2012 Nebraska Senate Debates: on Government Reform


Deb Fischer: Against earmarks and would oppose them

Flynn said he didn't like government earmarks, saying, "It's not my duty if elected to bring home the bacon." Each of the other three candidates also said they were against earmarks and would oppose them. In response to Bruning's statement that he does not support earmarks, Stenberg said, "I'm surprised to hear that because he asked Senator Ben Nelson to get him one a few years ago."
Source: West Point News on 2012 Nebraska Senate debates Apr 19, 2012

Pat Flynn: No earmarks: it's not my duty to bring home the bacon

Flynn brought up [the small town of West Point] in answering a question about his feelings about government earmarks. He said he didn't like them, saying, "It's not my duty if elected to bring home the bacon." He said he liked West Point's approach to doing things on its own, noting that the community decided against letting government getting involved in building a community center so raised the money themselves. Each of the other 3 candidates also said they were against earmarks & would oppose them.
Source: West Point News on 2012 Nebraska Senate debate Apr 19, 2012

Pat Flynn: Don't renew legislative earmarks

All four candidates rejected renewal of legislative earmarks to help fund state or local projects. But Stenberg said Bruning once attempted to acquire an earmark from Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. Fischer challenged Bruning for accepting campaign contributions from industries that benefit from his actions as attorney general. Bruning said his record as attorney general shows he has fought consistently against "the grab for power" by the federal government.
Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2012 Nebraska Senate Debates Apr 16, 2012

Don Stenberg: Don't renew legislative earmarks; and attack past ones

All four candidates rejected renewal of legislative earmarks to help fund state or local projects. But Stenberg said Bruning once attempted to acquire an earmark from Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. Fischer challenged Bruning for accepting campaign contributions from industries that benefit from his actions as attorney general. Bruning said his record as attorney general shows he has fought consistently against "the grab for power" by the federal government.
Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2012 Nebraska Senate Debates Apr 15, 2012

Jon Bruning: Don't renew legislative earmarks, but past ones ok

All four candidates rejected renewal of legislative earmarks to help fund state or local projects. But Stenberg said Bruning once attempted to acquire an earmark from Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. Fischer challenged Bruning for accepting campaign contributions from industries that benefit from his actions as attorney general. Bruning said his record as attorney general shows he has fought consistently against "the grab for power" by the federal government.
Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2012 Nebraska Senate Debates Apr 14, 2012

Jon Bruning: Political contributions ok from out-of-state coal companies

The candidates were asked to identify a characteristic they admired about their opponent. The only thing that Stenberg could identify as admirable about Bruning was that he was a "great political fundraiser."

Bruning has significantly outraised his rivals. He ended the last fundraising quarter with about $1.5 million in his campaign coffers, while Stenberg had about $200,000.

Later in the debate, Fischer took her shot at Bruning, questioning whether Bruning should have accepted $100,000 in campaign contributions from out-of-state coal companies. She questioned whether the donations were appropriate, especially since Bruning had joined a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency on the behalf of coal companies. "Yes or no? Will you stop taking contributions from industries that could benefit from your position as chief law enforcement officer of Nebraska?" asked Fischer.

Bruning declined to directly answer.

Source: Omaha World-Herald on 2012 Nebraska Senate debate Apr 12, 2012

Deb Fischer: No campaign contributions from industry tied to your office

Fischer challenged Bruning for accepting campaign contributions from industries that benefit from his actions as attorney general.

At one point, Stenberg asked Bruning if he would support the Republican nominee in a general election battle with former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey if Bruning is not that nominee. "Of course," the attorney general replied.

Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2012 Nebraska Senate debates Apr 11, 2012

  • The above quotations are from 2012 Nebraska Senate Debate.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Government Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Jon Bruning on Government Reform.
  • Click here for more quotes by Bob Kerrey on Government Reform.
Candidates and political leaders on Government Reform:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R)
Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)
Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018