarah 0Shea, state coordinator for the Nebraska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition, said the 1100,000 request was only a beginning.

"We need a lot more money." The comments came during an Appropriations Committee hearing on the Department of Social Services budget The domestic violence funding wn not included in the department's rt quest, but Director Kermit McMurry asked for authorization to spend 0204 in unanticipated federal funds this year, and another $L5 million In federal funds next year to raise salaries of 199 supervisory positions by an average of 5 The number of battered and assaulted women and children is rising each year, with incidents of domestic violence occurring in one of six households nationwide, state Sen. LaVon Crosby said Wednesday. Meanwhile, funding for the state's Protection from Domestic Abuse Act is the same as it was ta 1984 $428,000 per year. Crosby asked the Legislature's Appropriations Committee to recommend $100,000 in added funds to help places like Lincoln's Friendship Home provide shelter for more abused women and children. Kit Boesch, Lancaster County human services director, attributed the increase to more media attention to the problem and more active prosecution.

In 1985, there were 35 domestic violence LBWs Cnonaet provisions for rtfllllnB liquor bottles. LBI10I-Alcoholic llouors. Atfvonosd By Hoottli LB477 First Remonoori Emergency Rrtcut Ad. LBSSI Cortlftcotlonoflouututuiles. LBIOM Persons hondt tag radiation.

LBIOM Nursing facilities. Killed By Heerm J74 ftooutros toborotortes to obtain porrnlts. LBSIt Rabies vaccinations. B7SJ Medical Student Assistance Ad. movohcoo py venom Reevorcos LBrTl Soil and "voter monitoring.

crn.U.liBIII Introduced LBSUA Appropriations lor LBttt. Legislative Information In Lincoln coll 471-770 for teoistottve Informal Ion; from outside Lincoln call t742-745o. WxWKfcJ, Jon. 31. nineteenth feglttottve dsv, convened o.nv.

odtourmd p.m. to am. Feb. I. Floor Action Atfvpsceg Frees Select FRv LB Protection of animals.

LBSUSoJarles of stole officers. LB5WA Appropriations for LB503. Committee Action Ktttoi Bv Agrtcptrore LB) Noxious Weed Control Act. k.BII Leafy Spurs Control Ad. LBI11 Provisions for county extension offices.

AdvBCBdJ By ftoMkliiSj LBSel Substitution of securities. LBIOM HooltMnsuronct Accra Act. Loon controcts. Aeroac Br oocattM LB ion SeeecMonpuepo potholooWS. LBtOW- School district momuoislile reports.

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