Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 21

THURSDAY, MARCH 14. 1M1 LrNCOl MP mi WMtl LEGISLATUREnEDRASrtA EZZ3211; rrr Local governments want the state to reimburse property tax refunds Senator considers amending handgun bill to gain votes 474-6532 fftr 9oo4 Him dVlf-fl vARr4 czzn Upk. 9 Sen. Dave Bernard-Stevens of North Platte said he heard local governments asking the state to reimburse them but he did not hear them offering to make 5 4 A CO tilwi Cccrs Old $700 (HS-Moflfl CM that which is exempted in LB775, the 1987 law that granted tax breaks to large corporations. The estimates indicate that, as a group, residential property owners would get a 5 percent tax increase under the first option and a 15 percent tax cut under the second one.

An individual taxpayer should not assume his or her taxes would change by those exact percentages because the numbers will vary by taxing district and because several assumptions were made to do the calculation. For example, the fiscal office assumed no change from taxes levied for 1990, although local property taxes usually rise 5 percent to 6 percent a year on a statewide average. The office estimated the average property tax levy in the state would drop from $2.3094 to $1.8663 per $100 of valuation if most personal property were returned to tax rolls. Other classes Estimated property tax changes for other classes of property owners if all personal property except household goods and LB775 property were taxed: Commercial 17 percent Increase. Agricultural: 12 percent increase.

Motor vehicles: 17 percent decrease. By Ed Russo Journal Statehouse Bureau Sea Brad Ashford of Omaha said Thursday that be is strongly considering changing his handgun-control bill to cover only Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy counties. Ashford is the sponsor of LB355, which would require those who want to buy a handgun to apply for a registration permit from their local police or sheriff departments. Law enforcement officials would have up to two days to determine whether information on the permit application is accurate. Ashford said that he is thinking of amending his bill to cover Nebraska's most populous counties because of opposition from rural senators.

He said, at this point, the bill would fall about seven votes short of the 25 votes needed for passage and the change would provide gun control to the urban areas that support and want it "I don't want to sacrifice the population centers (of the state) because I cant get a rural vote," Ashford said. He also said he is thinking of amending his bill to make it a felony to knowingly sell a gun to a convicted feloa If approved, that would apply to the entire state. Ashford said he will make LB355 his priority bill, which means the Legislature win debate 1L The backed by the national lobbying' group Handgun Control Inc. was ad-; vanced to the full Legislature by the Judiciary Committee. Sea Stan ScheUpepper of Stanton has proposed a competing bill that would require an "instant check" of state crime records by a gun dealer before a handgun can be sold.

LB80L supported by the National Rifle Association, is still in committee. Ashford said that he hopes that rural residents win let their senators know that they support his bill so he win not have to propose the amend-' ment to cover only Lancaster, Doug-. las and Sarpy counties. "I'm hoping that there will be such a hue and cry -(from rural residents) and they say 'You mean that Omaha, Lincoln and -Sarpy County win have that kind of protection, but we wont? That just doesnt make he said. Ashford said he will decide whether to amend his bill in the next week to 10 days.

By Kathleen RutJedge Journal Statehouse Bureau The Legislature's Appropriations Committee was not very receptive Wednesday when local governments asked the state to reimburse them for about $38 million in 1989 personal property taxes they may have to refund. Cities, counties, schools and other local governmental units expect to have to refund the tax money because of a recent Nebraska Supreme Court decision that pointed out the unfairness of the state's personal property tax system, in which most personal property is exempt from taxation. "If we as a state do not provide the dollars, this is going to be a real-property tax problem," said Sen. Dennis Byars of Beatrice, who proposed to amend his LB391 to give 100 percent reimbursement to local governments for 1989 personal-property tax refunds. Personal property is tangible property that is not real estate.

Property taxes are the main source of revenue for local governments. Byars argued that the refunds are looming because of decisions made at the state level about personal property taxation. "That burden shouldn't be placed on real-property taxpayers to make up those dollars," he said. Cost $79 case WARSA CZZH BOTTLES Holllng Reck 5gC3 7Ino Warn 4pk. sacrifices.

"They're not going to be able to escape scot-free on this one," he said. "There just Isnt the money in state coffers to do it." Appropriations Chairman Scott Moore of Seward repeatedly said it was premature for the committee to act on the bill until the state Board of Equalization responded to the court's decision. The court said the board had to reconsider its denial of claims for property tax relief by a number of companies, including two gas pipeline companies. State Tax Commissioner M. Berri Balka, secretary of the board, said he expects the board to meet some time after after April 1, the deadline for the court's order to be filed.

Estimates made On a related topic, the legislative fiscal office has provided estimates of how tax burdens would shift under two possible legislation responses to the court ruling on personal property taxation. One option is to exempt an personal property except motor vehicles from the tax rolls. The other is to tax all personal property except household goods and niters Liquor Just North of 07th -1 7: VII 112 477-7516 aahaid. GooddnMD41 Public service: 17 percent decrease. Railroads: 20 percent Increase.

Warm case cans iXJ $69 Patent No. 5,000,000 bears UNUer Tyrrell Conway's name Warm PabstBlcs Ribbon Light, XUght U4 Patent No. 5,000,000 win bear the name of a University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty member and his University of Florida mentor. The patent, to be issued Tuesday in a special ceremony in Washington, D.C, win be held by the University of Florida, where Tyrrell Conway was a faculty research assistant from 1985 until 1988, when he joined the UNL faculty as a bio-technologist. Research by Conway, assistant pro- warm case cant Milkr Lite, Draft Warm cast cam of the $24 minion in federal funds that have been sought Conway's research is sponsored in part by the UNL Center for Biotechnology and the Nebraska Research Initiatives Program, which was created by state government in 1987 to encourage research deemed vital to the future of Nebraska's economy.

Good example Donald Weeks, director of the Center for Biotechnology, said Conway's contribution "is a good example of the kind of progress that several scientists across the UNL campus are making in various areas of biotechnology." Conway's research goal is to improve the production of ethanoL which he thinks win be the product of the Noting that corn, Nebraska's primary grain crop, is a main source of starch for ethanol, Conway said that if ethanol manufacturers can make more ethanol in less time and at less expense, they win use more corn for the starch base. The research tries to speed the pro-. cess by which alcohol is synthesized from plant material through use of the bacterium Zymomonas mobilis, which -converts simple sugars to alcohol with -nearly perfect efficiency. Service TAnM 1 Rolling Red $IJ99 Warm 6 pk. eGf COLDEST DEER COMPARE BEFORE YOU BUY 474-1991 ABOUND Clack Label Black Label Lt fft9 Wcast Save $206 Ul Milwaukee Best ftUlwaukee Lt jn BestLt 0tP9 W7caet UV Coot's 25.4 750 ml AH $99 AU flavors.

wrm 4 pk. 11 Lincoln podiatrist settles state case against license Beriagsr White Zinfandsl 25.4 ol, 750 ml Tf fessor of biological sciences, and Lonnie Ingram of the University of Florida led to the development of genetically engineered bacteria that can convert almost an types of sugars found in plant material into alchohoL Conway win attend a formal ceremony at 9 am Tuesday where the patent win be formally conferred. Secretary of Commerce Robert A. Mosbacher win be host at the ceremony in the Department of Commerce auditorium. The assistant secretary and commissioner of patents and trademarks also win attend, as win other dignitaries.

According to the Department of Commerce, Vermont Inventor Samuel Hopkins obtained the first patent, issued for America's first industrial chemical, 200 years ago. The patent resulted in improvements in the production of potash and pearl ash, which were essential to many important industrial processes. It took 121 years to reach the one-million-patent milestone. The pace has quickened since then, with Patent No. 2,000,000 issued in 1935, Patent No.

3,000,000 in 1960 and Patent No. 4,000,000 in 1976. 'Same bacteria Since joining UNL, Conway has continued to work with the same bacteria he and Ingram engineered. In November, NU officials applied for a patent on Conway's UNL work related to the University of Florida invention that won the patent Conway and other UNL faculty members are using biotechnology in ways that help economic development in Nebraska. Biotechnology is used in laboratories on UNL's two campuses.

University officials say its role would be enhanced in the proposed Beadle Center for Genetic and Biomaterials Research The university has secured $17.7 million St-AVcst a. Irish Bed" 59 otT 1.75 JLJ1 Popov Vodka 59.2 ol. 1.75 CP Scotch iOiP 6pk. Sm76C IAMOCO) with the state Department of Health She passed her podiatry examination in March last year. She was ordered to pay a $300 fine and perform 50 hours of volunteer community service.

A second charge against Evans, that he had billed various sources for the podiatric care given by Berger, was dismissed as part of the settlement agree- ment He agreed that the state could re-' file the disciplinary petition if he lates the terms of the settlement agree- ment ill Lincoln podiatrist Dr. Richard Evans has agreed to perform 150 hours of community service and pay a penalty of $5,000 to settle a disciplinary case against his podiatry license. Evans reached the settlement with the attorney general's office, and state Health Director Dr. Gregg Wright accepted it in an order issued Tuesday. As part of the agreement, Evans pleaded no contest to allegations that he had violated state licensing law by aiding and abetting the practice of podiatry by an unlicensed persoa Evans allegedly employed Katherine 59.2 1.75.

OPEN SUNDAY Glen Ellen Wines W. Zlnf aadesl, CharcL, White Grcaach fj Early Times $1149 59.2 oa, 1.75 Aft Light Dry HUsJ Case 2-12 pk. cans warm sLkVr Pad Masson Brandu $5 Bill advances Cocrs Light, Extra GoW Case 24 cans warm 25.4 750 ml Carolans Irish Cream 750ml Berger in his office from December 1988 until December 1989, although he knew 8PJ she had failed the national podiatry (lei 1111112 liability license, according to a RonricoRosi 59.2 ot, 1.75 exam and had no disciplinary petition filed against his li Mmvkcz JP Light Loose case 24 cans warm EA8TVIEW LIQUOR for nuclear waste cense in June 1990. Berger was issued a podiatry license in October 1990 under an agreement 59.2 ol. 1.75 Ad 640 West Van Dora (on the road to Pioneer Park) 464-5800 tHUSWFUESLAST us Black Velvet $ir rncNtjooa Diru 592 ot, 1.75.

EXPIRES S-20-91 Moav-SaLStal AJf. "faaBaMaHaaMBaaaiajBai Abortion notification bill sent to floor by committee BUY A SNAPPER IN MARCH. MO PAYMENTS DUE 'TIL SEPT. '91 some to seek unsafe, illegal abortions rather than notify an abusive parent or go through the courts for permission to avoid notification. The bin's language is patterned after a Minnesota law upheld by the U.S.

Supreme Court, Labedz said. It would require that a parent of an unmarried minor be notified in writing at least 48 hours before an abortion is performed. Notification would not be required if a court determined the woman is sufficiently mature or that it is not in her best interest to inform her parents. LB818, which would have clarified that the state's laws regulating picketing apply to abortion clinics, failed to get out of committee Wednesday on a 4-2 vote. Five affirmative votes were needed.

By Associated Press A bin requiring parental notification before a female under 19 can have an abortion was sent to the floor Wednesday. LB425, sponsored by Sen. Bernice La-bedz of Omaha, is this year's version of a bin that tied the Legislature up for days last year as opponents filibustered. However, several leading opponents have said that tactic will not work this year. Labedz has said the bill will help ensure that minors receive parental guid-.

ance in making a decision on abortion. She said the principle issue in the bin is the right of the parents to know what is happening in regard to their children. Opponents say the bill is intended to harass young women and could lead SPECIAL Purchase optional Thatcherizer Assembly with your new Snapper Self-Propelled Mower and receive a $50 U.S. Government Series EE Savings Bond absolutely FREE! The Legislature's Judiciary Commit-, tee advanced a bill Wednesday that would tighten liability standards related to nuclear waste. LB568, sponsored by Sea Spence Mor-' rissey of Tecumseh, would place "strict joint and several liability" for personal injury or.

property damage caused by low-level radioactive waste storage site on the operators of the site, on the indus-' -tries that produce the waste, or on the, haulers who transport it The bUl would provide additional li-ability protection in state law and would. i apply to both high- and low-level radio-; I active waste. Nebraska currently does not have any provisions in state law for "strict joint and several liability." A1 Morrissey aide said LB568 is patterned after federal legislatioa LB568 would complement a bin sup- ported by Gov. Ben Nelson, which would require all five states in the Central In-terstate Low-Level Waste Compact to share liability for the storage site. The site is currently planned to be built in Boyd County.

LB837 also would make the waste producers, handlers and man- agers subject to the liability laws of the host state. Opera singer is dead BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, an opera singer who gained international acclaim with a repertoire of nearly 90 parts, died Tuesday of liver cancer at age 70. Faeroese poet dies COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) William Heinesen, whose poetry and writing chronicled life on the remote. Faeroe Islands, died Tuesday.

SPECIAL BONUS! I Purchase optional bag assembly with your new rider and get a $100 U.S. Government Series EE Savings Bond absolutely FREEI Committee hearing emotional on subject of flag desecration MODEL P21507B Self -Propelled, 6 Forward Speeds Brlgga A Stratton HP Quantum Engine Big 2 bu. Kwlk-N-Eaiy, catcher Included Convertible Into recycling, leaf shredding or aid discharge mower MODEL 33128BE Brings I Stratton Industrial Commercial Engine HI Vac Mowing System Shift On-The-Qo 33 Inch cutting deck Convertible Into recycling mower LEGISLATURE Shown witn optional oig He asked why there is not an uproar over the countless gimmicks used by people trying to sell everything from used cars to appliances by flying the American flag in commercials and advertisements during the Mideast war. The committee failed to advance the resolution on a 44 vote during an executive session after the hearing. Five votes of the eight-member committee are needed to advance a resolution.

Voting to advance the measure to the full Legislature were Sens. George Coordsen of Hebron, Jennie Robak of Columbus, Ed Schrock of Elm Creek and Jacklyn Smith of Hastings. Four committee members were present but not voting Committee Chairman Sen. Jerry Conway of Wayne, who was among that group, said there are too many unanswered questions about what the resolution does or if it does anything. Also not voting were Sens.

John Lindsay of Omaha, DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln and Ron Withem of Papillion. By Associated Press The Legislature's Government Com-. mittee held a short but emotional hearing Wednesday on a resolution asking Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration. About 50 members of the American Legion fined the audience as Sea Elroy Hefner of Coleridge presented LR10. Hefner said the resolution is part of a national movement to get 38 states to petition for such a change and force Congress to act These people are not desecrating just the flag, but the men and women who fought and died for our country," Hefner said.

This is more than free speech. It's an action we ought to be able to prohibit The flag is a national symbol of freedom, a banner of liberty," he added. Bin Schatz, executive director of the Nebraska Civil Liberties Union, opposed the bill Schati said be was not speaking against patriotism, but for the Bin of Bights. naulnd. SuMtct to cradR sperovtl mM kt Ml by Sept 1SS1 your seeetmt wW be endltid lor Hnmce end kv lrESnSwSS oTh.MHSH.

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wWch wnJ.Th.APH In erhwl on Feb. 2S, 1SS1 1SJV A minimum S.SO flneno. entry. aM be summo. Calendar By Associated Press find Legislature, First Session 1 -March a 42nd Lesislative Day Convened: a.m.

Adopted: LRs SO, Si. Advanced from Select File: LBs 276, J7J, 278. 455. 133, 420, 4 20 488. 393, 357, 359, 477.

192, 316, 448, 224, 250, 341, 251, 324. 731, 410, 498, 205, 221, 253, 305, 67. 325, 363, 363 A. 284, 31 1, 218, 297. 297A, 382.

Adiourned: 12:19 p.m. Committee action according to reports filed with the clerk of the Legislature: Transportation: Advanced LBs 175. 532.1 590. UKITEO SUPPLY A3 RENTS 2847 'A' Stre4 Lincoln, NE 435-3523 EJUCERKARSWARE 220 Gateway North smSHKHCFF POWER 1740 Yotand Lincoln, NE 474-3624 rUR2WAE 4WiHwy.2 Bt JSmJUIEKSSaE REPAIR, INC. 4900 WW 8t Lincoln, NE 4M209 MINStjr.