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January 25, 2012 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson contrasted the partisan gridlock in Congress with the leadership being shown by the Nebraska Legislature.
During his weekly conference call with Nebraska news reporters this morning, Senator Nelson referred to last night’s State of the Union speech and said, “The President has offered his ideas. Now, Congress needs to weigh in. Obviously, putting 100 percent into getting nothing done and gridlock, as Congress did last year, hasn’t worked. Now, everyone needs to put 100 percent into finding ways to work together and deliver legislation for the President to sign or veto.”
Nelson noted that there has been plenty of both criticism and praise of the President’s speech, but “predictably” it has all been along party lines. He then repeated his commitment to working with anyone committed to moving America’s economy forward.
“We need to stop looking at people as Republicans, Democrats, Independents, liberals, conservatives or centrists. It’s time to work together as Americans,” he said.
Calling on members of Congress to find common ground with the President, Nelson pointed out that criticism of last night’s speech as more about politics than the 2012 legislative agenda is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“It’s only campaign rhetoric if Congress continues its gridlock and refuses to pass legislation. The President’s job is to sign or veto legislation. He can’t do his job if Congress doesn’t do its job,” Nelson said.
He then added a contrast of Congressional partisan gridlock with the leadership of state legislators in Nebraska.
“I’ve heard some even criticizing the President for having his own agenda, and that somehow Congress should lead. There’s a fundamental difference between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch, but not everyone understands those roles because of how things have gone back home in Nebraska.
“For example, where was the governor of Nebraska in dealing with safety at the Beatrice State Developmental Center? The Legislature handled that. Where was the governor on the CIR? The Legislature handled that. Where was the governor on the Keystone pipeline? The Legislature handled that.
“And finally, where is the governor now that the child welfare system seems to be in chaos? Again, the Legislature is leading, while the governor offers no ideas to address major issues in the state.
“Those who criticize the President for not being the 536th member of Congress are giving the governor a pass.”
A reporter on this morning’s conference call asked Nelson about the possibility of creating tax breaks in Nebraska to encourage alternative energy production, like in Colorado.
“Fortunately, the Nebraska Legislature led on that issue as well – without any help from the corner office,” Nelson said. “We’re dealing with public power, government-owned utilities which contract with outside groups to get the tax breaks where everybody benefits from it.
“We’ve been behind the curve. But I think that has been resolved, thanks to the Legislature’s leadership on this and, so consequently, I would hope that we would see a giant step forward in the development of wind and solar power in Nebraska.”
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