Democratic leader to file ethics complaint, says Heineman (R-NE) should drop NU bid
Source: Omaha World Herald
By Kate Howard Perry
The chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party has promised to file a state complaint against Gov. Dave Heineman, charging that he violated ethics laws while seeking the University of Nebraska presidency.
Heineman announced that he is applying for the NU job at a press conference Wednesday, held in the governor’s hearing room. He sent letters to the Board of Regents laying out his qualifications for the job on his official letterhead, and a spokeswoman issued a press release to the media about his candidacy for the job.
The governor’s spokeswoman, Sue Roush, said the Republican governor believes the ethical question is “all political” and had no further comment.
Vince Powers, who is an attorney, said the governor should withdraw his application because he was “using the people’s office to try to hustle a lucrative job.”
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/democratic-leader-to-file-ethics-complaint-says-heineman-should-drop/article_7d6ae47c-ea47-5cbb-9ecb-524775623faf.html
Heineman's response on why Nebraska can't expand Medicaid was "We would have to cut education" (That doesn't sound very pro-life???) Here is one of his his letters on the subject: http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/news/2012/07/11_medicaid.html
From today's OWH public pulse aimed right at Heineman: http://www.omaha.com/opinion/the-public-pulse-may/article_f60155b9-87a4-5500-b9e7-300563c90c68.html
POSTED: THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 1:00 AM
NU should think hard about next leader
I hope my alma mater, the University of Nebraska, will carefully consider its choice for next president.
Given the importance and complexity of the university system, this person must be someone who has a proven track record in higher education. It’s not a job for a beginner.
One of the university’s chief missions is stewardship. Its new leader should be someone dedicated to conserving natural resources such as the Ogallala Aquifer. Anyone who has demonstrated a preference for political gain over the future of the state’s natural resources should not qualify.
The president should be someone who has demonstrated a commitment to open inquiry and the advancement of science. Anyone who has shown himself willing to ignore the realities of science for political gain should not qualify.
Above all, the leader of a public university system must be someone who has demon-strated a sincere concern for all the people. Anyone who has obstructed reasonable efforts to increase the well-being of the state’s least-advantaged citizens should not qualify.
G.A. Wees, Omaha