Editorial

Legislative letter: Norris would have been proud

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Conflict is an inherent part of our political system as ideas compete for a chance to change the direction of our society.

Political parties are the vehicle we use to help advance ideas, and Gov. Pete Ricketts was fulfilling his role as a Nebraska Republican leader when he said legislators should support the party platform and work to elect more Republicans.

But state senators, 13 of them at least, were fulfilling their role by reminding Gov. Ricketts of their position.

At the GOP convention earlier this month, Ricketts chastised Republican lawmakers for not supporting him or the party platform on various issues and casting votes to override his vetoes.

Thirteen senators, including five Republicans, seven Democrats and an independent, signed a statement reminding Ricketts that Nebraska has a nonpartisan, single-house Legislature unlike any other.

"Individually, we are Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and independents," the senators wrote. "Together, we are the singular Nebraska Legislature -- an institution which operates through collaboration and expertise to uphold its distinct powers and privileges to create laws and policies" they wrote.

"Governor Ricketts believes political party trumps principle," the joint statement declared.

"Our non-partisan unicameral Legislature has lasted for 80 years and, barring the will of the people for a new legislative experiment, we will not surrender our non-partisan and constitutional duties.

"We support the Nebraska constitution and not any particular political party."

Ricketts understands political conflict; he's endorsed Donald Trump for president after other members of his family have spent millions of dollars to try to prevent Trump from obtaining the GOP nomination.

We shouldn't be concerned about a clash between the governor and legislators; in fact, we should worry if there is too much harmony in the statehouse.

As for the partisanship Ricketts is promoting, it has resulted in what many see as a choice between the lesser of two evils.

Ask most Nebraskans about any election and they'll say they vote for the candidate rather than the party. Yes, we're a conservative state, but we've had many Democratic governors and senators over the years, McCook's own Ben Nelson and Frank Morrison for example. Plus, Nebraska populism extends back to William Jennings Bryan and beyond.

It's that spirit that enables another McCook resident, George W. Norris, to succeed in establishing the nonpartisan Unicameral.

Were he serving in the Legislature today, we are sure Norris would have applied the 14th signature on the letter to Gov. Ricketts.

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  • George Norris was correct. Doing what is best, regardless of political party is the responsible thing to do. Did Our State Senator sign the letter?

    -- Posted by dennis on Tue, May 31, 2016, at 4:04 PM
  • The fact that his parents have the where with all to donate $5 million to Scot Walker's failed campaign is disturbing to many. Seriously, what kind of favor are they trying to purchase? An ambassadorship for their son? This is the very core of the corruption within our system.

    -- Posted by hulapopper on Fri, Jun 3, 2016, at 2:13 PM
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