Fischer makes final swing through area

McCOOK, Nebraska -- U.S. Senate candidate and Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer stopped by the Gazette Tuesday afternoon, as part of her final week of campaigning for Tuesday's election. Sen. Fischer said her success as a Nebraska senator would carry over to the U.S. Senate seat and spoke candidly about her disgust with attack ads that attempted to paint her as a bad neighbor.

Sen. Fischer has had a reputation of being an exceptional legislator in terms of the bills she introduced making it to final approval. She told the Gazette that her success began with developing relationships with her colleagues and having a good working relationship with 48 others. Sen. Fischer said she has a reputation of being honest and straightforward, "then you pick a topic and become an expert on it. You need to be very knowledgeable to gain the respect of your colleagues," said Fischer.

Sen. Fischer said she was proud of her Nebraska record and ability to take on a lot of issues, adding that she would carry over the same approach to the U.S. Senate seat.

Sen. Fischer also addressed accusations stemming from various attack ads, that claim she introduced certain legislation while having a personal conflict of interest.

Sen. Fischer said the bill targeted in the accusations, LB 229, was introduced to get revenue for water studies and the Platte River. The Nebraska Legislative website shows the bill was approved by the Governor in May 2011 and transfers funds from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund to the Water Resource Cash Fund. It included an amendment that eliminated the Legislature's authority to make transfers from the water fund to the General Fund and also increased flexibility in wording pertaining to expenditures allowed from the water fund that were to be used for management actions to reduce consumptive use of water or to enhance streamflows.

Sen. Fischer's political opponents have claimed her goal when introducing the bill was to strip funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund in an effort to prevent a land purchase of the Kime Ranch, which neighbors Sen. Fischer's own cattle ranch.

"What Kerrey is saying is not just twisting the facts, it's a lie," said Fischer, adding that it went beyond a political challenge and was a blatant attack on her family.

Sen. Fischer said numerous people familiar with the situation have spoken out in her defense and even Kime family members had written letters to the editor of the Omaha World Herald in her defense.

"Mr. Kerrey doesn't talk about the issues, his record doesn't reflect Nebraska values," said Fischer. Sen. Fischer went on to say that if elected her stance would be to make spending cuts, without raising taxes. She said that opponents attempt to immediately discount that approach by saying it would equate to a revenue loss, but she explained that any revenue loss would be offset by combined efforts to reduce government regulations.

"There is a clear choice for Nebraskans in this race because Bob Kerrey and I don't agree on anything," said Sen. Fischer. Fischer cited examples including her stance on reducing taxes, fighting for a balanced budget, being pro-life, wanting to repeal Obamacare and her "A" rating with the National Rifle Association, as all being areas Kerrey was a polar opposite.