You Build the Budget: A Nebraska Connects Special; Examines State Budgeting Process

Airs Thur., Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., CT
This was an election program like no other Nebraska has ever seen. NETV’s News Unit challenged candidates for the Nebraska State Legislature to take part in an exercise that forced the candidates to lay out how they felt state government should spend its money.

In the first part of the program, NETV producer Bill Kelly visited eight candidates in their home towns and surprised them with a "game" we called "You Build The Budget" Presented with a set of eight jars labled with major spending areas, the candidates were given 100 one dollar coins to spend on this simplified version of the current Nebraska state budget.

After playing the budget game the participating candidates came together in the NETV's broadcast studio for an afternoon to work out a budget with their counterparts from other parts of the state, as they would in the Unicameral. Current and past members of the Legislature provided the novice candidates with "reality checks"; on how the process can effect the plans and priorities and candidate has for government. The session was moderated by University of Nebraska-Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen, a former speaker of the Legislature.

Candidates participating in the program include:

District 1:
Lavon Heidemann, a dairy farmer from Elk Creek
Ron Zeiger, a construction contractor from Syracuse

District 23
Mark Gustafson, a farmer in Mead
Chris Langemeier, owner of a real estate firm in Schuyler

District 43
Kevin Cooksley, a rancher in Berwyn
Deb Fischer, a rancher in Valentine

District 45
Abbie Cornett, a retired police officer from Bellevue
Jerry Ryan, the current Mayor of Bellevue.
Kirk Brumbaugh, who has since dropped out of the race, also participated.

So how did they do? Below you can find a summary of each of the candidates budget, as well as side by side comparisons of what they had to say about the largest and most significant spending priorities facing the State Legislature in the coming year.

DISTRICT 1 Budget | Quotes
DISTRICT 23 Budget | Quotes
DISTRICT 43 Budget | Quotes
DISTRICT 45 Budget | Quotes


"You Build the Budget": A Nebraska Connects Special; repeats on NETV Friday, Oct. 22, at 10 p.m. CT (9 MT) and Sunday, Oct. 23, at 11 p.m. CT (10 MT). The program will also air numerous times on NETV2. Check local listings for dates and times.