WATER, BUDGET, DRUGS TOP LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Sen. Jim Cudaback's Last Session

As the clerk calls the Nebraska Legislature to order Wednesday, the
excitement Jim Cudaback always feels will be mingled with sadness.

The 60-day session will be the last for 19 senators -- including
Cudaback -- when term limits force them to retire.

"I don't even want to think about it," the 16-year legislative veteran said.

Although several senators have challenged the constitutionality of
term limits, Cudaback said it's a long shot.

However in an Associated Press pre-session survey, 25 of Nebraska's
lawmakers said they would support an effort to overturn term limits.
Nine said they were leaning that way.

Despite his lame duck status, he plans to continue representing
constituents during the session in which he describes the major
issues as water, taxes, drugs and education.

"Water is the biggest because you can't live without it," Cudaback
said, noting that more people and less amounts of the natural
resource will drive legislation.

"We'll see more moratoriums with more people wanting their share and
people wanting to be paid because they can't irrigate," Cudaback said.

Restrictions are needed, he said, so "our grandkids and great
grandkids have fresh water to drink."

"We can always grow more food but it needs water to grow," he said.
"You can't make more water."

Balancing water needs with what is available is beginning to overtake
talk about taxation.

"Now when I go to coffee shops and meetings, the first thing people
mention is usually water. It used to be taxes," Cudaback said.

Soon, he said Nebraskans will quit caring about taxes because water
is what they'll want.

More legislation dealing with the battle against drugs, namely
methamphetamine, and underage drinking will also be debated on the floor.

"But I still think that people are going to have to realize that the
state can't do everything, parents have to be responsible," Cudaback said.

Money to fund drug courts, treatment of offenders and more severe
penalties for underage Nebraskans who try to buy alcohol will be proposed.

"The use of methamphetamine and underage drinking is costing us
billions," he said. "It's going to drag us all down."

Whether to spend, save, fund new programs or reinstate old ones with
predicted surplus in state coffers will also be debated and could
take up half the session, Cudaback said.

Estimates show a $262 million surplus over the next 18 months.

"Most people want more services but you can't have that and still get
a refund," Cudaback said. "I say let's give it back to local towns
and school districts to relieve property taxes."

He added that he'll do everything he can to protect state aid to schools.

On another issue, Cudaback said he's sorry he voted to impose sales
tax on home construction and repair labor.

"I'd vote to do away with it even though it generated about $50
million in taxes," he said, noting that "There should be an incentive
for people to fix up their homes."

Although he feels strongly about several bills, Cudaback said banning
cell phone use while driving is a major one.

"It's not going to pass. I don't have the support according to the
poll," he said. "But anytime something can cause death is
important," he said.

Cudaback said he also plans to re-examine a bill that would restrict
stem cell research.

"I'm a pro-lifer but not automatically if a piece of tissue may save
someone's life," he said.

Cudaback also said senators need to move beyond the issue of whether
or not to impeach Nebraska Board of Regent Dave Hergert.

Hergert admitted to breaking campaign finance laws before he was
elected regent.

"This should be the last place for something like that," he said.
"Let the process be carried out in the courts."

Other issues he mentioned include:

Mandating the use of ethanol when buying fuel at service stations.
Although he supports its use, Cudaback said he didn't think
Nebraskans should be forced to buy it.

Implementing a statewide smoking ban. Cudaback said he wouldn't vote
for one because the consequences of alcohol abuse need to be dealt
with first. He said smoking doesn't kill too many people directly as
compared to alcohol abuse and that there are more important issues right now.

When Cudaback leaves the legislature, he said he doesn't want to give
up public office entirely, noting that he'd like to serve on the
state fair board.

The bachelor also plans to travel, tinker with his cars, work on
rental properties he owns, enjoy the new house he recently built and
continue to mow and take care of public property in Riverdale where he lives.

"I'll miss the people when I leave. I'll miss everything about
it," Cudaback said. "But I'm also a loner and like to be by myself."