Ricketts Addresses Heidemann Resignation

September 9, 2014 Leave a comment


Pete Ricketts commented today on news of Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann announcing his resignation as lieutenant governor and withdrawing from the gubernatorial campaign.

 

“Last night, I received a call from Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann, who informed me of his decision to resign as lieutenant governor and withdraw his candidacy for lieutenant governor.

 

“I receive this news with a heavy heart. My prayers continue to be with the Heidemann family at this very difficult time. Lavon has served the State of Nebraska with distinction and integrity for the last decade and he has my gratitude and continued prayers.”

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Hassebrook Launches First Attack

September 3, 2014 Leave a comment


Today Chuck Hassebrook unveiled the first negative attack ad from a candidate in the general election, making deliberately misleading accusations against Pete Ricketts.

 

“Two months ago, Chuck Hassebrook said he wanted a positive campaign on real issues.  Today . . . not so much,” said Matt Miltenberger, Ricketts campaign manager.  “What Chuck’s done with this ad is beyond the pale.  It takes class warfare to unprecedented lows in our state, and is downright absurd.”

 

Where do we start?

 

Falsehood #1:  Hassebrook’s ad says Ricketts is benefitting from ads “backed by his billionaire father” that are “misleading” about Hassebrook’s record.

 

Truth:  The Republican Governors’ Association (RGA) produced the ads Hassebrook cites.  They highlight Hassebrook’s well-documented support for and defense of Obamacare. The RGA operates independently from any campaign or candidate and publicly discloses contributions.  Joe Ricketts has never contributed to the RGA.

 

Falsehood #2: Hassebrook’s ad says Ricketts wants to raise insurance rates.  He cites Ricketts’ opposition to expanding Obamacare in Nebraska as support.

 

Truth: Nebraskans know the culprit behind drastic increases in their health insurance costs: Obamacare.  Many individuals and families lost the plans they liked and are now incurring double-digit percentage increases in their premiums and deductibles.  Even so, Chuck Hassebrook supports Obamacare, calling the measure “historic,” and saying people would support it if they understood it.

 

Falsehood #3: Hassebrook’s ad says Ricketts wants to single out reduced tax rates for “the rich and . . . corporations.”  His only cited source is a newspaper report about two legislative bills Ricketts has made clear he has always opposed.

 

Truth: Tax reform for the benefit of all Nebraskans has been a main tenet of the Ricketts campaign.  Ricketts has released detailed plans for property tax reform, which would be the top priority of a Ricketts administration.

 

Falsehood #4:  Hassebrook’s ad says Ricketts’ plan would raise taxes on 80 percent of Nebraska families.  The ad cites a report from a left-leaning think tank about Governor Heineman’s LB 405 and 406.

 

Truth:  Pete Ricketts has publicly denounced the two bills in question, stating their impacts on Nebraskans and the state’s largest industries, agriculture and manufacturing, would be detrimental to the state.  Instead, Pete has a plan to bring about tax reform that will help all Nebraska farmers, small businesses, and middle-class families.

 

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Ricketts too Extreme for Nebraska

September 2, 2014 Leave a comment


Gubernatorial candidates Chuck Hassebrook and Pete Ricketts met in Grand Island last evening for their first debate, and the differences between the two couldn’t be clearer.

“Pete showed his true colors tonight and confirmed what Nebraska voters already know about him: he’s out of touch and unprepared to be Governor,” said Hassebrook Communications Director Meg Mandy.

“Pete has pushed policies that would shift taxes off of top earners and raise taxes on eight in ten Nebraskans, raise valuations on agricultural land, and impose taxes on groceries, prescriptions, and dorm rooms. He would consolidate counties and school districts. He just doesn’t get it. Nebraskans can’t afford Pete Ricketts,” said Hassebrook.

Hassebrook added, “His family has already spent millions on attack ads in races in two other states. And now, for the first time ever in a Nebraska Governor’s race, the money is pouring in from Washington-based, third party groups. Never before has the office of Governor been so politicized, and never before has there been so much money, so early. Nebraskans sent a clear message to him back in 2006 and they are ready to do it again: our votes are not for sale.”

“Nebraskans are an independent bunch, and we are confident that they will elect a common sense, solutions oriented Governor in November: Chuck Hassebrook,” Mandy concluded.

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Hassebrook: “It Was Just a Matter of Time”

August 27, 2014 Leave a comment


“It has started. Pete Ricketts’ misleading ad says more about who he is than about who I am. First, Pete’s father gave him a job in corporate America and now he is trying to buy him a new job as Governor. But it won’t work, because Nebraskans’ votes aren’t for sale,” said Hassebrook.

The ad from the RGA falsely claims that Hassebrook supported cutting Medicare. In fact, Ricketts funded an organization that worked to end Medicare as we know it and replace it with an unpredictable voucher system that would cover a shrinking portion of medical costs for Nebraska’s seniors.

 

Hassebrook went on to say, “When Pete Ricketts rejected my call for a Nebraska Clean Elections Pact earlier this summer, I knew it was just a matter of time before I would be the target of millions of dollars of misleading attack ads through the third party groups that are backed by his billionaire father.

 

“This is just like Pete’s primary against Jon Bruning, he is bragging about running a positive campaign and using third party groups backed by his father to lie about his opponent.”

Chuck Hassebrook

Chuck Hassebrook

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Ricketts Releases Ad

August 17, 2014 Leave a comment


Introducing economic growth throughout Nebraska as a major theme of his campaign, Pete Ricketts today released his first television ad of the general election.

 

“I’m not a typical politician,” Ricketts said.  “I’ve balanced budgets, made investments, and created jobs.   To grow jobs and population across the state, we need real-world experience and a fresh perspective in Lincoln.”

 

The ad outlines priorities of a Ricketts administration: creating good-paying jobs, achieving real property tax reform, and applying practical, real-world experience to responsibly reform state government.

 

The ad also emphasizes Ricketts’ business background.  When Ricketts started at Ameritrade, the company had fewer than 150 employees.  Over a 20-year period, he helped the business grow into one of the most successful in the nation.  Today, it employs more than 2,000 Nebraskans and 6,000 nationwide.

 

View the ad here: http://youtu.be/8Or_ddrBRaE

 

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Ricketts Campaign at Fair Parade

August 7, 2014 Leave a comment


Tim and Debbie Anderson of Oakland lead the campaigning for Pete Ricketts at the fair parade.

Tim and Debbie Anderson of Oakland lead the campaigning for Pete Ricketts at the fair parade.

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Ricketts Praises Scotus Decision Upholding Religious Liberty

July 1, 2014 Leave a comment


Pete Ricketts, GOP nominee for governor, released the following statement regarding the United States Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision.

 

“The ruling is an encouraging victory for Americans’ religious liberties and conscience rights.  Peeling back one of Obamacare’s most egregious overreaches, it upholds a longstanding American principle: the government must not impinge upon citizens’ religious beliefs.  The decision protects family-owned businesses from being forced by the government to violate deeply held beliefs.”

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Ricketts Releases Fundraising Numbers

June 25, 2014 Leave a comment


Gothenburg, NE – Pete Ricketts announced today that he has raised more than $622,000.00 for the reporting period ending June 17. This brings the total raised for his campaign for governor to $3.3 million. The campaign ends the period with $533,685.47 cash on hand.

 

“In the wake of a very competitive primary election, I am humbled to have received such support from Nebraskans,” Ricketts said.  “Our campaign will continue delivering a message of new growth, responsible reform, and a united Nebraska in every corner of the state.”

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Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation’s PAC Endorses Ricketts

June 23, 2014 Leave a comment


Scottsbluff, NE – The Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation’s Political Action Committee today announced its support for Nebraska Republican Gubernatorial Nominee Pete Ricketts with its “Friend of Agriculture” endorsement.

 

“Pete has been successful in business because he understands when opportunities exist,” said Steve Nelson, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau.  “There is a world of opportunity to grow Nebraska’s agriculture economy in a way that will keep younger generations coming back to the farm. That means creating a climate that encourages growth in our livestock farming sector and growth in biofuel businesses; and working to build markets for agriculture commodities. Pete Ricketts understands those opportunities and he’ll move our state in the right direction in those areas.”

 

“I am very pleased to have the support of the Nebraska Farm Bureau,” Ricketts said.  “Agriculture is the heart and soul of Nebraska and its continued success is crucial to our future.  From achieving real property tax reform to increasing market opportunities and helping beginning farmers, I am eager to get to work on state policies that help promote new farm and ranch income and enhance rural development.  There’s no better way to move our entire state forward than by growing agricultural opportunities.”

 

Founded in 1917, the Nebraska Farm Bureau is the largest farm and ranch organization in Nebraska. More than 56,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members.  Last week, Ricketts received official support from the Nebraska Cattlemen Association, the state’s largest livestock production organization.

 

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Governor’s Race Within Four Points

June 20, 2014 Leave a comment


Last week Public Policy Polling surveyed 900 voters on the Nebraska Governor’s race. The results were publicly released this morning. Chuck Hassebrook, candidate for Governor, has released the following statement:

“I am very encouraged about the results from the PPP poll that were released earlier this morning. Despite a significant Republican registration advantage, the race is within four points and I am leading in favorability overall and among independent voters.

“The poll demonstrates that this is the most competitive race for Governor in decades. It also explains why Pete Ricketts rejected my proposal for a Nebraska Clean Elections Pact: more Nebraskans view him unfavorably than favorably, so it’s clear that his strategy will be to drag me down, just as he did with Jon Bruning in the Republican Primary. He claimed to run a positive campaign while having shadowy groups with hidden donors sling the mud for him.

“Fellow Nebraskans, brace yourselves to be pelted by more mud from Pete’s friends and family. When that begins, just remember what it represents. It is a brazen ploy of a billionaire family to use its money and influence to buy your vote through negative advertising, rather than earn it by presenting a practical vision for moving our whole state forward.

“Our state needs leaders who will stand up for ordinary Nebraskans by creating genuine opportunities for them to succeed. That’s the kind of leader I have been, and that’s how I will continue to lead as Governor.”

Chuck Hassebrook. Photo Courtesy of Meg Mandy.

Chuck Hassebrook. Photo Courtesy of Meg Mandy.

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