402-476-8815
NEBFARMPAC Announces
Presidential and Congressional Endorsements
For Immediate Release
October 23, 2008 Contact: John Hansen 402-476-8815 Office
Senator Barack Obama for
President
Scott Kleeb
for United State Senate
Representative Jeff
Fortenberry for the First Congressional District
Representative
Jim Esch
for the Second Congressional District
NEBFARMPAC President Gale
Lush of Wilcox said the NEBFARMPAC federal endorsements were earned on the
basis of their voting records and their positions on bread and butter economic
issues that impact family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Farm
programs, rural development, renewable energy, market competition, fair trade,
rural healthcare, and affordable high speed broadband internet access were
issues used as measuring sticks for rural issues.
Given the fact that half of
all net farm income came from Farm Bill support in ten out of the last twelve
years, voting records or public positions on the 2008 Farm Bill were given
significant weight. Senator Barack
Obama, Representatives Jeff Fortenberry and Adrian Smith voted in for the 2008
Farm Bill and candidates Scott Kleeb and Jim Esch took positions in support. As a result Obama,
Fortenberry, Smith, Kleeb, and Esch
earned NEBFARMPAC endorsements.
Senators McCain and
Representative Lee Terry voted against the 2008 Farm Bill,
and Secretary of Agriculture Johanns urged President
Bush to veto the Farm Bill, which he did twice. They were not endorsed.
In addition, the NEBFARMPAC
Board used the National Farmers Union voting records on key ag issues for the
last two years when possible to guide NEBFARMPAC’s
endorsements. In a fair and non-partisan
manner NEBFARMPAC supported those public officials and candidates that
supported production agriculture. Three Democrats and two Republicans were
endorsed.
Based on the issues used by
National Farmers Union, the voting ratings were: Senator Obama, and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry
100%, Rep. Adrian Smith 75%, Rep. Lee Terry 37%, and Sen. John McCain 0%. Obama, Fortenberry, and Smith were endorsed
for their positive voting records. Sen.
McCain and Rep. Terry did not receive passing grades, and were not endorsed.
In the Presidential race,
special consideration was given to the candidate positions on renewable energy
development, and in particular to their positions on ethanol. Barack Obama had a strong and consistent
record of support. John McCain had a
strong and consistent record of opposition.
NEBFARMPAC is the political
action committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union, a non-partisan, not-for-profit
general farm organization of 5,000 farm and ranch families, founded in
1913. Its mission is to protect and
enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of family farmers and
ranchers and their rural communities.
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