Opinion

Work Ethic Camp drive must continue

Tuesday, April 1, 2003

It's too early to relax, but supporters of the Work Ethic Camp apparently have achieved a preliminary victory in the battle to keep the McCook facility open.

The Associated Press reported Monday that three members of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee expected funding for the Work Ethic Camp to be returned to the final budget plan.

Three others said they were undecided and three were not immediately available for comment, but none said they would push for closing the camp.

According to the story, supporters of the camp got their point across when they testified to the Appropriations Committee.

Sen. Jim Cudaback of Riverdale said originally he did not want to fund the camp, but his mind was changed after hearing from people who supported its mission of providing an alternative to prison for nonviolent, first-time offenders.

"If there's a chance it can save one of those kids, I'm all for it," Cudaback told the Associated Press.

Chairman Sen. Roger Wehrbein of Plattsmouth and Omaha Sen. Lowen Kruse also said they supported the camp, as an effective, efficient alternative to prison.

But the battle is far from over.

"Every dollar we add back means we're going to have to find revenue to fund it," said Sen. Marian Price of Lincoln. Price, Sens. Chris Beutler of Lincoln and Nancy Thompson of Papillion all said they were undecided about whether to vote to restore funding in the committee's budget.

Even with the Work Ethic Camp funding removed, the committee's plan as it stands is about $366 million short of balancing the projected state budget shortfall of $761 million.

Nebraskans will have to absorb the difference by paying more taxes or seeing more of their services cut.

And, no matter what the committee recommends, the full Legislature can do whatever it wants.

We need to let our voices be heard.

Telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and mailing addresses for all of Nebraska's senators are available on the Unicameral's Web site: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/index.htm

Members of the appropriations committee include Sen. Roger Wehrbein, Dist. 2, Sen. Don Pederson, Dist. 42, Sen. Chris Beutler Dist. 28, Sen. Jim Cudaback, Dist. 36, Sen. Pat Engel, Dist. 17, Sen. Lowen Kruse, Dist. 13, Sen. Marian Price, Dist. 26, Sen. John Synowiecki, Dist. 7, and Sen. Nancy Thompson, Dist. 14.

Address correspondence to the Senator and his or her district number, State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604.

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