NEBFARMPAC

Political Action Committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union

PO Box 22667, Lincoln NE 68542-2667

402-476-8815 Phone, 402-476-8859 Fax

April 24, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lincoln, Neb.) The Nebraska Farmers Union’s Political Action Committee, NEBFARMPAC, today announced its endorsement of incumbent Gov. Dave Heineman in the May 9 Republican gubernatorial primary, citing his service and commitment to agriculture. First organized in 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union is the second oldest general farm organization in the state, and with more than 5,300 family memberships is the second-largest general farm organization in Nebraska.

Gale Lush of Wilcox, NEBFARMPAC President said, "All three Republican candidates agree on many issues important to rural voters, but two critical issues set Governor Heineman apart from his competition, and earned our endorsement. First, Governor Heineman has made it clear that he will honor the will of the voters and does not intend to weaken or repeal I-300, and he recognizes that any such efforts would divide, rather than unite the rural community. Secondly, Governor Heineman vetoed the misguided, state mandated, forced school consolidation law, LB126, the Legislature passed last year. Governor Heineman has signed the petition to repeal LB126 and has pledged to vote for its repeal. We strongly support the repeal of LB126, and all efforts necessary to return Class I districts to their pre-LB126 status. We know where Governor Heineman stands on these two critical issues. He stands with the clear majority of rural Nebraskans,” said Gale Lush, who also serves on the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Farmers Union.

“In the short time Governor Heineman has served as Governor, he has emerged as a very open and engaged leader, with an eye to administrative detail, and a willingness to take on the tough issues. He has compiled a very positive track record of legislative accomplishments important to rural residents,” Lush said. NEBFARMPAC listed the following legislative accomplishments:

• Increased incentives in the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Act to help transfer land from retiring farmers and ranchers to beginning farmers and ranchers.

• Reduced ag land valuations from 80 to 75% of market value.
• Homestead exemption benefits were increased and the sales tax on home remodeling and repairs was repealed, both of which help lower income rural residents stay in their homes.
• General state revenues were used to fund the state’s obligation for ethanol incentives rather than raising the levels of ag commodity checkoff fees.
• Signed legislation that limited the use of local government’s eminent domain authority to condemn and take private property for economic development purposes.
• Re-wrote the state livestock waste regulations to help make it more possible for the state to minimize the negative impact federal livestock waste regulations were having on Nebraska’s small and medium sized livestock producers.
• Developed targeted tax incentives to help smaller and medium sized livestock producers expand their operations so they can more cost effectively comply with federal livestock waste standards.
• Funded efforts to help the state comply with Republican River Compact provisions.
• His high profile leadership and willingness to take risks to gain new export markets for Nebraska agricultural products, including Cuba.

Lush concluded, “In addition, Governor Heineman’s Lieutenant Governor, Rick Sheehy is a real asset and advocate for rural Nebraska. If for some reason it became necessary for the Lt. Governor to once again fill the Governor’s chair, we think Rick Sheehy would do a good job.”

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