Newshound 8/20/2009

- Benetor disputes insurance lobby influence at town hall meeting
- Backdoor raises promised for Fire Union wage freeze
- Man killed near 29th and Maple

More after the jump ...

Nelson disputes insurance lobby influence at town hall meeting

There were no guns, major disruptions or Obama-Hitler caricatures reported at Sen. Ben Nelson's Aug. 20 town hall meeting to discuss health care reform. Nelson addressed some 400 people face-to-face inside a lecture hall and another 800 in overflow rooms inside the Durham Research Center.

Nelson fielded around a dozen questions from those in support and opposition to proposed health care reforms. One woman, who identified herself as a Mexican-American, said she opposed the health care bill extending coverage to illegal immigrants. Nelson said the bill would not cover illegal immigrants and vowed not to support a bill that did. A man said the debate represents a battle between the have's and the have-not's and urged Nelson to consider the poor in extending coverage. Another man asked Nelson if he would give-up his senate health care plan for a public option. Nelson responded “The reason I'll give it up so quickly is because I'll end up with a better plan.”

The room was packed with prominent Nebraskan's, such as Warren Buffett, as well as young professionals, union members and retirees. Lines to get in the building stretched around the block.

In his opening remarks Nelson assured attendees that he had read the current version of the health care bill. However he avoided diving into specific elements he liked or disliked about the proposal. He said he would not support a bill that added to the federal deficit or disrupted the private insurance market. He was lukewarm to a public option, calling it a good fallback for the few who could not afford a private plan.

Nelson has received the most career campaign contributions from the private insurance industry, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. During a press conference after the meeting, Nelson said the $1.2 million in donations has not influenced his decisions on health care reform.

Backdoor raises promised for Fire Union wage freeze
The president of the Omaha City Council told the Omaha World-Herald he was upset about 'back door' raises promised to Omaha firefighters in exchange for wage freezes in 2009 and 2010. Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and fire union president Steve LeClair announced Aug. 19 that the union agreed to wage freezes to help the city close an estimated $12 million budget deficit. What they didn't say was that the plan includes up to 18 percent pay hikes over the following three years.

Firefighters were expecting a 3 percent raise in 2009 and 2010. That's around $3,100 pay cut over two years for the average lowest rank firefighter making a base pay of $51,189. The plan, which also includes police and civilian wage freezes, is expected to save the city $10 million in two years.

Man killed near 29th and Maple
Todd Prater, 40, was reportedly shot and killed Aug. 20 near 29th and Maple, according to Omaha Police. Prater was taken to Creighton University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police made no arrests.

Prominent Omahan robbed
Omaha Police were called to the gated community of Tomlinson Woods to investigate a home invasion and robbery. The home owner, Mike Simmonds, is a well-known business man and activist. He has recently sponsored ads that criticize the minimum staffing ordinance for the Omaha fire department. Previously he owned several Omaha Burger King's.

Lincoln Senator weds
Sen. Danielle Nantkes of Lincoln was married Aug. 15 to Thomas Conrad. The 32-year-old bride told the Omaha World-Herald she would change her last name to Conrad.