As the Election Day draws near, many Nebraskans have asked me about Amendment 2, which would remove the lieutenant governor as presiding officer of the Nebraska Legislature. I support Amendment 2 because the duties of the lieutenant governor have expanded significantly during the past decade, making it more difficult for the lieutenant governor to have time to preside over the Legislature.

For example, as a result of the attack on America on Sept. 11, 2001, the federal government created a new Department of Homeland Security and every state had to decide how they would respond to the new security environment. 

In Nebraska, Gov. Mike Johanns appointed me director of Homeland Security. In that capacity, I chair our Homeland Security Policy Group and I work closely with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

As you may know, Nebraska has become a national leader for the way in which we coordinate and integrate our homeland security efforts with state agencies and local governments.

Johanns and our Homeland Security Policy Group have approved more than $40 million of expenditures for first responders to improve their readiness to respond to potential threats of terrorism, including approximately $16 million to build regional communications systems that will allow law enforcement and fire departments to communicate with each other. This is the first step of a phased-in system to achieve a statewide public safety communications system.

We have approved the investment of more than $30 million for bioterrorism activities. Nebraska now has a new Health Alert Network. This network is not only helpful for a potential terrorism threat but with everyday public health challenges.  Nebraska has one of the best Livestock Emergency Disease Response System (LEDRS) programs in the country.

Obviously the homeland security responsibilities are a new assignment for me as lieutenant governor, and to do the job properly requires a significant amount of my time. 

But that's not the only new responsibility that I have as lieutenant governor. In the late 1990s, the Legislature created the Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC), and the lieutenant governor has been serving as its chair, beginning with former Lt. Gov. Kim Robak.

The NITC is critical to Nebraska's future on many different technology fronts.

Working with former University of Nebraska President L. Dennis Smith, we provided the leadership for the development and implementation of Nebraska's new telecommunications backbone.  This backbone has allowed the University of Nebraska and state government to aggregate its demand for telecommunications services, reducing our costs and enhancing our capacity. We are also working on expanding Internet 1 and 2 opportunities for school districts. A key priority is a new telehealth network that will connect all Nebraska hospitals.

Nebraska has changed how we elect the lieutenant governor. 

Beginning with the 2002 elections, the gubernatorial candidates of each party select their lieutenant governor candidates similar to the way in which the presidential candidates select their vice presidential candidates. The governor and lieutenant governor then run as a team.

I would also note that there is a separation of powers issue. 

Currently, we have an executive branch individual presiding over the legislative branch of government.  A better model would be the U.S. House of Representatives, where they elect their own speaker to preside over their legislative activities.

Finally, presiding over the Legislature is largely a ceremonial duty since the lieutenant governor has no authority or responsibility for the Legislature's agenda, the assigning of bills to committees or any other operational matter related to the Legislature. I believe the lieutenant governor should be focused on his or her new duties and the responsibilities assigned to him or her by the governor rather than presiding over the Legislature.

The decision on whether to remove the lieutenant governor as the presiding officer of the Legislature is up to each Nebraskan, but I wanted to share with you why I support that idea.

Dave Heineman is Nebraska's lieutenant governor.