Peter Ricketts in 2024 NE Senate race
On Budget & Economy:
Delivered historic tax relief by controlling spending
Part of it is controlling the spending side, you know, how have we been able to deliver this historic tax relief? Well, it's because we've kept our spending down to 2.8%. So if you look across the eight years of budgets that we've done, the budget has
only grown 2.8% annually, compared to the 6.5% it was growing before I took over. And when your revenues grow about 4.5%, and you keep your expenses lower than that, that's how you have the ability to provide this type of tax relief.
Source: Nebraska Public Media on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jan 12, 2023
On Crime:
Fought for ballot initiative to restore death penalty
As governor, Ricketts used his status as a multi-millionaire to buck up his policies and punish those who crossed him. His most successful endeavor was pushing for the state to bring back the death penalty after the Nebraska legislature overrode
Ricketts' veto to end the death penalty. BuzzFeed estimated that Ricketts and his family spent over $400,000 on a ballot initiative to restore the death penalty that was ultimately successful.
Source: Business Insider on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jan 12, 2023
On Drugs:
If you legalize marijuana, you're gonna kill your kids
The governor of Nebraska pushed back on the state's consideration of legalizing medical marijuana, claiming it would lead to the death of their kids. "This is a dangerous drug that will impact our kids,"
Gov. Pete Ricketts said during a news briefing Wednesday. "If you legalize marijuana, you're gonna kill your kids. That's what the data shows from around the country."
Source: Business Insider on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Mar 14, 2021
On Education:
Scrap radically inappropriate sex education topics
Governor Ricketts called on the Nebraska Department of Education to scrap their proposed sex education topics that are included in their draft health standards and worked with concerned parents to stop the radically inappropriate content from
being pushed into schools. The new standards would have taught young children age-inappropriate content starting in kindergarten, but also inject non-scientific, political ideas into curriculum standards.
Source: 2024 Nebraska Senate campaign website PeteRicketts.com
Apr 7, 2023
On Energy & Oil:
Pipeline accidents are terrible but we can't take zero risk
When it comes to how do you transport the things we need, like energy and oil, there's no safe way to do within pipelines. While there are going to be accidents --and those are terrible--they need to be cleaned up and addressed right away.
If you look at it compared to other forms of transportation, this is less risky. So, there are going to be accidents. We need to have plans in place to respond to them. We can't shut down society because we're willing to take zero risk.
Source: Nebraska Public Media on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jan 12, 2023
On Environment:
Biden's conservation goals would devastate state's economy
Ricketts led 15 Governors to push back on Biden's goal "of conserving at least 30% of our lands and waters by 2030." The order parrots the policy goals of radical environmental groups. In Nebraska,
97% of our land is privately owned. Getting to 30% would require a major federal intervention. Setting aside that much land and water for conservation would also devastate food production, our rural communities, and our state’s overall economy.
Source: 2024 Nebraska Senate campaign website PeteRicketts.com
Apr 7, 2023
On Foreign Policy:
Need to keep putting pressure on Chinese Communist Party
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has declared July to be Victims of Communism Remembrance Month and is speaking out against the actions of communist regimes throughout history and the present. "We need to keep putting pressure on the
Chinese Communist Party to really play by international norms and to treat their people with respect the way we would expect countries who are part of the world community to behave."
Source: FOX News on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jul 7, 2021
On Government Reform:
The House Jan. 6 committee was largely a partisan exercise
I think the House Committee is largely a partisan exercise. I would disregard any of the recommendations. I don't think it matters. I think voters are more concerned about what's going on with the economy and what's going to impact their family directly.
If President Trump violated a law, that's up to the Justice Department, but they're gonna have to prove it. I'd be interested to see what kind of proof--it's got to be a pretty high bar to go after a former president of the United States.
Source: Nebraska Public Media on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jan 12, 2023
On Government Reform:
Require Voter ID to boost belief in the integrity of voting
Gov. Pete Ricketts and supportive state senators are hosting town hall meetings this week aimed at boosting a petition drive for requiring ID to vote. Ricketts and
State Sen. Joni Albrecht, who attended Tuesday's meetings, said in separate interviews that the Nebraskans they're talking to on behalf of Citizens for Voter ID want to require ID to boost belief in the integrity of voting.
Source: Nebraska Examiner on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jun 28, 2022
On Homeland Security:
Stressed the need for a strong national defense
Ricketts said he was proud of his administration's work to improve customer service and service delivery by state government. "In all those ways, we showed how government can work. I want to bring that to Washington, D.C.," he said. "We need to hold
Washington, D.C., accountable."Ricketts repeated his often-stated philosophy that government needs to run more like a business and stressed the need for a strong national defense.
Source: Nebraska Examiner on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jan 12, 2023
On Immigration:
Biden administration has abdicated responsibility on border
Before we can do anything with regard to immigration, you've got to control your border. And that's where the Biden administration has abdicated their responsibility on the southern border. Literally millions of border contacts, right?
And those are the people we're encountering, that doesn't count the people we're not encountering. Many of those people are given a court date, two or three years in the future and released into our country.
Source: Nebraska Public Media on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jan 12, 2023
On Principles & Values:
I often say Nebraska is what America is supposed to be
Nebraska Gov Jim Pillen made the expected choice, appointing his predecessor and political benefactor, Pete Ricketts, to the U.S. Senate. Ricketts, who finished his second term as governor last week, fills the seat that
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., vacated to lead the University of Florida.Ricketts thanked [incoming Governor Jim] Pillen and said he was grateful for the "unexpected opportunity. …
I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity that Governor Pillen has given me." He told those gathered in the room, including state senators and
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., "I often say Nebraska is what America is supposed to be, and it's never been truer at any point in our history."
Source: Nebraska Examiner on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jan 12, 2023
On Principles & Values:
More faith-based practices in Nebraska schools
Gov. Pete Ricketts voiced support for allowing more faith-based practices in Nebraska schools during an event celebrating Religious Freedom Week. Ricketts' comments came in response to a question regarding a tweet by Republican gubernatorial candidate
Jim Pillen. Ricketts, who cannot run for reelection because of term limits, has strongly supported Pillen's campaign for governor."We need to put God back into our schools,"
Pillen tweeted. "I strongly support efforts to put prayer back into our K-12 schools. We should be teaching the next generation to love God and our great country."
The tweet referenced the U.S. Supreme Court decision that determined a Washington high school football coach was within his rights to pray at midfield following football games.
Source: Omaha World-Herald on Twitter post:2024 Nebraska Senate race
Jun 29, 2022
On Principles & Values:
We remain the cornerstone of global peace and prosperity
[On America's role]: "In America, it doesn't matter where you start. With enough grit and hard work, you can go anywhere," Ricketts said. "That's why the world wants to come here. That's why they send their very best students to study and train here.
It's why nearly every major innovation and breakthrough comes from America. It's why so many seek out better lives in America. Through our strength, we remain the cornerstone of global peace and prosperity."
Source: 2024 Nebraska Senate campaign website Ricketts.Senate.gov
Apr 17, 2023
On Tax Reform:
Enacted $1 billion in annual state tax relief
In 2022, he worked to pass LB 873 which is the biggest tax relief package land is privately owned.
Getting to 30% would require a major federal intervention. Setting aside that much land and water for conservation would also devastate food production, our rural communities, and our state's overall economy.
Source: 2024 Nebraska Senate campaign website PeteRicketts.com
Apr 7, 2023
On Drugs:
Rated F by NORML: no medical marijuana
NORML Politician Info: rated F - Candidate: Pete Ricketts (R - NE): Holds office U.S. Senate
- Summary: NO MEDICAL USE: Senator Pete Ricketts is adamantly against the legalization of marijuana and holds
the belief that it is a very dangerous drug.
- Comments:
- "The only difference between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana is word choice," the governor said in the new ad. "Doctors can't prescribe it and pharmacists can't
provide it because it's not medicine." (12/7/21)
- "If you legalize marijuana, you're gonna kill your kids. That's what the data shows from around the country." (3/12/21)
- A position paper authored by the Governor, entitled "Understanding Marijuana's
Dangers," states that cannabis is a gateway drug, and that its use can lead to suicide, and that legalizing access to medical cannabis is simply a tactic to impose broader adult-use legalization. (2019)
Source: NORML "Smoke the Vote" on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
On Corporations:
Cut corporate taxes and top individual income tax
Taxes: Raise or lower taxes on corporations and wealthier individuals?- Preston Love Jr. (D): Unclear. Supports property tax relief for farmers and ranchers. Supports a business tax incentive to help development in
North Omaha and other depressed areas.
- Pete Ricketts (R): Lower. As governor, signed a bill to cut corporate taxes and another that cut corporate and top-level individual income tax rates.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Oct 25, 2024
On Education:
Declared School Choice Week in Nebraska
Education: Use public funding for private and/or for-profit schools? - Preston Love Jr. (D): No. "Voucher programs have been shown to benefit wealthy families over families in need."
- Pete Ricketts (R):
Yes. Worked to create taxpayer-funded private school scholarships. Declared School Choice Week in Nebraska. Supports giving tax credits to donors of private school scholarships. Supports tax credit vouchers for subsidizing private schools.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Oct 25, 2024
On Jobs:
Sponsored the National Right to Work Act
Labor: Make it easier or harder for unions to organize?- Preston Love Jr. (D): Easier. "Will support measures strengthening organized labor and keeping good-paying jobs in Nebraska."
-
Pete Ricketts (R): Harder. In 2023, sponsored the National Right to Work Act, which would allow employees in a unionized workplace to not pay union dues. In 2015 testified before Congress in support of right-to-work laws.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Oct 25, 2024
On Jobs:
Markets should set employee wages: no minimum wage
Minimum Wage: Raise the federal minimum from $7.25 per hour?- Preston Love Jr. (D): Likely yes. "All Americans deserve a livable wage for an honest day's work."
-
Pete Ricketts (R): Likely no. In 2022 opposed the voter-approved raise in Nebraska, saying that markets should set employee wages. "Employers should pay what the market demands to hire people."
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Nebraska Senate race
Oct 25, 2024
Page last updated: Oct 27, 2024