#FunFactFriday Local edition! I dont think its a secret which party I personally align with, but below Ive compiled what I feel to be factual information on our Governers race. Its probably a LITTLE bit slanted so I would love to hear from someone who disagrees with what I have typed below. Pete Ricketts (R) - FOR the Keystone XL pipeline, an oil pipeline stretching from Canada to Texas.This will create thousands of temporary construction Jobs while it is being built but only about 35 permanent jobs. - Ricketts is a climate change skeptic. Says “it is far from clear — despite what the other side is saying — it is far from clear what is going on with our climate.” (The other side in this statement being the 99% of climate change scientists who have studied this) - Ricketts is endorsed by Sarah Palin and Ted Cruz. (I HAD to.) - Ricketts wants to reduce our 93 counties to only 20. This would likely mean 20 school districts, 20 county courts, etc. This would reduce jobs, increase travel time to receive services, but would cut costs. - On Education; Ricketts would like to provide vouchers for Charter schools, these are private schools funded by taxpayers that are often run by for-profit organizations. this would cut the budget for public schools. On that front, Ricketts would like to INCREASE the teacher-student ratio and cut funding for the University and other higher education. - Pete Ricketts is against raising our minimum wage. He states there are better ways to help low income Nebraskans such as job training, etc. Unclear on how those Nebraskans can afford additional job training making less than poverty wages, especially with the increase in tuition. Chuck Hassebrook (D) - AGAINST the KXL pipeline. Hassebrook is concerned about the impact on the environment and specifically climate change. Also cites that KXL is for a Canadian company to sell oil to the Chinese. No benefit to Nebraska or the U.S. aside from the 35 permanent jobs. - Hassebrook is a strong supporter of wind energy. Nebraska is ranked 3rd in potential for wind energy, but just 20th when it comes to production. Hassebrook sees this as a major job creator, and much better for the environment. - Hassebrook is endorsed by Warren Buffet - On education, Hassebrook wants to increase the focus on Pre-School education as well as increasing career oriented education in High Schools and community college. As a former Regent at UNL, Hassebrook views higher education as vital to the states economy and would continue to try to keep tuition costs under control. - Hassebrook wants to raise the minimum wage. There are approximately 32,000 people in NE working for minimum wage. If a person works 40 hours a week at minimum wage, they make around $15,000 which is below the federal poverty threshold.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 15:06:34 +0000
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