On a cool August morning, three mild-mannered men who want to be Nebraska’s U.S. senator tried to point out their differences to an audience of about 400 at the annual State Fair debate.

Republican Mike Johanns touted his experience as governor, where the budget is balanced every year, and as  Lincoln’s mayor, where there was a 30 percent drop in property taxes one year.

Democrat Scott Kleeb criticized Johanns’ record, implied he was a quitter because he left the governor’s job to become secretary of agriculture, then left that post to run for the Senate. And Kleeb  painted himself as “new leadership” that will look to the next generation, not the next election or next job. 

Green Party Candidate Steve Larrick focused on his party’s themes — ecological  wisdom,   peace, social justice and grassroots democracy.  

Kleeb and Johanns spent part of the hourlong debate offering  differing interpretations over past events and current science.

Raising the gas tax

Kleeb, according to Johanns,  supports a “53-cent increase” in gasoline through his endorsement  of the Lieberman-Warner climate security act. 

That’s  two cents a year  for 25 years, or 53 cents over the 25 years, Kleeb countered.  

“We would be lucky if the price of gas only went up two cents each year,” said Kleeb, adding that the  bill focuses on the country’s need to reduce its dependency on foreign oil.

Kleeb also pointed out that as governor in 2004,  Johanns,  supported a 2-cent increase in the state gas tax, intended to give  cities and counties more road construction money.

Corn-based ethanol

Johanns pointed to earlier remarks attributed to  Kleeb that corn will not be a part of the renewable energy solution in the future.  New research will soon bring a 40 percent increase in the yield of  dryland corn, making corn-based ethanol even more viable, Johanns said.

Kleeb said he believes corn-based ethanol will continue to be important and will be part of the future mix of solutions.  But he  believes the country also needs to  develop other "green" energy solutions, such as solar, wind and other technologies such as cellulosic ethanol production.

Amnesty for illegals

Johanns took exception to Kleeb’s contention that as a member of President Bush’s cabinet Johanns had supported amnesty for illegal immigrants. 

 “I want to bring some accuracy to the debate,” said  Johanns, who said he has consistently opposed amnesty, as governor, as a cabinet member and as candidate.   

Global warming

The two also disagreed over global warming.

During the debate, Johanns said he believed there needs to be more science “about what role man plays in global warming of the climate.”

“It seems the only person who doesn’t believe the science is in (on global warming) is Mike Johanns,” Kleeb said while answering questions  from reporters after the debate.

And Kleeb quoted oil tycoon  T. Boone Pickens, saying, “Look, it’s  real,” referring to global warming. “We gotta do something about it.” And that includes reducing dependency on fossil fuels and foreign oil, Kleeb said. 

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.