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Sen. Krist slams GOP; party dismisses criticism of Gov. Ricketts (AUDIO)

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State Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha speaks with reporters after announcing his candidacy for governor.

State Sen. Bob Krist breaks with the Republican Party in announcing an independent run for governor, but the party doesn’t view his candidacy as much of a threat.

Krist, a retired Air Force pilot from Omaha, says a number of Republicans have expressed to him dissatisfaction with Gov. Pete Ricketts.

“That there are a large number of Republicans who are not necessarily happy with the way things are going,” Krist tells reporters in announcing his candidacy for governor.

Krist has left the Republican Party, officially filing as a non-partisan with the Douglas County Election Commission.

Krist claims to have had a tumultuous relationship with the Republican Party during his tenure in the Unicameral. Krist says he would be a strong, independent leader if elected.

Krist clashed with Ricketts throughout the recent legislative session and says the budget battles prompted him to run for governor. Krist criticized budget cuts the governor proposed to social service agencies, contending the legislature could have cut elsewhere and avoided hurting the most vulnerable.

Much of the criticism leveled by Krist is brushed aside by Nebraska Republican Party Executive Director Kenny Zoeller who claims Krist has flip-flopped on a number of issues and has been eager to run for higher office.

As for Krist’s contention that Republicans are dissatisfied with Ricketts, Zoeller says he doesn’t know who Krist is talking to.

“Republicans that we have talked to across the state, Nebraskans that we have talked to across the state are very, very pleased with Gov. Ricketts’ conservative leadership and what he’s doing really to reform our state government and make it work for Nebraskans better,” Zoeller tells Nebraska Radio Network.

Zoeller says the party is pleased to run on Ricketts’ record and has no worries about the governor’s re-election bid in 2018.

AUDIO:  Brent Martin reports [:40]

 

 

 

Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha announces independent candidacy for governor (AUDIO)

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State Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha announces his candidacy for governor with his family.

State Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha has announced he will run as an independent for governor.

“I am running for governor, because Nebraskans want a strong, independent leader,” Krist announced during a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda.

Krist said he had spent the past several weeks speaking with his family, friends, and Nebraska voters before confirming a decision he had been toying with since the past legislative session.

“People across the state are saying the same thing,” according to Krist. “Nebraskans are looking for independent and effective leadership. We believe I am the right person to answer the call and return us to the non-partisan traditions that made Nebraska great.”

Krist charged that the Nebraska Unicameral can no longer truly be called a non-partisan body. He says politics fashioned in Washington have crept into legislative work.

“Nebraska voters are fed up with the partisan politics that divide us rather than unite us,” Krist said, taking a shot at Gov. Pete Ricketts. “Our current governor has worsened the situation by personally bankrolling the challengers to senators who did not vote right down the middle with him.”

Krist criticized Ricketts, a fellow Republican, for failing to show leadership; critical of the governor’s budget priorities and his work with the Department of Correctional Services to resolve lingering problems in the state prison system, including overcrowded prisons.

At least, Ricketts used to be a fellow Republican. Krist, a former Air Force pilot, says he will switch his party affiliation from Republican to non-partisan.

AUDIO:  Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha announces his candidacy for governor. [5:20]

Sen. Fischer says she’ll answer for her statements, not Trump’s (AUDIO)

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U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer addresses a question at a recent town hall meeting.

United States Senator Deb Fischer declined to answer when asked at a recent town hall if she repudiates President Trump’s statements about the violent rally in Charlottesville.

We asked her about it.

Why did Senator Fischer decline to answer when asked to repudiate President Trump?

“When folks say, ‘Do you repudiate his comments?’ Well, which comments, which comments are you talking about there? I’m responsible for my comments,” Fischer tells Nebraska Radio Network.

At a recent listening session Fischer held in Lincoln, many in the audience expressed dissatisfaction with Trump. One asked Fischer directly to repudiate Trump’s controversial statements after the Charlottesville, Virginia white nationalist demonstration. Fischer declined to answer.

Much has been said about the division in the country. A microcosm of that division was evident at the Lincoln meeting with some holding signs harshly critical of Fischer. Some vocal disagreement arose as Fischer answered questions.

Fischer insists the division didn’t start with President Trump. She contends it has been growing for years with President Obama failing to address it during his tenure.

Fischer sees the division as destructive for the country.

“It’s not just recent, but we need to come together,” Fischer says. “We need to come together if we’re going to solve the problems that we have before us.”

Is Fischer worried that division could hurt her re-election campaign?

“Oh, I’m doing my job. I’m out visiting with constituents and talking about the issues that concern them. I am, of course, running for re-election, but that’s not my focus.”

AUDIO:  Brent Martin reports [:50]

Sen. Craighead cancels re-election plans, decides to resign from Unicameral

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Sen. Joni Craighead speaks at a governor’s news conference.

State Sen. Joni Craighead of Omaha has reversed course.

Craighead had announced she would run for re-election to the Unicameral. Now, she says she will leave the legislature.

Craighead says she is resigning, effective Friday, September 8th. She says she is resigning for family and business reasons. Craighead sells real estate and has worked for the Omaha Area Board of Realtors in the past.

Craighead is a Republican. Gov. Pete Ricketts, also a Republican, will choose her replacement.

Democrat Machaela Cavanaugh, daughter of former Congressman John Cavanaugh, is an announced candidate for the district which covers west-central Omaha.

 

Sen. Fischer faces an at times rowdy crowd during Lincoln listening session (AUDIO)

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U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer listens to a constituent’s complaints about President Trump’s remarks in wake of Charlottesville.

United States Senator Deb Fischer faced a boisterous crowd which demonstrated disappointment with some of her positions during a listening session in Lincoln.

Fischer walked among the crowd of around 165 at the Jack J. Huck Continuing Education Center of Southeast Community College Thursday morning, patiently listening and answering questions even as some confronted her on Republican politics in Washington, with some pointed criticism of President Donald Trump.

Most of the questions centered on health care, challenging Fischer on the failed Senate health care plan

Protestors unfurl banner and chant, “Medicare for all,” as Fischer works her way through the crowd.

and asking why Republicans won’t work with Democrats on a fix to the flaws in the Affordable Care Act. Fischer replied Democrats haven’t been willing to work with Republicans on health care, sparking a smattering of boos from the crowd.

Fischer said she voted to move forward with the Republican plan so it could get to the floor for amendments.

Fischer stuck with her positions even as some in the crowd voice strong disagreement.

A couple in the crowd held signs harshly critical of Fischer.

“We’re not always going to agree,” Fischer told Nebraska Radio Network afterward. “We’re not always going to agree, but I was glad we had a good turnout.”

Fischer pointed out a year ago, one of her listening sessions in Omaha attracted only eight residents. This year, around 150 showed up.

At one point, as Fischer walked to the back of the room a handful of those in the audience unfurled a banner in front of her that read, “Medicare for All,” and began

Fischer spoke one-on-one with a handful of people afterward.

chanting, advocating expanding Medicare for everyone in the country. Others chanted for universal health care.

Fischer stood by as the group chanted.

“Anytime you have folks shout out or try to have a demonstration, I like that the crowd itself, here in Lincoln, you know they kind of shut them down,” Fischer said, adding it appeared the crowd wanted to hear the dialogue more than the chants.

Other issues cropped up as well, such as tax reform, trade policy, and the continuation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an executive order by President Obama which gave legal status to children brought into the country illegally by their parents.

One woman told Fischer President Trump’s threats to end DACA and his statements in wake of the neo-Nazi demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia scared her.

Fischer opened with brief remarks, then took questions during the hour-long meeting, also speaking with some afterward.

AUDIO:  Brent Martin reports [:45]

Some keep speculating, but Sen. Sasse keeps denying he’s a candidate for president (AUDIO)

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Sen. Ben Sasse

Some national publications are openly speculating about whether Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse will be running for president.

It’s been out there for a while. Now, it’s gaining strength: speculation that Senator Sasse is a candidate for president.

Sasse denies it.

“I am a candidate to be offensive coordinator for Husker football, but so far Coach (Mike) Riley keeps ignoring my request to join his staff,” Sasse jokes with Nebraska Radio Network when we asked about the reports. “Obviously, that stuff’s just bonkers.”

Though a Republican, Sasse has made his criticism of Republican President Donald Trump well known. That might fuel some of the speculation.

But Sasse denies he is a candidate for president, a challenger to any re-election bid by President Trump in 2020.

Sasse has at least a couple of theories as to why his name keeps surfacing in national articles. One is an attempt by news publications to generate internet and social media traffic. The second is an effort, in the upheaval of Washington with no clear agenda being put forth by either the Republican or the Democratic Party, to fill a vacuum.

When times are uncertain, Sasse suggests political reporters and pundits tend toward speculation.

“And so, lots of people who want to figure out a way to ride the wave of legislative and policy uncertainty in Washington, want to write news stories that are personality focused,” according to Sasse. “I don’t respond to those calls and requests for comment, because they are all just pretty silly.”

AUDIO:  Brent Martin reports [:50]

 

Former Sen. Mike Johanns has only one piece of advice for Congress (AUDIO)

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Sen. Mike Johanns/File photo from Johanns’ Senate office

Former United States Senator Mike Johanns says members of Congress need to keep one thing in mind as they tackle tough issues.

Johanns, a Republican, had a long political career which culminated in serving as Secretary of Agriculture under President George W. Bush followed by a term in the United States Senate.

He doesn’t regret his decision to leave Washington.

“I can’t say that I miss being in Washington. To be honest with you, I never warmed up to Washington,” Johanns tells Nebraska Radio Network in a telephone interview.

Johanns says he and his wife, Stephanie, had always been small-town people who found Washington to be a “very complicated place to live.”

Still, Johanns says he keeps abreast on what is happening in Washington, perhaps more so now than when he worked there. Now, he has more time to devote to consuming the news flowing from the nation’s capital.

Members of Congress have a very, very tough job, according to Johanns, who has one piece of advice for them: keep in mind people want results.

“Don’t get so tied up on what the Republican way is or the Democrat way or whatever,” Johanns says. “Focus on bringing results to the state. Focus on what’s in the best interest of Nebraska, what’s in the long-term best interest of the country.”

Washington has too much partisanship, according to Johanns. He says Congressional members need to be willing to explain their positions, to get out among the people and let them know what they are doing.

Johanns says he enjoys his new position as the Chairman of Agriculture with alliantgroup, a tax consultant business headquartered in Houston.

AUDIO:  Brent Martin reports [:45]

 

Legislators urge Sec. of State to reject request for voter info

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Sen. Adam Morfeld

Six state lawmakers are asking Nebraska’s secretary of state to reject a request for voter information from President Trump’s voting commission.

Senator Adam Morfeld, of Lincoln, is among the legislators claiming the request is an invasion of privacy.

Morfeld says, “Nebraskans’ privacy, their private information as voters, should not be made public on a public database on a national level.”

Critics also claim the commission is looking for ways to suppress the vote. The panel was formed to investigate allegations of voter fraud in the 2016 election.

“Of course, it was sent to other states, asking for people’s partial Social Security numbers and all voter information,” Morfeld says. “In our state, we restrict the release of certain voter information such as those that have experienced domestic violence and other types of crimes.”

Secretary of State John Gale has not said whether he’ll comply. Officials in 44 other states say they are not complying because of privacy concerns.

By Jane Monnich, KLIN, Lincoln

 

Nebraska’s AG under fire for wanting end to DACA program

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Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson is joining the call to phase-out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and his decision is being criticized.

Nebraska Appleseed spokesman Omaid Zabih says the program has allowed thousands of talented, hardworking young Nebraskans to make valuable contributions to their state.

“They love their community that they’ve grown up in, they love our state and country,” Zahib says. “They want to do the best they can and have the most opportunities to contribute back to the state and to the country.”

Peterson joined nine other Republican Attorneys General in threatening to sue if the Trump Administration doesn’t end protection for those so-called Dreamers in the next several months.

Zabih says DACA has been extremely successful.

He says, “It’s allowed thousands of young people who’ve grown up in Nebraska, who have gone to school here and have really only known Nebraska as their home, it’s allowed them to continue their education, to go to work and to really utilize their skills and talents.”

By Jane Monnich, KLIN, Lincoln

 

Former Gov. Heineman says Sen. Sasse man to lead health care reform

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Gov. Dave Heineman

Former Governor Dave Heineman is voicing his frustration with the stalled GOP healthcare bill. He says promises were made.

Heineman says, “Republicans for the last three elections said they were for repeal and replacement of Obamacare and if we got a Republican president we would do it on day one. Well we got a Republican president and we are now 150 days into the administration and it hasn’t happened.  It is a huge debate.  It affects every American and every American family and the big picture is if you want a government run health care system that the Democrats favor or do you want a more patient centered, free market  oriented health care system that the Republicans favor.”

Heineman says they promised to repeal and replace but just can’t get their act together. He says Senator Ben Sasse’s letter to President Trump on his two step approach on handling the situation was good timing.  Heineman says, “He is an expert on health care.  He knows this issue.  I respect Ben on this issue but now is the time for him to lead because the Senate isn’t getting the job done.”

It could be that President Trump paid attention as soon afterwards he sent out a tweet today that stated “If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they are working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date”.