700 Democrats rally; Johanns issues plan
Mike Johanns staked out his ground in this year’s Senate race Sunday as more than 700 Democrats gathered one block away for their county convention.
Johanns held a news conference to issue a 14-page document detailing his positions on issues ranging from illegal immigration to Iraq.
With their numbers enhanced by the outpouring for Sen. Barack Obama at last February’s presidential caucuses, Lancaster County Democrats turned out in force to greet Senate nominee Scott Kleeb and conduct party business.
Presenting himself as the candidate of change at a time when most voters say they want the country to pursue a new direction, Kleeb told the delegates: “Status quo goes by the name of Mike Johanns.”
An hour earlier, Johanns made the case that he’s the candidate with “a consistent record of changing business as usual.”
As governor for six years and more recently U.S. secretary of agriculture, Johanns said, he has been successful in “working across the aisle” to achieve bipartisan results.
“I understand you want real change to take place in Washington, change that represents Nebraska’s values,” Johanns said during the news conference at Republican state headquarters.
“I don’t talk about change, I’ve done change,” he said.
Most of his positions on issues had been previously identified, although not fleshed out in such detail.
Among key proposals:
* Make the 2001 and 2003 Bush administration tax cuts permanent.
* Support a decline in U.S. combat troop levels in Iraq as the situation improves on the ground; oppose any artificial deadlines for withdrawal.
* Repeal the federal estate tax.
* Support provisions in trade agreements that protect U.S. jobs and impose environmental standards.
* Support a federal-state partnership to assist in providing health care coverage for the uninsured that assists in paying for private insurance premiums, co-payments and deductibles.
* Require illegal immigrants to return home before seeking legal re-entry into the country.
* Oppose U.S. talks with Iran without establishing preconditions.
* Oppose embryonic stem cell research beyond the stem cell lines previously authorized by the Bush administration.
Johanns said he differs sharply with Kleeb over a number of issues, including tax cuts, abortion rights and most recently a Senate global warming bill. Johanns opposes abortion except to save the life of the mother and opposed the Senate bill requiring major reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Speaking to Democrats at the Pershing Center, Kleeb said their numbers — twice as large as the number he encountered in populous Douglas County — can serve as the catalyst for victory in November.
Kleeb centered on the need for fundamental change.
The United States has accumulated a $9 trillion national debt, he said, and is conducting “a foreign policy that makes us weaker.”
The Bush administration has adopted an energy policy that does not pursue alternative energy sources and endangers the environment, he said.
Meanwhile, growing numbers of Americans live without health care insurance, Kleeb said.
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.
Johanns held a news conference to issue a 14-page document detailing his positions on issues ranging from illegal immigration to Iraq.
With their numbers enhanced by the outpouring for Sen. Barack Obama at last February’s presidential caucuses, Lancaster County Democrats turned out in force to greet Senate nominee Scott Kleeb and conduct party business.
Presenting himself as the candidate of change at a time when most voters say they want the country to pursue a new direction, Kleeb told the delegates: “Status quo goes by the name of Mike Johanns.”
An hour earlier, Johanns made the case that he’s the candidate with “a consistent record of changing business as usual.”
As governor for six years and more recently U.S. secretary of agriculture, Johanns said, he has been successful in “working across the aisle” to achieve bipartisan results.
“I understand you want real change to take place in Washington, change that represents Nebraska’s values,” Johanns said during the news conference at Republican state headquarters.
“I don’t talk about change, I’ve done change,” he said.
Most of his positions on issues had been previously identified, although not fleshed out in such detail.
Among key proposals:
* Make the 2001 and 2003 Bush administration tax cuts permanent.
* Support a decline in U.S. combat troop levels in Iraq as the situation improves on the ground; oppose any artificial deadlines for withdrawal.
* Repeal the federal estate tax.
* Support provisions in trade agreements that protect U.S. jobs and impose environmental standards.
* Support a federal-state partnership to assist in providing health care coverage for the uninsured that assists in paying for private insurance premiums, co-payments and deductibles.
* Require illegal immigrants to return home before seeking legal re-entry into the country.
* Oppose U.S. talks with Iran without establishing preconditions.
* Oppose embryonic stem cell research beyond the stem cell lines previously authorized by the Bush administration.
Johanns said he differs sharply with Kleeb over a number of issues, including tax cuts, abortion rights and most recently a Senate global warming bill. Johanns opposes abortion except to save the life of the mother and opposed the Senate bill requiring major reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Speaking to Democrats at the Pershing Center, Kleeb said their numbers — twice as large as the number he encountered in populous Douglas County — can serve as the catalyst for victory in November.
Kleeb centered on the need for fundamental change.
The United States has accumulated a $9 trillion national debt, he said, and is conducting “a foreign policy that makes us weaker.”
The Bush administration has adopted an energy policy that does not pursue alternative energy sources and endangers the environment, he said.
Meanwhile, growing numbers of Americans live without health care insurance, Kleeb said.
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.
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