Nebraska Cattlemen Association Support Ricketts

June 17, 2014 Leave a comment


The Nebraska Cattlemen Association today announced its support for Pete Ricketts’ campaign for governor.

 

“I am honored to have the support of the Nebraska Cattlemen Association,” Ricketts said.  “Nebraska’s cattle producers are the best in the country.  One of my top priorities will be to help promote value-added ag opportunities that lead to economic growth throughout the state.  Continued strength and innovation in the beef industry will be critical.  I am very excited about the future of agriculture in Nebraska, and I look forward to working with livestock producers across the state.”

 

“The Nebraska Cattlemen Political Action Committee unanimously voted to support Pete Ricketts campaign to be Nebraska’s 40th Governor,” said Jeff Rudolph, president of Nebraska Cattlemen.  “Pete is a staunch supporter of the Nebraska beef community and we look forward to working with him to continue strong leadership for all of Nebraska agriculture.”

 

The Nebraska Cattlemen Association is the largest livestock production organization in the state.

 

Filed under Community Tagged with , , ,

Hassebrook Challenges Ricketts Claim on Minimum Wage

June 12, 2014 Leave a comment


Yesterday, the Columbus Telegram reported that Pete Ricketts said “many of the Nebraskans receiving the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour are high schoolers who need the entry-level positions to gain work experience and training. This opportunity would be eliminated if employers can’t afford to pay the higher wages.” Chuck Hassebrook has released the following statement, challenging Ricketts’ claim:

“My opponent’s claim characterization of the minimum wage as an issue primarily affecting high schoolers is out of touch. In truth, the proposed increase is critical to thousands of Nebraska families who rely on minimum wage jobs to make ends meet.

“Half of the workforce that makes minimum wage in Nebraska are over the age of 25, which means there are thousands of adult Nebraskans that work in jobs where they are not earning a living wage. People who work hard every day ought to be able to support themselves without needing the help of public assistance programs like food stamps or housing assistance.

“Twenty years ago, the average CEO earned 20 times the average worker. Today, the average CEO makes 275 times the average worker.  At McDonalds, the CEO makes 1,200 times the average worker. We’re in the midst of the largest gap in earnings in history.

“Many studies show that increasing the minimum wage has little or no effect on employment prospects of low wage workers. An increase in wages actually stands to benefit employers through reduced costs associated with employee turnover.

“In fact, in the first four years following the last minimum wage increase the U.S. economy created more jobs than were ever created in any four year period.

“A majority of Nebraskans support increasing the minimum wage, which just goes to show how out of touch Pete is with average, hardworking families. There is no reason that our tax dollars should go to subsidizing businesses that do not pay their workers a living wage.”

Chuck Hassebrook

Chuck Hassebrook

Filed under News Tagged with ,

Ricketts Chooses Running Mate

June 6, 2014 Leave a comment


Lincoln, NE – Nebraska Republican Gubernatorial Nominee Pete Ricketts today named Lavon Heidemann, current Lieutenant Governor, farmer and livestock producer, former Regent, and former state senator, as his running mate and nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

 

“Lavon is a man of great character, broad experience, and collaborative skill,” Ricketts said.  “In the many roles he’s filled – farmer, school board member, volunteer firefighter, state senator, and now as Lt. Governor – he’s earned the respect of others by being honest, working hard, and working till the job is done.  An expert on the state budget and a former key leader in the Legislature, he’s the partner I need to help grow new opportunities in Nebraska.”

 

“I am honored to join Pete in his campaign to be Nebraska’s next governor,” Heidemann said.  “I am excited about his vision for new growth and responsible reform.  I look forward to partnering with him to develop constructive relationships within the Legislature and throughout Nebraska that will help improve state services and create conditions for the growth of new and better-paying jobs.”

 

Heidemann was appointed Lieutenant Governor in February 2013.  Prior to that, he briefly served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.  From 2005 to 2013, he was a state senator.  During six of those years, he served as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He began his public service in 1996 as a member of the Elk Creek School Board.  He is a long-time member of the Nebraska Cattlemen and Nebraska Farm Bureau.

 

Heidemann is a farmer, livestock producer, and volunteer firefighter from Elk Creek in Johnson County.  His work experience includes time as general foreman for a drilling company in Alaska.  He was born in Pawnee City and graduated from Elk Creek High School. Heidemann and his wife Robin attend St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Elk Creek.  They have three children and six grandchildren.

Filed under News Tagged with , , ,

Hassebrook Responds on Ricketts Running Mate Choice

June 3, 2014 6 Comments


This afternoon, Republican candidate for Governor Pete Ricketts announced that he picked current Lieutenant Governor, Lavon Heidemann, to be his running mate in the upcoming November election. Chuck Hassebrook has released the following statement in response:

“Mr. Ricketts’ made this choice because he needed to make up for his lack of knowledge about government, agriculture, and small town Nebraska. While Mr. Ricketts has spent his life in a corporate board room or in his family’s pro-baseball team’s stadium, I have been here working to create opportunity for all Nebraskans.

“I have spent my career fighting for ordinary Nebraskans as a Regent for the University of Nebraska and as the Executive Director for the Center of Rural Affairs. I am running for Governor to do more to create good jobs and genuine opportunity for every Nebraskan and a bright future for our state.

“I am currently working through a short list of potential running mates, and I look forward to announcing my choice later this summer. But I’ll tell you one thing – whoever I choose will be ready on day one to be a partner in making the changes necessary to get our state back on track, grow our economy, and create new opportunities for all Nebraskans to prosper.”

Chuck Hassebrook

Chuck Hassebrook

Filed under Community Tagged with , , ,

Hassebrook Challenges Ricketts to Nebraska Clean Elections Pact

May 27, 2014 Leave a comment


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

Chuck Hassebrook

Filed under News Tagged with , ,

Newer posts →