An open letter to Sen. Lippincott

Dear Editor:
I read with interest your reaction to the Unicameral’s special session on property tax relief published in the Aurora News Register on August 28. I do not purport to be an expert on the taxation struggles that face Nebraskans, though I continue to improve my understanding of the matter.
I did, however, take offense by a statement you made in the article, not about taxation per se, but about the legislative process. “Our legislative body with its seemingly default setting of filibustering any bill not palatable to the minority party, requires a super majority to pass any bill,” he said. “Not only does this lend itself to chronic compromise, but it takes a long time to finally get to a vote.”
The ”minority” members of the Unicameral were duly elected by their constituents, just as you were elected by yours. Their views and ideas are just as valid as those who see the topic differently. You took umbrage at the idea of compromise. Compromise should be the very heart of the democratic process. It is the lack of compromise that has led to so much dysfunction in our political process today. It is not an ugly word.
Finally, the very idea of our unique Unicameral is that we are all Nebraskans. Legislation should work for people who agree with you and those who do not. I hope in the future that you will consider a less divisive approach to your rhetoric.
Dawn Haymart,
Aurora