Editorial

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Dear Editor,

I read with amusement your reporting of the death of the Work- Camp bill.

You certainly have a way of not getting the whole story out. Sen. Chambers was filibustering this bill and was losing by a large margin every amendment he was offering.

He usually will, as a last resort put up what is called a poison pill amendment that if passed would then kill the bill because others won't vote for it.

Sen. Chambers likes to use gay and lesbian people as a pawn and their cause as his weapon. May I also add that at no time does Sen. Chambers really want to help their cause but use it as a tool for his own purpose.

Sen. Chambers asked for permission to ask Sen. Christiansen questions and then the embarrassment began.

Sen. Christiansen stated he was afraid of giving an answer to the question, Do you favor an amendment that would say that any organization would be denied the services of inmate labor if that organization discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation?

To most of us the answer would have been Yes, but Senator Christiansen could not state that and was then made to look like a bigger-than-life fool in front of his fellow senators.

Sen. Chambers said Sen. Christensen was spineless, had no moral integrity and was like someone who had no legs and arms and was flopping around on the floor. It was the most bizarre thing I ever saw while watching the Nebraska Unicameral.

I, like others, wrote emails to Speaker Adams letting him know this kind of behavior is unacceptable and should not be tolerated on his watch.

A group of school children were visiting the Legislature on Tuesday and witnessed the entire episode.

I asked Speaker Adams How was the teacher Supposed to answer questions concerning such uncivilized conduct?

I am happy to report that today Sen.Chambers stated on the floor of the Unicameral that he apologized for his behavior and was sorry if he had offended anyone because of his actions.

I ask that your paper tell the complete story. It does no good to the voters of the 44 Senate district if we do not get the complete picture of how our representative to the Unicameral is doing or How he is being perceived by his fellow senators.

Sen. Chambers got his poison pill amendment passed because of the performance of Sen. Christensen.

Sen. Christensen must now start the long process in repairing his reputation if he wants to be considered a player in the Unicameral.

Steven Lenhart,

via e-mail

EDITOR'S NOTE: Transcripts of some of the floor debate are available here.

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