DEAN: JOHANNS BLEW CHANCE FOR METH FUNDS

Democratic candidate for governor Stormy Dean is criticizing Gov. Mike
Johanns for the failure to obtain $500,000 in federal funding to combat the
spread of methamphetamine.

"Johanns dropped the ball," Dean said.

Johanns' spokesman Chris Peterson said the money was not a grant, as Dean
claimed, but was part of a federal appropriations bill. Former U.S. Sen.
Bob Kerrey had earmarked the funding in past years, but no earmarking for
Nebraska was made last year.

"Stormy Dean continues to embarrass himself as a candidate for governor,"
Peterson said. "Today's attack by his campaign raises further questions
about his credibility as a candidate."

Dean's spokesman Mike Kangior countered that Johanns should have asked
Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel to secure the funding.

"I don't care if you want to call it an earmark, a grant or an award, they
did nothing to get it," Kangior said.

The money had gone to the Grand Island Police Department to help with the
fight against methamphetamine.

Dean said failure to secure the money is part of a continuing pattern of
the Johanns administration losing out on federal funds.

Johanns was criticized this summer when it was revealed that state health
officials had missed a deadline for signing an application to receive a
$1.2million federal AIDS housing grant.

Johanns defended the action, saying there were questions about the grant
application that needed to be answered.

The state also did not apply for a $2million grant to combat violent crime.