Raybould Stands with Nebraska Farmers to Highlight Washington Senator Deb Fischer’s Failure To Protect Nebraska Farmers From the Growing Trade Crisis
Kicks-Off “Fischer Failing Farmers” Effort in Washington County
Click here for video from event earlier today.
Blair, NE - U.S. senate candidate and grocery store owner Jane Raybould stood with Nebraska ag producers Wednesday to decry Senator Deb Fischer’s failure to protect farmers, ranchers and consumers in the escalating trade war. Corn prices continue to decline, soybeans hit a record-low this summer and the US Department of Agriculture named Nebraska, along with four other states, as those likely to be most affected by Chinese tariffs. [Lincoln Journal Star, 4/5/18]
Appearing at a farm outside Blair, in Washington County, Raybould said:
“This is a Washington-made trade crisis that is hurting Nebraska farmers and Senator Fischer is nowhere to be seen,” Raybould said. “Instead of fighting back on behalf of her constituents, Senator Fischer is sticking with her party bosses and the DC corporate lobbyists financing her campaign. We need a new senator who isn’t afraid to buck the powerful interests in our nation’s capital to stop this trade crisis that will ultimately hurt ALL Nebraskans.”
Among those appearing with Raybould were Tom Cady, a Blair farmer; Ben Steffen owner/operator of Steffen Ag Inc. near Humboldt and former President of Nebraska Agriculture Builders; and Don Hutchens, a native of Geneva, a farmer and former executive director of the the Nebraska Corn Board and assistant director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
Highlights of speakers’ remarks:
Tom Cady: “If our exports of livestock, crop, soybeans, wheat, everything – if Washington, DC is going to use that as a pawn, we did that a long time ago. It broke half of us. We can’t stand that again. If you can remember the early 80’s, I survived – just by the hair of my teeth. A lot of guys didn’t. We used our exports as a ploy in trade negotiations and if we do that again, well, we’re trying to export beef to China and soybeans… if we can’t have that market, we’re in trouble.”
Ben Steffen:“Agriculture is what I love but I am very concerned about the way we’re conducting business in Washington right now. This artificial, manufactured trade crisis that we have on our hands right now is totally unnecessary. It’s counterproductive and it represents a loss to all of us.
“Nebraskans are in the driver’s seat here. We are the people electing someone to represent us. We send someone to Washington, DC to be a voice for us – not to be a voice for a party or a church mouse, or someone playing to the audience in Washington DC and seeking any other position. We are electing somebody to represent us and that’s what we need.”
Don Hutchens: “Nobody wins in a trade war… For Nebraska, we’ve got nearly a billion dollars of corn in the international marketplace. Nearly a billion dollars in ethanol and distiller’s grain and China is putting a 45% tariff on ethanol. We worked hard to develop that market. They didn’t just call us up and say, ‘hey, send us your ethanol,’ or this country asking us to send more corn. We negotiated those things. Farmers did. And so, those relationships are at-risk and the farmer gets hit in the middle.
“I want to thank Sen Fischer for her public service in the legislature and the commitment but right now, if you’re not willing to take it to the administration and advocate for your constituents, it’s time to step aside and let somebody else get in the mix. I’m willing to get my hands dirty on behalf of somebody that’s running for U.S. Senate.”
Senator Fischer was among 14 Republican senators to vote against plan that would have asserted authority over Trump administration decision-making on trade-related issues [Washington Post, 6/14/18] and when pressed on her lack of support for the Toomey-Corker proposal that would require congressional approval when the president enacts tariffs under the auspices of national security, Senator Fischer said: “I haven’t heard a compelling case. The sponsors of the bill need to make that.” [Washington Post, 6/11/18]. Earlier this year, Senator Fischer hadn’t even looked at Senator Jeff Flake’s bill that would nullify tariffs on steel and aluminum. She told Nebraska Radio Network, “A number of bills are introduced every year. I haven’t had Senator Flake approach me to visit with me about that bill either, so I don’t know how serious he is about pushing it forward.” [Nebraska Radio Network, 5/4/18]
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A grocery store owner and faithful Catholic, Jane Raybould knows what it means to serve her community — to put community before self. She is running for the United States Senate to cut through the partisan bickering and get things done for Nebraskans, like her customers. Jane boldly announced she would refuse donations from corporate PACs because she knows the special interests hold too much sway in Washington. Her opponent, incumbent Senator Deb Fischer has enriched herself in office and voted with her party 98% of the time — even when those policies are harmful to Nebraskans.
Media contact: Hilary Nachem
cell: 414-394-7469
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