YRTCs, Saint Francis Investigation, Racism and Word Choice Discussed

The Nebraska Legislature moved forward Thursday on improving the state’s Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers, and investigating a controversial contract for child welfare services. And senators engaged in a spirited debate about racism, and the meaning of certain words.

The state’s Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers, which serve young people who’ve committed violations like assault or burglary, are in flux. The administration of Gov. Pete Ricketts and the Legislature are discussing how they should be structured, and where they should be located, in the future. One thing lawmakers agree on is the youth sent there need to continue to receive an education.

A bill advanced Thursday says juveniles committed to the YRTCs are entitled to education equivalent to that in regular public schools in the state. Sen. John Arch, chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, explained the reasoning.

“We felt as though – and the Department of Education (and) DHHS (the Department of Health and Human Services) agreed – that we need to increase that focus on the educational experience of those youth, and that it not be an afterthought because, of course, once they have successfully completed the YRTC program, they are put back into schools and we want to give them a much better chance of being successful when they go back to school,” Arch said.

The bill advanced on a vote of 34-0.

Also Thursday, Speaker of the Legislature Sen. Mike Hilgers announced that Sens. Justin Wayne and Mark Kolterman, members of a special committee formed to investigate the state’s contract with Saint Francis Ministries for child welfare services, would work with the Health and Human Services Committee on the investigation. Hilgers described the move as a way to “jump start” the investigation without waiting for the special committee to get up and running.

It also has the effect of re-involving Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh in the investigation, since she is a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. Cavanaugh sponsored the resolution to create the special investigative committee, but was left off when its members were selected, and has been slowing the work of the Legislature this week in protest.

And, fallout continued Thursday from remarks made by Sen. Mike Groene the day before. Groene had drawn flak for criticizing the quality of the University of Nebraska. But he also drew criticism for his choice of words.

During debate on a student journalism bill Wednesday, Groene praised Sen. Mike Flood for starting an underground newspaper in high school, and then following his interest as an adult by founding News Channel Nebraska.

“He got upset he couldn’t write what he wanted. But the system works. So he created his own underground newspaper. And he created such a passion within himself he’s a media Mongol, at least in Nebraska standards, now,” Groene said.

Later Wednesday, Groene corrected himself, adding in a few more words in describing Flood.

“Some people thought I called him a mongrel. Some people… I called him a Mongol, and I thought I called him a mogul. But after discussing with him I think he qualifies for all three. I think he’s got mixed heritage, so that does qualify him as a Mongol, or a mongrel. And he is aggressive so that does qualify him sometimes as a Mongol. So anyway, whichever compliment you wish to take Sen. Flood, I meant ‘em all,” he said.

Thursday, Sen. Matt Hansen criticized Groene’s choice of words.

“Sen. Groene, among other things, used the word Mongol, which is a slur against people with Down Syndrome that has ties to anti-Asian racism. And he used that on the floor of this body just casually as if it was not what I just described,” Hansen said.

Sen. Julie Slama leapt to Groene’s defense.

“Speaking in defense of Sen. Groene, when Sen. Chambers was on the mic in the last biennium talking about raping me on the floor of the Legislature – yes, he talked about raping me on the floor of the Legislature -- Sen. Groene was one of the very few members of this body to get up and stand up for me,” Slama said.

Slama was referring to an incident last year when former Sen. Ernie Chambers talked about how people would react if he, as a black man, raped Slama, who’s white, compared to what they think of Thomas Jefferson, who fathered children with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings.

Groene continued the exchange, talking about how he sometimes mispronounces words. He said his definition of the word “Mongol” means simply someone from Mongolia. And he put a positive cast on the word “mongrel” as well, tracing it to his roots in a mixed ethnic area of eastern Nebraska.

“Let me tell you where I come from, growing up in the Bohemian Alps, where the Irish and Germans and Bohemians and Polish intermingled and became a mixing pot. We laughed that we were mongrels, and damn proud of it,” he said.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh argued that just because some people accept the terms doesn’t mean they should be used in the Legislature.

“We are the leadership in this state and we represent our constituents. And it’s not appropriate to use racial slurs even if half of the body or more is comfortable with those slurs and doesn’t find them offensive,” Cavanaugh said.

For his part, Flood said he knew what Groene was trying to say, and took it as a compliment.

“He was saying ‘media mogul,’ which – I have the debt of a mogul, and so I figured I might as well be a mogul. And as somebody who comes in from the radio business, I know when I started in the business, I could never say ‘Congregational Church’ when I was reading the funerals. I always said ‘Congressional Church.’ And there are some words out there that you interchange those letters,” Flood said.

Hansen concluded the exchange saying he didn’t want to delay the Legislature from getting to other business, while suggesting the issue won’t go away.

“I don’t necessarily want to be a thorn; I don’t want to necessarily intentionally gum up the wheels. I’m not planning on doing some of the other tactics and maneuvers to force you to listen or force you to attend, because a lot of my comments today have been directed to the public. I am disappointed that we as a body apparently are just not going to come together to condemn pretty contemptuous behavior, and I hope the state of Nebraska, the people of Nebraska, hold us accountable over this weekend,” he said.

Lawmakers have now adjourned for a four day weekend, and will return to work on Tuesday.