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Campaign funds can be used for all sorts of things. Many you wouldn't believe.

Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska said a privately paid employee most likely would be accountable to the person who paid them — not to the public — and would most likely not be covered by laws governing ethical issues involving state officials. “It may sound good that you’re not spending tax dollars, but you’re giving up accountability,” Gould said. “It’s wrong.”

Jack Gould, Board Issues chairman for watchdog group Common Cause Nebraska, argued the wisest decision on the board’s part would be to forgo buying a house – or providing a stipend for one – altogether. “There is this huge list of perks that we give to administrators and coaches,” he said. “It’s a list that (can include) everything from a house to an expense account to lawn and maid service. All of this stuff that comes to them is a contradiction to the fact that they’re out there talking about keeping costs down for students. They’re living a lifestyle that is not in any way consistent with a student working three jobs to try to get through school.”

Jack Gould, Board Issues chairman for watchdog group Common Cause Nebraska, argued the wisest decision on the board’s part would be to forgo buying a house – or providing a stipend for one – altogether. “There is this huge list of perks that we give to administrators and coaches,” he said. “It’s a list that (can include) everything from a house to an expense account to lawn and maid service. All of this stuff that comes to them is a contradiction to the fact that they’re out there talking about keeping costs down for students. They’re living a lifestyle that is not in any way consistent with a student working three jobs to try to get through school.”

More than two years after former state Sen. Brenda Council found herself in the middle of a campaign cash scandal which eventually helped squeeze her out of office, at least one state lawmaker continues her seemingly uphill push to end any similar schemes.

The University of Nebraska has been dinged by the state auditor for allowing employees to spend nearly $96,000 on 20 first-class flights around the world, book $300-a-night oceanfront resort rooms for a week and get reimbursed for alcohol while traveling, in violation of state law.