Lawmaker: No outside jobs for elected officials

Osborn, elected in 2006, continues to work for the same Omaha-based insurance brokerage, SilverStone Group, that employed him after he left the Navy. He gained fame in 2001 when he landed a damaged Navy spy plane on Chinese soil and helped save the lives of crew members.

Avery said he met with Osborn recently to tell him he planned on introducing the measure, which could spark partisan debate in the officially nonpartisan Legislature and is sure to put Osborn’s work choices back in the spotlight.

“He tried to defend his current status, but I didn’t find it persuasive,” Avery said. “I’m not saying he’s not doing a good job, but when voters put somebody in a full-time office with a full-time salary they expect full-time work.”

That’s exactly what voters are getting, said Osborn. He pointed to accomplishments during his first year in office, such as returning more unclaimed property to Nebraskans than any other treasurer in state history, daily balancing of the state’s books and recently launching a Web site that shows taxpayers how the state spends their money.

“I’m a full-time treasurer. I’ve raised the bar high and met it,” Osborn said.

“It’s not a big drain on me in any way,” he said of his work with the insurance brokerage. Osborn said he is a consultant for the company and shareholder.

Asked to estimate much time he spends as a consultant, Osborn didn’t give a direct answer. He said only that he isn’t obligated to work a certain number of hours and “I don’t have an average” number of hours he logs weekly.

Last summer, he said he spent about 50 hours a week doing treasurer duties and up to 20 hours for the insurance brokerage.

Besides the treasurer’s office, Avery’s bill would apply to the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor and attorney general.

There are already restrictions on the attorney general.

A law barring the attorney general from having a private practice was passed after the Legislature impeached former Attorney General Paul Douglas in 1984 over his conduct in office and dealings with a former officer of the failed Commonwealth Savings Co. of Lincoln.

Avery’s bill would also prohibit constitutional officers from investing in businesses that their elected positions might give them decision-making authority over.

Government watchdog group Common Cause Nebraska is among those that will back Avery’s bill. Spokesman Jack Gould said Osborn’s case is the first instance he could recall of a constitutional officer holding an outside job.

“Most are paid well with the idea being they will be there as full-time employees,” Gould said.

Told that Osborn claims he does work a full-time schedule as treasurer, Gould said: “But it’s splitting his attention. It’s about ’where is your attention focused?“’

Osborn makes $85,000 a year as state treasurer.