Hassebrook Challenges Ricketts to Nebraska Clean Elections Pact

This morning Chuck Hassebrook challenged Pete Ricketts to join him in a Nebraska Clean Elections Pact, through a letter delivered to the Ricketts campaign.

If Mr. Ricketts agrees to the Pact, both candidates will pledge to stop hidden donors from assaulting Nebraskans with mudslinging ads, limit negative advertising to statements that they personally make themselves, and keep general election spending under $3 million for each campaign.

“The Nebraska Clean Elections Pact will only work if both parties agree to abide by every component,” said Hassebrook. “No candidate can unilaterally disarm and survive, so I will not pledge to take these steps alone. I am challenging Mr. Ricketts to agree to this Pact because it is the only practical way for Nebraskans to get the kind of campaign they want and deserve.”

“We just endured the ugliest campaign in recent history. In the last two weeks, I’ve been in communities all across the state, and without fail, people approach me about the excessive amount of spending and negative advertising that we saw in this last primary election.”

“Elections are serious business. Nebraskans deserve a campaign that respects the democratic process and is focused on solutions to the issues facing our state. They deserve a campaign that does not insult their intelligence.”

Misguided U.S. Supreme Court rulings that equate buying elections with free speech and treat corporations as people endowed with inalienable rights have made the problem worse. We cannot change the Court’s decisions, so Nebraska leaders must step forward with practical, common sense solutions.

“It is in that spirit that I challenge Mr. Ricketts to sign this Pact”, said Hassebrook.  “I have already signed it and am committed to abide by it if he agrees. I sincerely hope Mr. Ricketts agrees so we can have a constructive campaign focused on a meaningful, robust debate about our different visions for Nebraska’s future.”

Chuck Hassebrook