LINCOLN — The Omaha Public Schools superintendent and at least one state senator are crying foul after Gov. Dave Heineman asked the state's major education groups to support repeal of the federal health care overhaul or face possible cuts in state funding.
Heineman, a staunch opponent of the overhaul, states in the letter: “I am writing today to encourage you and your board to support the repeal of this federal health care law. If you sit silently by, I am going to assume that your lack of action is tacit support for increased Medicaid funding and the likely reduction in funding for education.”
The letter, which was sent to three organizations that represent the state's teachers, administrators and school boards, goes on to state: “The future of education funding is at stake. Don't sit on the sidelines.”
OPS Superintendent John Mackiel expressed dismay, saying he had never seen such threats from former Govs. Mike Johanns and Ben Nelson.
“These divisive politics are not necessary and are not the Nebraska way,” Mackiel said. “No parent should have to choose between their children's education or their child's health. That's not the Nebraska way.”
State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, who supports the federal health care law, said the governor is presenting a “false choice” to state education groups.
“An education governor should know that kids have to be healthy, and one of the big obstacles to learning is (bad) health,” Nordquist said.
The battle of words comes on the heels of a report Heineman commissioned and which Nordquist and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson have disputed. The report concluded that the new health care law creates an unfunded federal mandate that will cost Nebraska an estimated $526 million to $766 million over the next 10 years in increased costs of Medicaid, the government-funded health care program for the poor.
It also comes as OPS, helped by legislation introduced by Nordquist, opens six health centers based in inner-city schools to help ensure that children are healthy and ready to learn.
Heineman points out in his letter that the three largest portions of the state budget are the University of Nebraska system, state aid to K-12 education and Medicaid and that “increased funding for Medicaid is likely to result in less funding for education.”
The governor was unavailable to respond Friday to the comments by Mackiel and Nordquist.
Contact the writer: 402-473-9584, paul.hammel@owh.com
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