Governor Dave Heineman says while he's open to discuss it, a push by a Nebraska magazine publisher to have state government partially fund an intrastate airline would be difficult to do under the current economic forecasts.

Chris Amundson of Norfolk. publisher of Nebraska Life magazine, has organized a meeting of half a dozen state senators later this month to discuss a private-public partnership to fund an airline that would connect cities in the west and the east.

Heineman told KNEB News Thursday he doesn't know much about the concept and hasn't talked to Amundson, but was skeptical of spending any state government money when he and lawmakers are looking at a $30 million deficit.

Amundson says the airline would help unite the state, reduce the time state employees are on the road, could save state government money, and be a key tool for economic development and tourism.