NEBFARMPAC Endorses Chris Backemeyer for First Congressional District
LINCOLN, NE –Nebraska Farmers Union’s Political Action Committee, NEBFARMPAC announced its endorsement of Democratic candidate Chris Backemeyer for the First Congressional District in the general election.
Vern Jantzen, NEBFARMPAC President from Plymouth said, “As voters, we hire, retain, and if necessary, fire the public officials that work for us. When times are good and things are working as they should, we stay the course and retain our management. When times are tough and things are not working as they should, as managers of our own interests, voters must make changes and hope for badly needed long overdue improvements.”
John Hansen, NEBFARMPAC Secretary said, “Our Board is painfully aware of the fact that agriculture is facing another year of losing money thanks to record high ag input costs and below the cost of production ag commodity prices. Agriculture is facing the worst financial crisis since the 1980s. Business as usual these days is about farms and ranches losing money, equity, and their generations old farm and ranch operations. Too many of our farmers have lost too much money for too many years to continue.”
“Our PAC Board also knows our current Farm Bill is badly outdated and has failed production agriculture, and is no longer a meaningful income safety net given today’s farming risks. Farmers are not going out of business, not getting their farm operating loans renewed, and being forced to liquidate their farm equipment and land because the status quo is not working for them. Our Congress has failed agriculture during this economic crisis because even though they control both Houses of Congress, they have failed to pass an updated or improved Farm Bill for the past three years. Production agriculture, Nebraska’s largest single industry cannot count on this Congress to do their job, or have our backs as we continue to see too many of our neighbors be forced out of their generations old farming operations,” said Vern Jantzen.
NEBFARMPAC Secretary John Hansen said, “Chris Backemeyer has attended our District meetings and state convention. He has asked for and received briefings on the issues we face. He listens to our members. He takes their concerns about unaffordable health care insurance seriously. His family comes from agriculture. His experience in international relations and diplomacy is a real plus in our eyes. He knows how to work with others. He is a good listener. He understands just how important family farm and ranch agriculture is to our rural communities, state, and nation, and that when agriculture is doing well, everyone else in our society does better. We think he will be a breath of fresh air.”