NEBFARMPAC

Political Action Committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union

1305 Plum Street, Lincoln NE 68502

402-476-8815

 

NEBFARMPAC Endorses

Scott Kleeb for United States Senate

 

For Immediate Release

 

October 23, 2008                                                                    Contact: John K. Hansen

                                                                                                 402-476-8815 Office

                                                                                                 402-580-8815 Cell

 

Lincoln, NE - NEBFARMPAC, the Nebraska Farmers Union Political Action Committee announced its endorsement of U.S. Senate Candidate Scott Kleeb.  Scott Kleeb, Mike Johanns, and Steve Larrick are vying for the open U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel. 

 

NEBFARMPAC President Gale Lush of Wilcox said, “The NEBFARMPAC endorsement was made based on the candidate policy positions on the key issues facing farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.  Those key issues included farm programs, emergency disaster assistance, renewable energy, rural development, ag market competition, fair trade, rural healthcare, and affordable high speed broadband internet access.  The NEBFARMPAC Board felt that Kleeb’s positions on the key issues were more consistent with what family farmers and ranchers and their rural communities need in order to survive and prosper.” 

 

NEBFARMPAC Secretary John Hansen said, “While we know Mike Johanns very well, and have worked with him as Mayor of Lincoln, Governor of Nebraska, and Secretary of Agriculture, our NEBFARMPAC Board could not ignore Mike Johanns’ recommendations to President Bush to veto the 2008 Farm Bill, his support for closing rural FSA county offices, his support for cutting WTO domestic income support caps for U.S. agriculture nearly in half, and the manner in which USDA has gone forward with animal identification efforts.”

 

NEBFARMPAC Secretary John Hansen said, “NEBFARMPAC’s policy on endorsements is very simple:  we support those public officials and candidates that support production agriculture.  One critical way to measure that support is whether or not they supported the 2008 Farm Bill.  Senator Obama, Representatives Fortenberry and Smith, and candidates Kleeb and Esch did. They earned our endorsements.  Senator McCain, Representative Terry and Secretary of Agriculture Johanns did not.”

 

NEBFARMPAC President Gale Lush said, “We believe that Scott Kleeb will follow in the footsteps of Sen. Ben Nelson, who is a role model for working with all players in the ag and rural community, and working with elected officials on both sides of the political aisle.  We believe Scott Kleeb will do the same.” 

 

NEBFARMPAC is the political action committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union, who is a general farm organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the quality of life and economic well-being of family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities.

 

(30)