Mike Johanns in 2008 Nebraska Senate Debate between Mike Johanns & Scott Kleeb

On Health Care: Didn’t phase out adult mental health care services

Johanns said that Kleeb was “simply wrong” and that neither he nor state lawmakers would have allowed that to happen.

Kleeb quickly took aim at Johanns during his opening statement, criticizing the former governor for his role in phasing out the state’s regional centers. In 2004, Johanns supported a proposal to develop more community-based programs for the mentally ill. As part of that plan, lawmakers lessened the roles of the regional centers and spent the money from institutional treatment on community-based mental health services.

Johanns responded that more than $26 million was budgeted to help with the transition. “We would never have gotten a bill passed with that idea. It would (have been) just cruel beyond cruel,” said Johanns.

On Health Care: Giving all taxpayers federal coverage would cost $480B

Johanns said that was a “nice sound bite,” but said it would cost the nation $480 billion.

Kleeb responded that at a time when government was spending billions to rescue Wall Street, he thought the federal government could help insure the uninsured. It is estimated that about 200,000 Nebraskans lack health insurance, Kleeb said.

Kleeb also argued that Nebraskans already pay for the uninsured, whose medical bills are passed down by hospitals and doctors to other consumers. “We actually can afford it because we’re paying it,” Kleeb said.

On Budget & Economy: I’m the only candidate who’s actually dealt with the budget

Kleeb frequently tried to link Johanns to failed policies in Washington and Lincoln. Kleeb said the only way to change the status quo was to elect new candidates like him. “The greatest risk we have is that nothing will change,” said Kleeb.

On Health Care: Alternative community hospitals got 9000 more people treated

Johanns said Kleeb made a “major mistake” by calling the Beatrice center a “mental health” facility because it treats the developmentally disabled. He said the policy change allowed Nebraska to access millions in additional federal dollars, allowing 9,000 more people to receive mental health services.

On Budget & Economy: Growing the economy will balance the budget over time

“Grow the economy, pull back on spending and good things are going to happen,” Johanns said. “And if you sustain that over a period of time you will not only balance the budget but just as I did as mayor you can actually start to rebuild that.”

On Energy & Oil: New corn genetics brings 40% yield increase & more ethanol

Kleeb claimed he was misquoted and has “always been a supporter of ethanol.” However, he believes the country also needs to develop other “green” energy solutions, such as solar, wind and other technologies such as cellulosic ethanol production

On Energy & Oil: Opposes Warner-Lieberman Climate Security Act

On Homeland Security: Negotiating with rogue nations squanders American prestige

“We have tremendous potential to actually use diplomacy in ways even Ronald Reagan used that we have forgotten now, and the current administration has forgotten,” Kleeb said.

“We should never negotiate with rogue nations without preconditions. You squander the prestige and the power of the American presidency when you do that,” Johanns said.

On Principles & Values: Focus on small towns

“Focus on your small towns--I did it as governor; I did it as secretary,” Johanns said.

On Tax Reform: No tax increase for research on celluosic ethanol

“I don’t know why, as Secretary of Agriculture, he urged the president to veto the Farm Bill, which included $1 billion of research for celluosic ethanol,” Kleeb countered.

Johanns said he makes no excuses for vetoing the bill. “I would do it again. You put a tax increase in a farm bill I will veto it just like I vetoed the state budget when they boxed it up with tax increases.”