Legislature ready to wrap it up

After two years of harrowing budget talks and family health problems, Nebraska Sen. Tom Baker is looking forward to a relaxing summer.

The Nebraska Legislature was expected to wrap up its 60-day session at noon today. Once it's done, Baker said his summer activities will turn to "family, family, family."

Baker said he and his wife Pat are planning a couple of trips to visit family and are expecting two of their grandchildren to come for a visit.

But it won't be all fun and games for the senator.

Baker said this summer will involve work with the Nebraska Department of Corrections to come up with a capitol construction bill that would add up to four pods to the Nebraska Work Ethic Camp in McCook.

Interim studies will also be conducted in Southwest Nebraska on issues of motor vehicle titling and cellular phone service.

Baker said the legislative body is also expecting to be called back into special session in late fall to determine how to pay the expected judgment on the Low Level Nuclear Waste Site. Negotiations for decreasing the $150 million (plus interest) judgment by siting the facility somewhere in Nebraska are now under way.

Baker said he voted for both the gambling bill and the state fair funds bill to give the people of Nebraska an opportunity to say, once and for all, what they want to do.

If the funding of the Nebraska State Fair fails, Baker said, "it will come down to how the state disposes of the property.

Baker will be in McCook for the legislative wrap-up breakfast Tuesday. For more information, call the McCook Chamber of Commerce at (308) 345-3200.