Now
Fair
32°
High
33°
Low
26°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Local
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Heineman likes federal road stimulus funding

Comments 27 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

BY DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 - 02:20:26 pm CST

Gov. Dave Heineman said Tuesday he’d welcome federal stimulus funding for road construction in Nebraska.

But, Heineman said, he doesn’t want it attached to a bailout package for Wall Street or other “big institutions” at the expense of middle-income Americans and Main Street businesses.

Infrastructure funding focused on ready-to-go roads projects is “the part I think I can support,” the governor said during a telephone news conference from the Philadelphia airport.

Story Photo
Gov. Dave Heineman
Text of Heineman's letter to Obama

Dear President-elect Obama:

Congratulations on your victory. I write you today with great hope for our country. As a fellow executive, I know you appreciate the tough challenges we face as individual states and as a nation. At the end of the day, Americans want our leaders to find common ground and common sense solutions. It is with this in mind that I humbly share a Nebraska view point with you for the future of our great nation.

Americans want action to strengthen our economy. It is the most important issue and I suggest the following.

* Create jobs, jobs and more jobs.

* Lower taxes for all Americans with an emphasis on middle class Americans.

* Balance the federal budget to restore financial stability.

* Secure America’s energy independence.

* Strengthen America’s education system.

First, focus your economic policies on creating jobs. Small businesses are the economic engine of America and they need lower taxes. Reward good business performance. Wall Street has failed Main Street America. It is not fair for failed CEOs to walk out the door with a multi-million dollar severance package while the average employee walks out the door without a job. When a CEO grows a company and creates jobs for Americans, we reward them with a high salary and maybe a bonus. That’s fair because Americans respect good business performance.

Second, lower taxes for all Americans with an emphasis on middle class Americans. Middle class families are struggling with increased food prices, rising energy costs and soaring health care costs. Americans need tax relief and they need it right now.

Third, balancing the federal budget is essential to America’s long-term financial stability. Every American family has to balance their budget. Most Governors and State Legislatures are required to balance their budgets and so should the federal government.

Fourth, secure America’s energy independence by developing a comprehensive energy policy at the national level. America needs to increase our production capacity, expand alternative energies, invest in clean energy and nuclear technology, and improve our energy conservation and efficiency.

The final element to a strong economy is to strengthen America’s education system. Education is the primary responsibility of state and local governments, but we need the federal government to be a full funding partner and to eliminate unfunded mandates. Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), provide greater flexibility with the No Child Left Behind law, and remove the Maintenance of Effort Mandate (MOE) that has been placed upon states regarding higher education financing. We must prepare our young people to succeed in a knowledge based, technology driven, free market economy.

That’s it in a nutshell. Create jobs. Lower taxes. Balance the budget. Secure energy independence. Strengthen our education system.

Mr. President-elect, Americans want you to succeed. America is the land of opportunity and freedom. As the Governor of Nebraska, if I can be of assistance, please let me know. Thank you for your time and good luck.

Heineman spoke with the Nebraska media after most of the nation’s governors met with President-elect Barack Obama to discuss economic recovery proposals.

Additional federal Medicaid funding assistance is also on the table in a proposed stimulus package aimed at the states.

“We’ll take a look at it,” Heineman said.

“Forty-one states are in a financial crisis, and we can all be proud we’re one of nine that is not.”

Nebraska entered the recession with “the largest cash reserve in the history of the state,” he said.

But, Heineman cautioned, projections of “flat or negative” growth in fiscal 2010 revenue will affect the state’s 2009-2011 budget.

“I will continue to push for tax cuts within the financial constraints we face,” the governor said.

In 2003, Nebraska received a $108 million injection of federal funds to help support Medicaid and other essential services.  That assistance package for the states was spearheaded by Sen. Ben Nelson during the recession that followed the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Obama told the governors he wants their advice in fashioning a stimulus package to help the states.

Heineman described Tuesday’s meeting as “informative, positive, productive and worthwhile.”

Obama, he said, was “a very good listener.”

Heineman said he is open to “some short-term deficit spending” by the federal government to create jobs and spur the economy.

But, he said, the federal government needs to make a long-term commitment to balance its budget.

That was one of five suggestions he made in a letter to the president-elect.

“I humbly share a Nebraska viewpoint with you,” the governor wrote.

In order to strengthen the economy, Heineman urged a strategy that would:

* Create jobs, jobs and more jobs.

* Lower taxes for all Americans, with an emphasis on the middle class.

* Secure America’s energy independence.

* Strengthen America’s education system.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Local > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
John wrote on December 2, 2008 10:59 am:
" I don't think you are the one to give Obama advice. Where have you gotten all this great knowledge? "

 Travis wrote on December 2, 2008 11:12 am:
" Seeing how we are one of nine state not operating in the red, I think Heineman may have some knowledge to share. And if you remember John, Obama claims he is open to all information and debate, stating that has been his best way of making decisions. With the economic situation we could be facing, I think it is time for the partisanship to stop! No one person is going to solve this problem in my opinion. "

 Nina wrote on December 2, 2008 11:45 am:
" Great! Now let's look forward to Obama giving Heineman some advice - on health care, for starts. Then maybe the horror stories at BSDC and those of neglected, abandoned, and mentally ill children falling through the cracks of available services will end. "

 Jeff wrote on December 2, 2008 12:06 pm:
" Wow - those are some revolutionary ideas that I'm sure Barack would never have thought of himself. Also - I think - based on standards set during the recent presidential election/campaign , we can now list Governor Heineman as one of Obama's closest confidants and economic advisors. "

 Matt P. wrote on December 2, 2008 12:16 pm:
" So, essentially you are sending a letter that states the obvious! All of those things you mentioned are ALL universally accepted as goals. The question is HOW to get those things. Your letter was nothing but a political move. Give me a break! "

 ThePot wrote on December 2, 2008 12:17 pm:
" Create jobs? Balance the budget? Great ideas. Didya happen to read Obama's platform proposals the last 10 months? And how do we create jobs without spending some money, dude? Its not like this state has any real revenue drawing tourist attractions. You need to spend money to make it. Your coffers may look great on paper but your people are hurting. Get to work, guv. "

 Advisor wrote on December 2, 2008 12:27 pm:
" Let's hold off on advice from a republican until The Big "O" gets this (economy) turned around and headed in the right direction. Remember Republican = recession!

Save yourself the rebuttal and study the past 8 years results. "

 Seriously... wrote on December 2, 2008 12:33 pm:
" I completely agree with Nina. Good ole Govenor Heineman could use some advice on how to take care of the children of NE and let the caseworkers do their jobs and let those families that need help, get it. Not all parents are fit to raise their kids. Yea, it is all about money isn't it Governor? "

 Reader wrote on December 2, 2008 12:33 pm:
" Wasn't it Governor Heineman who not too long ago stated that Nebraska had more jobs than people to fill them? This was about the time the Vise Grip factory closed. "

 Alan wrote on December 2, 2008 12:36 pm:
" Government can't create jobs. Any non-public safety government job is a job taken from the private sector. The most government can do is to do no harm. Keep taxes low on those who create jobs and wealth. After all when was the last time a poor person offered you a job? "

 Kelly wrote on December 2, 2008 12:37 pm:
" Oh wow, that advice is genius! Why isn't this guy president? "

 Curious wrote on December 2, 2008 1:17 pm:
" Can we hear from Joe the Plumber on this too? "

 Ted wrote on December 2, 2008 1:21 pm:
" Nebraska is a poverty state. I think the gov. should first work on his own problems here! "

 BobL wrote on December 2, 2008 1:32 pm:
" Genius advice from the governor of the state that elected the equally genius Mike Johanns to the US Senate. The same state that voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, and McCain in 2008. It is like an SNL sketch. "

 John from Lincoln wrote on December 2, 2008 1:39 pm:
" What a joke! Heineman giving Obama advise on the economy? Don't you actually need to have done something, accomplished something before you can give advice to someone else? I am a lifelong republican and I am sorry I voted for Heineman. The man lack any vision - other than cutting taxes - which is his solution to everything. "

 Dont look now wrote on December 2, 2008 1:40 pm:
" This is great... How about he figure out a way to save this state first, then the rest of the nation...

Hey Dave, Fix your mess first, then fix the rest. "

 Kevin of Hemingford wrote on December 2, 2008 1:48 pm:
" The Governor sending a letter to the President-Elect that any high school student could have written is fine ... but releasing to the media for public review; now that's embarrassing. "

 GW wrote on December 2, 2008 2:43 pm:
" Oh, this is brilliant! (sarcasm) On one hand, balance the federal budget for all states have to. Yet fully fund education, fully fund any mandates, and somehow have our energy independence without saying how. Oh and then talk about lower taxes to boot! Obama has talked about the middle class tax cut for quite awhile that Heineman raises as if it is a new idea.

So go on extreme austerity to give everyone a tax cut, balance the budget, but do something about fully funding education and vaguely talk about energy independence. I guess drill more is the implicit answer there. Oh and ethanol of course since we spend energy making it in this state.

How in the world did this man get elected governor? Oh wait, I forget the 3/4 of Nebraska that always votes for the woman or man that has "R" after their name. Silly me. We are so non-partisan here.

Nebraska isn't overlooked because it is a small state. Nebraska is overlooked because it always votes Republican! The few urban areas do vote competitively, going back and forth between R and D. Massachusetts is overlooked too, because it almost always votes Democrat!

States, get a clue! Oh hay, we could just ask our Chinese bankers to pay for government instead of us. Take out a loan, the American way! "

 Dont take all the credit Gov. wrote on December 2, 2008 2:55 pm:
" A large portion of that extra money came from the states portion of the largest lotto pay out in history. How quickly people forget don't give credit were credit is not due. "

 Pat wrote on December 2, 2008 4:24 pm:
" Was this guy sitting in a high school civics class and listening to the Obama campaign simultaneously to get his ideas for the letter? Why didn't he ask for world peace and ending hunger? Of course Obama was a good listener. He's probably hearing the same thing 50 times, so he's used to it. Seriously, this is nothing new, folks. Although, it is amazing that we need "jobs, jobs and more jobs" considering that silly report putting Lincoln high on places for finding a job. That report was cited in this same newspaper within the last week. "

 mom wrote on December 2, 2008 4:37 pm:
" It's too bad that Heineman didn't see fit to give some of those same ideas to President Bush and his Republican cronies. Maybe if they had received a letter from Heineman our country wouldn't be buried under a massive budget deficit facing a huge economic crisis. If only Bush had read a letter like that with the suggestion that he strengthen our educational system, perhaps then he wouldn't have created a disastrous program like NCLB that has our teachers mired in testing and record keeping rather than focusing on teaching! It's amazing that no one in the past eight years even thought of secruing America's energy independence! Can you believe it? Thanks Mike. Now that Obama has received your letter I'm sure his mind is spinning with the possibilities! If only you had written it sooner! "

 mom wrote on December 2, 2008 4:39 pm:
" It's too bad that Heineman didn't see fit to give some of those same ideas to President Bush and his Republican cronies. Maybe if they had received a letter from Heineman our country wouldn't be buried under a massive budget deficit facing a huge economic crisis. If only Bush had read a letter like that with the suggestion that he strengthen our educational system, perhaps then he wouldn't have created a disastrous program like NCLB that has our teachers mired in testing and record keeping rather than focusing on teaching! It's amazing that no one in the past eight years even thought of securing America's energy independence! Can you believe it? Thanks Dave. Now that Obama has received your letter I'm sure his mind is spinning with the possibilities! If only you had written it sooner! "

 whatever wrote on December 2, 2008 4:49 pm:
" Creating jobs is a good thing, but if we ever get to the point where we have a recovery we simply don't have the manpower to fill all of the potential "jobs, jobs and more jobs". In fact we don't have the infrastructure to train people for the types of jobs that need to be filled. At the very least we can hope the Obama administration will create an environment where creative thinking, hardwork and innovation are rewarded and encouraged. During the last 8 years the only thing the Bush encouraged was the outsourcing of our economy. "

 Why wrote on December 2, 2008 5:29 pm:
" Why are the vast majority of posts so insanely critical and sarcastic. Often these posts are just down right mean. If you want to be cruel, show some courage at least attach your name. "

 what wrote on December 2, 2008 7:16 pm:
" Wow, the letter was a regurgitation of Obama's platform. Heinie is a genious! I dont' like republican's chastising the person who is not even president YET for a deficit that they created. In the last 28 years, only one president was able to decrease the deficit, and that was Clinton. Bet most of Nebraska didn't even vote for him, yet think they can already chide Obama. It's gonna take an influx of government cash to fix this mess. Listen to the economists. "

 Outside the Box wrote on December 3, 2008 8:29 am:
" Please. Like Gov. Dave actually wrote the letter. Somebody on staff wrote it and he signed his name and okayed it's release to the press. "

 St Aghast wrote on December 3, 2008 8:47 pm:
" Medicaid funds go primarily to children, single moms and the disabled. How can David Heineman, promoter of Christian Nebraska Values, ignore the plight of the most needy in our society with a reticent "we'll take a look at it?" "

Ads by Yahoo!