Republican rivals in Nebraska’s U.S. Senate race are ratcheting up rhetoric as they blast each other.
Attorney General Jon Bruning
This week, candidate and state Attorney General Jon Bruning said he wouldn’t be taking part in all of the debates because he was busy with his job. Bruning said one of his primary opponents “ought to go try to do his job.”
Now Don Stenberg, the state treasurer, is responding to the comment by asking when Bruning will be getting to work.
“Almost ten months ago, I wrote a letter to the attorney general, asking for the attorney general’s opinion involving some state funds,” Stenberg says. “Now, more than nine months later, he still has not provided that requested opinion.”
Stenberg also points out to Bruning’s lack of participation at this year’s State Records Board meetings. Stenberg says Bruning did not attend any of them, and Stenberg thinks he knows why.
“The real reason he doesn’t have time to do his job or go to debates are the 24 businesses that he’s become a part-owner of since becoming the attorney general.”
Treasurer Don Stenberg
The debate about the debates got started after Stenberg says he was sent multiple requests to participate in candidate face-offs, including the February 11 Republican Liberty Caucus in Kearney.
He expects other candidates to take part, including state Senator Deb Fischer of Valentine, investment advisor Pat Flynn of Schuyler, and Omaha truck driver Spencer Zimmerman.
Earlier this week, Bruning said of Stenberg and the pending series of debates: “We’ve got a lot of time before the May 15th primary and I don’t see any need to have two dozen debates. We’ve received two dozen requests and we’re just not going to do that. We’ve gotta’ have other things go on in this state, including me trying to do my job as attorney general and maybe Don ought to go try to do his job as treasurer a little bit.”
Tyson Havranek, KHAS, Hastings
