NEBFARMPAC

Political Action Committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union

1305 Plum Street, Lincoln NE 68502

402-476-8815

NEBFARMPAC Endorses

Sen. Barack Obama for President

For Immediate Release

September 30, 2008 Contact: John Hansen

402-476-8815 Office

402-580-8815 Cell

Lincoln, NE – NEBFARMPAC, the Nebraska Farmers Union Political Action Committee enthusiastically endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for President. NEBFARMPAC endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President in the spring Primary, and again in the fall General Election.

NEBFARMPAC President Gale Lush of Wilcox said the NEBFARMPAC endorsements were earned on the basis of their voting records and their positions on bread and butter pocketbook economic issues that impact family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Farm programs, renewable energy, rural development, market competition, fair trade, rural healthcare, and affordable high speed broadband internet access were key issues used as measuring sticks.

“In this race, the choice is clear. Based on their voting records and their campaign position papers, Sen. Obama is in strong support of farm and rural issues, and Sen. McCain is in strong opposition. Agriculture is an extremely vulnerable financial position. In this time of financial crisis, we in production agriculture need to vote for our pocket book interests, and that means voting for Sen. Obama. At the Iowa State Fair, Sen. McCain said he would veto the 2008 Farm Bill "In a New York Minute." That Farm Bill provides the only income safety net there is for production agriculture. With the cost of production for agriculture skyrocketing in the country, the federal deficit skyrocketing in Washington, DC, and the banking industry crashing in Wall Street, we need a President who supports agriculture and renewable energy, not one who is publicly pledged to working against us,” Lush concluded.

John Hansen, NEBFARMPAC Secretary said, “The National Farmers Union voting records on key ag issues for the last two years speaks volumes about the night and day differences between Senators Obama and McCain. Sen. Obama received a 100% National Farmers Union voting record while Sen. McCain received a 0%. “The voting records show who supports family farmers and ranchers and rural communities, and who does not. “It is hard to do better than 100% or worse than 0%.”

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The NEBFARMPAC endorsement for Obama was unanimous. “Senator John McCain’s deep, strong and consistent voting record is anti-ethanol, anti-farm program, anti-renewable energy, anti-ag appropriations, anti-rural development, anti-emergency disaster assistance for agriculture, and anti-competition. In short, Sen. McCain’s voting record is anti-agriculture. Sen. McCain has made in clear that he does not support the value of or need for Farm Bills. Sen. McCain’s record on agriculture and rural issues does not bode well for production agriculture and rural America,” Hansen said.

Gale Lush said, “We believe Sen. Obama’s voting record and campaign position papers are very positive. We believe Barack Obama will be a President who will listen to, work with, and support family farmers and ranchers. Sen. Obama’s support for the Farm Bill, targeting program benefits by supporting payments to $250,000, mandatory COOL, a ban on packer feeding, anti-trust enforcement in ag markets, renewable energy incentives including wind, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and the Renewable Fuel Standard, rural healthcare, fair trade not free trade, and affordable high speed broadband internet access tells us that he is in our corner. Given the financial uncertainty of the times, it is critical that rural America have a President that is on their side,” Lush concluded.

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.

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