Hughes: Openness, honesty key

McCOOK, Neb. -- District 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes is wrapping up his first legislative session in the coming days and indicated this morning he put a priority on openly stating his position and avoiding double-talk catered to the audience.

Sen. Hughes displayed a willingness to support and oppose Gov. Pete Ricketts this session, dependent on the issue. During this morning's legislative conference call with the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce he shed some light on how serious he takes his responsibility to be open with his decisions, as well as his disappointment in others for failing to do so.

Sen. Hughes said he supported a bill intending to provide driver's licenses to children of illegal aliens, LB 623, adding opposition to the bill had appeared to lose steam recently. The bill is on final reading today.

Hughes said he received a lot of feedback on both sides of the issue and, in this case, he supported the bill because he believed it was the right thing to do. He said he realized it may cost him some votes if he runs for re-election but he believed it was important to be open with his decision.

Hughes said some senators would play both sides of an issue, dependent on who they were talking to, and he didn't "like playing those games."

Reflecting on his first session, Hughes said his biggest disappointment was finding there were more politicians at the capitol than statesmen.

"A politician won't vote if he knows a bill will pass or fail without him, they are not willing to take a stand and face consequences," said Hughes.

"Every vote we take, someone is not happy with us," said Hughes, adding that he believed senators should be willing to take a stand in order to do the job they were elected to do. He said he was willing to defend his votes and understood "we are not going to agree every time."

Sen. Hughes said he was elected to represent District 44 to be the one gathering information, researching the issues, and making those decisions. He said it was a rare occurrence for him not to vote on a bill.

Sen. Hughes sided with Gov. Ricketts in opposing the effort to repeal Nebraska's death penalty, which Hughes said is likely headed towards a gubernatorial veto. The repeal advanced Wednesday on a 32-15 vote, with Sen. Hughes among the 15 senators in opposition.

All indications have been Gov. Pete Ricketts will veto the repeal, according to Sen. Hughes, who added "I have no idea how that will play out."

Sen. Hughes said legislators have been presented with poll information in both directions, claiming to reflect the will of the majority of Nebraskans. He indicated polling results were affected by the demographic they were presented to, as well as the wording and content of questions posed.

"What you're looking for, is sometimes what you get," said Hughes.

Sen. Hughes updated chamber members on several bills advancing recently. A bill providing the University of Nebraska-Omaha authorization to use cannabis oil in studies to treat seizures was among those advancing this week. Sen. Hughes said the bill was the more limited of those debated this session, relating to medicinal marijuana.

Legislators will focus their attention on some 40-50 bills on final reading today before taking a 4-day weekend.

They will reconvene for four days next week and for the final day of the 2015 session on June 5.