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Hansen Continues Service to Nebraska
By Pete McClymont
Tom Hansen recently completed his first session of his initial year as the state senator representing the 42nd District. People in North Platte, Lincoln County and the beef industry have known for a long time what an outstanding, service-orientated individual Hansen has been. Now, since serving in the Unicameral, the whole state gets to benefit from his efforts.
Nebraska Cattlemen caught up with the freshman senator over dinner, which was appropriate because as Hansen says, “The job pays $1,000 a month and all you can eat.” He currently serves on the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee and Health and Human Services Committee. Hansen gave his views from his first year serving the constituents of Lincoln County.
Q. How has your first year gone so far?
A. I think it has gone really well. There is a lot of difference on the other side of the glass. I have been down here on and off for thirty some years on very specific issues – water, livestock issues and taxes. There is a lot of difference because now I’m inside the glass. There are now so many issues, which makes for a really big learning curve. I didn’t think I would have anything to do with HHS [Health and Human Services Committee] other than some constituent concerns about foster care. I’ve learned a lot about HHS and I plan on learning more.
Q. Did your expectations mirror the reality of
serving as a state senator?
A. I really think they did. I didn’t think there was really anything unusual from what I expected; it was about what I anticipated. The time commitment was a little more than what I expected. When I went home on the weekends, I thought there would be a little more free time, but there wasn’t because people like bending my ear with their concerns. The time commitment was pretty steep and it has been even somewhat this summer. We took time off for a family vacation, which was good. The budget process was one of the biggest differences. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite what it turned out to be. Thankfully the Governor had some cuts that he wanted to make. If he hadn’t initiated them, I don’t think we would have gotten them done.
Q. Did you like your committees (Banking, Commerce and Insurance; Health and Human Services)?
A. When I came down here from my background in ranching and agriculture, I expected to be either on the Ag Committee, the Natural Resources Committee or I had an interest in being on the Transportation Committee. But when we had our 3rd district caucus, I found out there were some things that happened. The next day I learned I was on Banking, Commerce and Insurance and HHS. There are three freshman senators on those two committees – Tim Gay from Papillion, Dave Pankonin from Louisville and me. We have formed a nice little group together. We’ve decided to stay on those committees in the future. With the combination of term limits and seniority, things would have been different. Now with a limited amount of time, I’m committed to stay with my current two committees.
Q. Do you see the supposed rural/urban split in the Legislature?
A. Yes, it is there. There are so many different ways to split this state – conservative/liberal, rural/urban, west/east and union/non-union. It really doesn’t matter. So yes, the split is definitely there. I came from an ag background and I campaigned on this notion. I really believe that anybody who serves in the Unicameral is an ambassador from their district. I feel it is my duty to meet and get to know the urban senators. We have coalitions on the ag side, but we still have to make that bridge to the urban senators to let them know that agriculture is important to the state, which most of the urban senators know – until we have to spend money. Since a lot of taxes come from the eastern part of the state, we just don’t have the people out in the western part of the state. The split is there but I will do anything I can to get that split narrower. With ag tourism, great golf courses, NebraskaLand Days and other events, we need to get our eastern neighbors out west. On the other hand, we have to go to Lincoln and Omaha and experience what they have to offer.
Q. Much has been made of the large freshman class that was a result of term limits. What is your estimate of the newcomers’ performance?
A. Being a supporter of term limits, I was crossing my fingers that they were going to be a good group of people and they really are. There are so many good people in this state that surely each district could find new, good representation. I have no fear now with term limits that we are going to find bright people to carry their constituents’ views, desires and fresh ideas to continue to build Nebraska. I was very happy with the freshman class.
Q. What was the most unexpected aspect of
being a state senator?
A. One of the things I first noticed was I didn’t realize there was going to be press on the floor of the Legislature. You can stand up on the floor and state your views and the next thing you know, someone is tapping you on the shoulder and saying, “We heard what you said and now what do you mean?” They really quiz you.
Also, the first of May, the budget came through. I obviously had never followed the state’s budget process. When May rolled around on the ranch, we were fixing fence, fixing windmills, branding calves and taking cows to the hills. I didn’t have time to go to Lincoln to see how the budget process worked in Legislature. So May is a pretty important month down here. That was somewhat unexpected.
Q. In your experience at the Unicameral, what
improvements would YOU make if you could?
A. I think we might have to look at the time allotted for filibusters. Maybe the time for full and fair debate may need to be shortened. If we shorten the time for filibusters, we could possibly go to a 60-day session every year. There were many issues I came down to Lincoln with and I had a really good feel for how my district wanted me to vote. We can sit in the Unicameral and hear debate go on and on, but everybody’s mind is pretty well made up within the first hour. And if your mind is not made up within the couple hours of debate, I don’t think a filibuster is going make a difference. I think there is a place for a filibuster, but I don’t know if I would ever use that tactic.
Q. How would you respond to critics who say, “Lawmakers don’t listen or perform to what
constituents want?”
A. I would really disagree with that because I went home and held two town hall meetings that had at least 40 people in attendance and that lasted over three hours. Also, I personally take, as does my office, countless phone calls and e-mails. E-mails are great! The number of e-mails seems to be growing all the time. The communication allows my constituents and me to have an even better connection. This summer we are gathering more e-mail addresses in order to have better communication between legislator and home district constituents with a regular synopsis and gain input. If a senator doesn’t go home, communication with his or her district may become strained. I went home every weekend but one. You have to go home and listen.
Q. Would you change the one-house system Nebraska has for the more typical two-house system?
A. No, absolutely not – mainly because it is a bipartisan system. In a state that has 1.7 million people, it would be difficult to have a two-house system; there are not enough people. Also, in my opinion, other sparsely populated states really benefit from having a one-house system.
Q. How has your life changed from running your family’s ranch in jeans to shaping the state’s
future in a suit and tie?
A. I had to buy a lot of suit and ties! It is easier to set goals in your business, your family’s business, on a daily basis and a weekly basis. Now I must keep in perspective the whole state’s business. Besides, the state is not a business. It’s how you take care of people’s problems. I feel I have been “re-purposed” in this new endeavor. As NC president, I tried to build consensus throughout. I’m trying to do the same thing here. It is a lot different, but there are still similarities.
Q. What do you think your grandfather, former state Sen. Henry Hansen, would say if he followed you now?
A. “Is all this stuff necessary?” “Why does it cost so much?” and, “Where did you get that entire staff?” Senators didn’t have any staff back then. Their offices, their storage, everything was at their desk on the floor of the chambers. He would also question the need for all this government. I know my father would.
Q. As a member and past NC president, you have seen from the producer level how NC is perceived. Now, as a state senator and policy maker, is there a difference in that perception?
A. I don’t think there is that much difference in my perceptions then and now. I always thought NC was highly respected and now I see why. The reason is that if NC has a gripe or problem with a situation, they usually come up with a solution to that situation. There is a big difference coming to a committee hearing and complaining as opposed to identifying a problem and proposing a solution. When NC has a dog in the fight, they will come up with a solution. I think NC is pretty well thought of in the Legislature. The people NC has working for them are well respected and that means a lot. I don’t pay any attention to them, though. Ha, ha!!
Q. Why did you want to become a politician?
A. Just because it was very important to me to represent the views of western Nebraska. I think the value system and views of western Nebraska need to be re-enforced. They don’t change a lot. I believe those views are what the state was founded on.
Q. Have you enjoyed your first session?
A. Yes, I have enjoyed it. People ask me if it was fun. I say no, it was not fun, but it was enjoyable. It was a big learning curve and enjoyable, but it wasn’t fun.
Q. Do you feel a state senator can make a difference?
A. I think they can and, with term limits, there will be more small changes than in the past. When a senator stayed in office for 30 years, more big changes were possible. As an example, a state senator serving on Transportation and Telecommunications Committee for 30 years had a better chance of making a big difference in the roads system than now with term limits. Senators will always make a difference. All you have to do is get re-elected one time and listen to the people so you can make a difference. Y Pete McClymont is NC’s vice president of Legislative Affairs.
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