Nebraska voters consider four ballot measures
Nebraskans will decide whether to
enshrine hunting and fishing in the state constitution, let lawmakers serve
longer and earn more money, and whether to make it a little easier to impeach
officials.
With little campaigning being done on any of the measures on
the Nov. 6 ballot,From Jessica pnikeairshoes to LAMB Pumps, it's
unclear how any of them will fare. All were referred to voters by the
Legislature.
Nebraska is one of four states — along with Idaho,
Kentucky, and Wyoming — to consider creating a constitutional right to hunt and
fish this November. The National Conference of State Legislatures says 13 states
already have similar protections. Seven other states considered similar
legislation this year but failed to pass anything.
Scott Smathers,
executive director of the Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation, said it's important
to protect the sports now before animal rights groups,New Style Jeans niketn on sale with fast delivery!
such as the Humane Society of the United States, can act. Smathers said he
believes it's important to put this statement in the state constitution to make
clear how Nebraskans feel about hunting and fishing.
"It's a statement
that says, 'Listen, we value these traditions in our state,'" said Smathers,
whose group has been holding meetings to explain the need for the ballot
measure.
Critics of the proposal question whether language should be
added to the constitution when there's no apparent threat to hunting and fishing
in Nebraska. But hunting rights advocates point to measures animal-welfare
groups pushed in other states, including a ban on dove hunting approved by
Michigan voters in 2006 and a five-year ban on bear hunting in New Jersey that
ended in 2010.
"We know that those groups are coming, and their efforts
are increasing," Smathers said.
The Humane Society of the United States,
which has led efforts to improve conditions for farm animals, isn't campaigning
against the Nebraska measure, said Jocelyn Nickerson, the group's state
director. Nickerson said there is no threat to hunting and fishing in Nebraska.
"This amendment is a solution in search of a problem," she said.
Randy Adkins,Large selection of authentic stainlesssteelwatches
available. a political science professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha,
said he expects the hunting measure to pass easily because hunting is so popular
in the state and some people are concerned about the possibility of new
gun-ownership restrictions.The Design Museum presents iconic French shoe
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Nebraska ballot measures must receive a simple majority of yes votes to
pass. But the number of yes votes a measure receives must be greater than 35
percent of the total votes cast in the election.
Here's a rundown of the
three other constitutional amendments:
— Nebraska's 49 state senators
would see their salaries jump from the current $12,000 to $22,500 annually under
one proposal. Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh proposed the raises, noting state
senators haven't received a raise since 1988.
Lautenbaugh said the extra
pay could enable more people to run for office, rather than only people with the
personal wealth that enables them to serve for little pay.