Heineman discusses issues with Journal Star

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BY NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Gov. Dave Heineman talked about issues ranging from his plans for this summer and fall to how to pay for road work to immigration during a recent interview. 

Here are excerpts.

On education

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Dave Heineman

Dave Heineman

With the laws that have been passed, we now have an opportunity to use the new assessment to improve our academic performance. I will work with the Legislature to follow through on implementation of those assessments (statewide testing program).

In a broad sense, the significant infusion of state aid means the Legislature and I will be looking very closely  at more academic and financial accountability. We will have to look at how we define that. 

For example, the Omaha Public Schools got an additional $20 million in state aid. We should all be looking very closely at them closing the academic achievement gap that exists.

I support higher teacher salaries. It is primarily a local decision, but with increased state aid they (local districts) ought to have an opportunity to increase teacher salaries.

On taxes

We had the largest tax relief package in history a year ago, but taxes are still too high. We are going to take a serious look this summer and fall at what our opportunities are relative to income taxes, property taxes, car taxes.

The only reason I didn’t mention sales tax is that it’s the tax I hear from citizens they don’t object to. They are comfortable with the sale tax level. And it’s probably the way it is collected, on every transaction. 

I’m not opposed to lowering  it.  But it is clear to me when someone with a gross income above $50,000 is paying (income tax) at the same marginal rate as Warren Buffett, that needs to be changed. 

The other areas demand greater attention because that’s what I hear from the citizens.

On BSDC

The Beatrice State Developmental Center needs to remain open. I know there are some who want to shut it down. I don’t agree with that. We need more community-based care, but you still also need BSDC.

On technology

Within the next decade as young people become adults, they are going to expect us to deliver services online. Our young kids aren’t likely to go to the city hall or the county court house or the state office building. They want to access it online at all hours of the day. I think we need to get prepared for that.

It would not surprise me that in a decade cell phones would give you all the access you would need.   You are going to be able to talk to someone, do banking transactions, send text messages on the phone. You should be able to communicate with state government too.

For starters state government needs to get one e-mail system.  We are getting closer to that. We need to work together and to think of ourselves as one team, not as separate departments. Our citizens view us as state government. 

On roads 

I think I’ve got a pretty good pulse of where the citizens are in this state. It is very very clear to me. Our user fee model for funding roads (primarily the fuel tax)   has been an excellent model, but citizens don’t want the gas tax to go much higher. So there has to be other sources of funding to complement the user fee model.  

We have got to sit down and take a look at other funding opportunities, what are we comfortable doing. I have also asked the Roads Department to look at how they can become more efficient. 

Is (creating toll roads) an option we would consider? Yes. 

Is it likely?  No. 

Nebraskans have told me they don’t want toll roads. I don’t favor them. I don’t think that is a legitimate option. I really don’t.

On a partisan Legislature

I believe the people of Nebraska overwhelmingly favor our unicameral system of government. I think it is a good system. So the practical reality for me is there is not support for making it a partisan Legislature. So I don’t worry about it.

I would like to see good men and women elected to the Legislature who basically will share conservative values we have in this state.

On being governor 

I tell people I believe this is the best job in America because I get to see Nebraska at its best every day. No one invites the governor to events to showcase the worst thing going on in their community. They invite me to events because they’ve got a new library, a teacher recognition, a business hall of fame banquet.

On immigration

I think it is important that we follow a fundamental principle. If you are not here legally you are not entitled to those (government) benefits.

This issue is not going  away. It’s one we are going to deal with next session. It’s a difficult issue. I think there are very strong feelings out there.

I don’t have any problem with employer sanctions, if we give them a (federal) data base to check. I’m all for the data base. I think that is the easier way to go. Then we have employers accountable. 

I am not willing to let them off the hook. But the federal government should provide a system that will verify immigration status.

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.