Sen. Christensen says bills will be controversial

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Sen. Mark Christensen is not known as a legislator who would shy away from controversial topics, introducing a bill to allow teachers to carry guns in classrooms as well as other firearm related legislation in recent years. For that reason, his comments Tuesday morning in McCook warning that legislation he planned to introduce in the coming session would be controversial and require Nebraskans to "think about what you want," may warrant attention.

"I wrote seven bills already on water for this coming year. Most are going to be very controversial," said Sen. Christensen during the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast, Tuesday morning.

Sen. Christensen said even though the state was sitting on its largest cash reserve ever, it was not going to be easy to generate funds to address issues facing Nebraska irrigators.

Rural representation was outmatched by the big city Senators hailing from the eastern part of the state, according to Sen. Christensen, who said Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy Counties alone accounted for 25 of the legislators in Lincoln.

Sen. Christensen said the press commonly referred to 24 rural Senators but he believed it would be a real stretch to find 14 agriculture friendly Senators.

"It's very important we continue to have strong representation from our rural Senators," said Christensen.

Sen. Christensen did not offer details pertaining to the bills he planned to introduce but reiterated comments similar to those he has typically made after controversial legislation he introduced failed to advance.

"Some of it will be very thought provoking, going to have to think about what you want," said Sen. Christensen, adding the legislation would require weighing both long and short term desires.

"We've always looked short term, this is going to make people think," said Christensen.