Nebraska Democratic Party: Bush's Budget Fails Rural Nebraskans

Bush's Budget Fails Rural Nebraskans

Feb 14, 11:29 AM CST

A new report issued by the Democratic Policy Committee (DPC) confirms that President Bush’s budget would severely and negatively impact the quality of life of rural Nebraskans. Since 2001, the DPC has issued reports on the failure of the president’s policy to address the issues important to rural Americans. The report confirms that the President’s cuts in funding for law enforcement, health care, education, and economic development will have a harmful impact on working families, farmers, small businesses and local economies across the heartland.

At the same time the budget would put affordable health care further out of reach for many working Americans in Nebraska. Furthermore the president’s budget would underfund children’s health care and do nothing to reduce the ranks of Nebraska’s 28,000 children.

President Bush is using smoke and mirrors to justify his misplaced priorities such as tax cuts at the expense of rural Nebraskans. Many deserving rural initiatives have been callously slashed by the Bush Administration. They are critical to the well-being of Nebraska’s working families. Republicans should join Democrats in combating this reckless and irresponsible assault on rural Americans and work to craft a budget that supports all working families.

The rural report card issued by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee includes the following areas that will be adversely affected by the President’s reckless budget cuts:

Rural Law Enforcement

Since 2001, President Bush, with the help of Congressional Republicans, has cut funding for state and local law enforcement programs by more than fifty percent. This year’s budget would cut $1.4 billion (or 54 percent) in funding for all state and local law enforcement programs in the Department of Justice (DOJ), including programs specifically designed to assist rural communities. Once again, the Bush budget will inhibit the ability of first responders in Nebraska to prepare for new threats and law enforcement to combat the growing methamphetamine problem. In 2006, Nebraska received $2.1 million in Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) and $988,000 in Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) funding that is used to keep neighborhoods safer for Nebraska families.

Rural Health Care

The Bush budget proposal slashes programs designed to help rural communities in Nebraska address their unique health care challenges. It proposes cutting rural health programs by $146 million, or 89.6 percent, from the H.J. Res. 20 level. The President proposes terminating outreach grants, rural hospital flexibility grants, the rural and community access to emergency devices program, and area health education centers, which provide vital health and health education services to rural areas in Nebraska. The President’s health insurance proposal will not help the vast majority of Nebraska’s 200,000 uninsured, will not address rising health care premiums that have increased 87 percent since 2000, and would eventually impose a new health insurance tax on many of Nebraska’s middle class families.

Education

The President has proposed cutting Department of Education discretionary funding by $2.3 billion, for a total of $56 billion. This represents a 3.9 percent cut from the H.J. Res. 20 level adjusted for inflation. In addition, the President’s budget proposes eliminating 44 programs, including Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, education technology state grants, arts in education, LEAP, and school counseling, and making large cuts to numerous other programs including career and technical education, and safe and drug-free schools state grants that are essential for thousands of Nebraskans. And as tuition and fees at schools like the University of Nebraska increase 42% in just four years, the administration’s cuts in student aid will put college further out of reach for many Nebraska students.

Economic Development

Rural businesses in Nebraska face a changing global economy and increasing costs, and economic development programs provide them with skills and tools to help them compete. The Bush budget would drastically cut economic initiatives relied on by rural communities in Nebraska. The economic development initiatives specifically benefit communities of 3,000 or fewer residents. These cuts will be detrimental to Nebraskans.

A full report can be found here.

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Wow… those aren’t even small cuts.

Where are you representatives, rural Nebraska?
— J. Engel Feb 14, 11:59 AM CST #
Where were our Congressmen?
On the wrong side of the aisle! If you are going to have all of your eggs in one basket, you better have them in the right basket. Nebraska needs to correct this in ‘08. We are talking about two congressmen that were ineffective while in the majority and a freshman who has no chance at all in the minority.
Nebraska missed the boat in ‘06 but will not in ‘08. We will once again be fully represented in the Congress and the Senate.
And can anybody tell me why Mr. Fortenberry who lived in Nebraska for less than 10 years before becoming “Nebraska’s Voice??” is in the Congress? He is from Louisiana. Once he is finally voted out of Congress he will leave Nebraska for good. He is not one of us, yet he speaks for one-third of our entire state. Why has this not been an issue?
In Mr. Fortenberry’s case this is not a partisan issue. He is from LOUISIANA. A moderate Nebraska republican in Congress is better than a far right wing LOUISIANAN. One last question, how do we unify to make this happen???
— Charlie Feb 14, 08:45 PM CST #
Charlie,
We need to realize that our party must support each and every one of the candidates that go into the fray for us. We can never again “put all our eggs in one basket” and let the fortunes of one candidate monopolize the focus of our party
— Brian T. Osborn Feb 14, 10:35 PM CST #
Many thanks Brian and I agree. In order to get back on the right side of the aisle we need to change our strategy. I may be in the minority on this particular site, but I believe that us Democrats can take back Nebraska with a moderate Ben Nelson approach. Let’s face it, very few Nebraskan’s are extreme in either direction (left/right). Republicans have a huge registration advantage and that is why we have three extreme right wing congressmen right now. One that is not even a Nebraskan (Fortenberry a LOUISIANAN who had lived in Nebraska less than 10 years when elected to represent Nebraskans??)
If Nebraskan’s “Pick The Person, Not The Party” in the next Congressional elections we will have 3 new moderate Democrats representing Nebraska in the majority.
I am extremely confident that this will happen. We need people like Brian to keep sending insight and most importantly to STAY UNIFIED! Remember, we are not losing because they are better than us, we have lost because we were not willing to change the way we played the game. When the game changes, we need everybody, EVERYBODY, in the party to be 100% unified. If someone strays, we need to bring them back. If someone does not promote, we need to energize them. This is our time, and that time starts now. THIS is our time!
— Charlie Feb 15, 12:03 AM CST #
BTW I should mention some of the above quotes are from the movie Miracle (story of 1980 USA Hockey team). We do not need a “miracle” we just need three things, work, work and work. And to quote the movie “The legs feed the wolf gentlemen.”
I know it is late, however I am up and doing the three things noted above that lead to victory. When you wake up tomorrow and hopefully read this please take the time to re evaluate the party and start taking action. Take action inside and outside the party. A republican is not an adversary, but rather an opportunity. Let us not debate an issue with them but rather invite them to discuss solutions.
Remind them to “Pick The Person, Not The Party” THIS IS OUR TIME!
— Charlie Feb 15, 12:53 AM CST #
Charlie, I must disagree somewhat with your formula for success. You are correct that Republicans have a huge registration advantage. But ask yourself, why is that the case? It’s because the voters have been sold on the Republican “brand”. We must make the voters see that they’ve been sold a lemon, and work on promoting our own “brand” if we are ever to change the status quo. And I’m sorry, constantly recruiting candidates that are terrified of being called Democrats isn’t going to do it.
— Don Kuhns Feb 15, 01:24 AM CST #
Thank you Don for doing the three W’S. I think it is great that you “somewhat disagree.” I have read many of your posts on this site and have a healthy respect for your opinions. Nobody is afraid to be called a Democrat. We just have to sometimes look at ourselves as Nebraskan’s over D’s and R’s. Nebraskan’s are fair people that want the best candidate. Unfortunately sometimes that means that a distorted mesage from a party (namely the Democratic by the R’s) leaves the electorate voting their habit (majority R’s).
And Don, I wish I had a “formula for success” however at this point in time I certainly do not. We all need to chip with solutions to develop that formula. But make no mistake Don, their WILL be success and a “formula” will be found in ‘08. People like you are the start and I promise you Don NOBODY will work harder than me to prove this. I simply ask for unification once the hard decisions have been made. Don, I have read your posts. You are ready for a winner and you deserve one. Now ask yourself, has what you been doing working? And if not what are you willing to change in order to make it work? “Pick The Person, Not The Party.”
— Charlie Feb 15, 02:19 AM CST #
I like to use the Dr. Phil question on my Republican counterparts——”How has that policy been working for you?” in reference to the failed Bushite policies in general.
We need to emphasize, over and over, our unshakable foundation values: Balanced budgets, separation of government and big big business, great education, great healthcare, INTEGRITY,opportunity, and equality. Repeat as necessary.
— Steve Hollister Feb 15, 06:54 AM CST #
I think one lesson that can be drawn from the last election is that Democratic candidates with varied platforms can succeed in Nebraska. Lathrop narrowly won on a platform that was pure right wing Republican. White won on a platform that was, as far as I could tell, progressive populist. Esch performed better than Kleeb and Moul with a platform that was pure Democrat, except on abortion rights.(in a more progressive district, admittedly)

But my concern today is with long term voting trends. Who does more to create an atmosphere where more mainstream Democratic candidates(that is, candidates who espouse values held by most of us in the party) can win? The answer seems obvious to me.
— Don Kuhns Feb 15, 03:16 PM CST #
I think “pick the person, not the party” holds up when every candidate is running for themselves. That’s probably a good slogan for someone running in our “non-partisan” legislature.
Personally, I would like to see that we can formulate a – very brief – platform that we can all feel very strongly about supporting, finding candidates who will support it, and get our message out to the people that being a Democrat and voting for Democrats is a good thing.
I realize that my political views are far more liberal than the majority of Nebraskans and that a person that agrees with me 100% of the time will probably not be elected in this state. However, taking a stand that comes off as Republican-Lite® is, I feel, counter productive. Democratic ideals are nothing to be ashamed of, they are something we should stand and support proudly. Our candidates, if they want the support of the Nebraska Democratic Party, should be proud to wear the label of Democrat with a capital D.
If they want to run as an Independent, then let them seek organizational and financial support from the Independents in our state. They might find a few bucks from some Libertarians and Greens if they are lucky.
I believe that if we are to grow as a party, we must, first of all, decide just who and what we are. We must decide what we stand for, we must decide how we want our party to be governed, and we must decide how we want our party to be financed.
I want my party to be something I can be proud of, even if it can’t be as Liberal as I am. I want it to be something I can believe in, so that when I am talking to my fellow Nebraskans they will know that my belief in it is more than just rhetoric, it will be heart-felt.
— Brian T. Osborn Feb 15, 03:45 PM CST #
I love the input. How would you categorize Senator Nelson? He certainly manages to have bi-partisan support. I know several R’s that voted for the Senator because they said “They Pick The Person, Not The Party.” Are they telling us that Fortenberry (from Louisana btw), Smith, and Terry were better people? Admittedly there are some name recognition issues to deal with on top of partisan politics in those examples. I think Nelson is a great Democrat and he doesn’t seem to always toe the party line.
Is there a lesson here for other candidates to follow?
— Charlie Feb 15, 04:42 PM CST #
Senator Nelson spends far too much time on the Republican side of the aisle for me, but then again, I’m a Liberal.
One of the biggest issues I’ve had recently with Sen. Nelson was his support for the Military Commissions Act. I talked to him in McCook about a week before he voted on it and expressed my opinion that it would be an abominable piece of legislation were Congress to pass it, it would be Un-American particularly because it would permit our troops and the CIA to use torture. Sen. Nelson asked if I would consider waterboarding torture. I was stunned. He voted for it.
I really have no problem with Fortenberry being from Louisiana, after all he has lived in Nebraska for ten years. That’s the same complaint so many Republicans had against Scott Kleeb. I just don’t like the way Fortenberry represents Nebraskans, or rather – doesn’t.
— Brian T. Osborn Feb 15, 06:06 PM CST #
Ben Nelson is a Senator today because he beat Bill Hoppner by less than 40 votes in the 1990 Democratic gubertatorial primary race. Ben knows the value of a vote and lives accordingly.
My own 4th generation Populist Democratic qualities go mostly unchecked during primary season. During general elections, the stalwart Dem takes over and the primary winner gets my wholehearted, mostly unquestioning support through November.
There is no doubt in my mind that there is more hope tonight in America than if P. Ricketts had actually been able to buy Nebraskan’s votes.
We may never outnumber Republicans here. We can however, talk with our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and the folks at the checkstand and the drive-thru and plant those seeds of populist Democratic values.
— Steve Hollister Feb 15, 07:51 PM CST #
Steve,

I think you’re on to something – working to change the hearts and minds of the voters rather than appealing to what Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly have driven into their thick skulls. Now there is something I think we can all work on.

One of the things I have brought up in the past is that we need to counter the constant barrage of right-wing propaganda that inundates the airwaves in Nebraska, especially here in the rural part of the state. Would it be possible, or legal, for our party to sponsor progressive radio programming in this state? I’m sure the radio stations would feel our money is just as good as what they’re getting now.

I can’t disagree with what you had to say about Pete Ricketts. But weren’t we lucky that the Republicans decided to run a caricature against Ben than someone who could have posed a serious challenge? What we need in our candidates are paladins who unashamedly carry our banner and are willing to stand up for what we believe in. If not, then I am sorry but all the hard work you do in the platform committee will go for naught – and that is coming from one who was on that committee at our last convention.

I don’t believe it is out of the question for us to expect our candidates to stand by what is in our platform. I do, however, feel that our platform has grown into a 5,000 pound monster that needs a very concerted weight reduction program. I would like to see a platform that is more like a corporate mission statement, something that we could actually remember and the vast majority of us stand by. I’m afraid there are parts of it that are far too specific to every little special interest group in our party. What we need is a canvas done in broad strokes and bold colors that literally shouts what we are all about. We need less of the minutiae that only an accountant or an attorney could love.
— Brian T. Osborn Feb 15, 09:26 PM CST #
This is absolutely the discussions we need to be having. Everybody working together for the cause. We can devise large or small platforms (most prefer smaller I think), however if we can’t get anybody elected the platform, either in whole or in part, will not be pushed.
I’m curious about Brian’s comments about Fortenberry being from another state for the majority of his professional life thus far. He has no problem with that? I personally do but I really want to know how others feel about that. from my very random and non scientific poll, I have found that Nebraskan’s from a more urban area don’t mind (specifically Lincoln). On the flip side the rural areas have more concern over that. Where are you from Brian?
Fortenberry also goes out of his way to not mention his louisiana values.
— Charlie Feb 15, 10:17 PM CST #
Oh yes and I may have a double standard here but I consider Kleeb a Nebraskan. If I recall, he was a military brat. In my book that is citizenship no questions asked.
— Charlie Feb 15, 10:29 PM CST #
Brian, Keep remembering to frame Limbaugh as the guy who eats Two bowls of narcotics, with cream and sugar for breakfast every morning. O’Riley is best framed as calling 900 service numbers while fiddling about like uncle Ernie and sitting on some kind of vibrating eel. These two losers do not in any way, represent Nebraska values.

On the radio subject, KRVN is by far, the best farm radio station in the country. 30- second Nebraska Democrat spots might really pay off in the long run.
— Steve Hollister Feb 15, 10:38 PM CST #
Radio spots for the Party is an outstanding idea. It is also a thrifty idea so we could keep the budget balanced. Radio spots should start now.
— Charlie Feb 15, 10:44 PM CST #
Charlie,
I’m from Holdrege (pop. 5,521) in Phelps Co. (pop. 9,632). It’s the county seat and I am the Dem. county chair here. Phelps Co. is one of the reddest counties in one of the reddest districts in one of the reddest states in the union. So you see, we’ve got our work cut out for us.

Steve,
Let’s not forget that Rush likes to vacation on the island that is reknowned for the quality of its underage boy prostitutes. That’s where he was coming back from when he got popped for a partially used container of Viagra that wasn’t scripted to him.
— Brian T. Osborn Feb 15, 11:29 PM CST #
So goes my rural theory on Fortenberry with you Brian. I guess it still bothers me because he is very non engaged. I have met him on several occasions and I think the word that sums him up best is disingenuous. The people I have TT in Fremont didn’t know he was from Louisiana and say it would be a factor in voting. Again, very weak poll here.
Think Kleeb will run again?
— Charlie Feb 16, 08:23 AM CST #
I believe it is enough to judge Fortenberry on his merits (or lack thereof) rather than where he came from. Heck, if Gen. Wesley Clark would move to Nebraska and run for the Senate or Congress, I’d vote for him in a heartbeat. Provenance has no bearing on a person’s capabilities. Were it so, what we say about that Razorback, Hillary, representing the folks of the Empire State?
I’m with you in that I would prefer that our representatives, no matter what their position, be from our state, district, or county, but birthright alone is not an important enough factor to sway me. We’ve got plenty of fools that were born and raised right here in Phelps County that I wouldn’t elect to be a dog-catcher, and they might consider me to be one of them!
No, I’d rather oppose Fortenberry on his own accomplishments, or lack thereof.
I think we haven’t seen the last of Scott Kleeb. In fact, he’s going to be addressing the Buffalo Co. Dems on, if I’m not mistaken, the 27th of this month. He’ll be talking about his experience with this past campaign and his plans for the future.
— Brian T. Osborn Feb 16, 11:25 AM CST #
I actually think we do agree Brian. I never said it was a birthright, but all things being equal (as if that ever happens) it is one reason to seperate candidates. Especially in a race for congress.
Love the dog cather comment. Needed the laugh.
— Charlie Feb 16, 03:47 PM CST #