By The
Associated Press
Monday, Jul 09, 2007 - 01:07:03 am CDT
LINCOLN,
Neb. - Gov. Dave Heineman’s office tightly controlled programs by Nebraska
Health and Human Services, requiring approval before any communications were
published or conference speakers hired, a former employee said.
Charles Housman, who quit last month as public education coordinator for HIV
prevention, said the first orders came down in 2005. After that, conference
plans and documents for the public were examined, and sometimes changed or
canceled to eliminate controversy and sex, Housman said.
Minutes from a November 2005 meeting of the public health management team
confirmed policies that aligned the department with Heineman’s administration.
Dr. Joann Schaefer, Nebraska chief medical officer and then-director of
regulation and licensure,” reminded staff that this is a pro-life administration
and she supports that”, minutes from the meeting said. “We have a process in
place to look at anything that could be controversial”.
Schaefer is the chief medical officer and director of the public health division
under the recent HHS reorganization.
For example, the name of a conference for state public health workers on sexual
health had to change from Issues Impacting Sexual Health to “HIV, STDs and
Reproductive Health: A Topical Update”.
”I thought it was a joke”, Housman said. “If we can’t say the word sexual in a
sexual health conference, this is sad. It’s beyond sad”.
Health and Human Services spokeswoman Kathie Osterman said the original title
was too ambiguous and didn’t provided specific information about the conference.
Housman said workers were told that brochures, posters, Web sites and conference
speakers were to avoid controversy, as well.
Osterman said though she would sometimes go to the governor’s staff with ideas,
there was no policy requiring her to do so. She said she is working on a new
policy to guide department communications.
”But not being controversial is not the guiding force,” Osterman said.
Heineman spokeswoman Ashley Cradduck said there isn’t an oversight order, but it
makes sense for the two offices to work together.
Cradduck said a “pro-life administration” means the governor values adoption
over abortion and wants policies that support families.
Osterman said the department has been concerned about public communications
since before Heineman was governor. She said the department has to be careful in
what it says to the public.
”Our role isn’t advocacy,” Osterman said. “Our role is to provide information
and education.”
She said that information has to be inclusive and not offend people.
”We do look carefully as what we get from the program areas,” Osterman said. “I
don’t
see it as
political.”
Housman said he quit in part because of frustration with the policies.
”You expect HHS to push the envelope,” Housman said. “That’s the last thing they
wanted to do.”