Thread by @asanderford

We are getting ready tonight for the first major gubernatorial debate of a #Nebraska GOP primary season that has seen far fewer than usual.

Tonight, @NebPublicMedia is hosting @CWHerbster, @votelindstrom and @TThibodeauNE, among others.

@jim_pillen did not accept any debates.

I'll try to live tweet some of the debate. But I may have to peel off to do some writing for the @NE_Examiner.

If you have questions, let me know.

Getting ready.

Dennis Kellogg of @NebPublicMedia is hosting. They'll face questions from @NTVNewsColleen, @fredmknapp and @LMelendezNews. The debate is closed to the public but airing live on what many still know as NET.

Q: What's one issue that separates you from your opponents? (All answers paraphrased unless in quotes.)

A (Thibodeau): Funding per child for state aid to schools, which will provide property tax relief. As a small biz owner, it would be nice to have something that will solve it.

A (Ridenour): I'm a constitutionalist. I believe in supporting the rights and liberties of the people. This isn't just a Republican thing or a Dem thing. This is what we need to do for all Nebraskans.

A (Herbster): America is in trouble, and if America is in trouble, so is America. Going into 2022, the election for gov in 2022 will be the most important election in your entire life. Job 1, to lead their state. Job 2, to push back against federal overreach coming out of DC.

A (Herbster, continued): Transformational leadership means you're a servant.

A (Lindstrom): I'm the only proven tax-cutter in this race. I did it last year on Social Security and I'm doing it again this year. When it comes to income tax, individual and corporate, and I've voted for every single property tax bill that's come before me.

A (Lindstrom, cont): I'm now carrying tax cut bill. (The Revenue committee gutted Lindstrom's bill and replaced it with their combined proposal to cut income, corporate tax rates and offset property taxes.)

Q: The @NECorrections department is the most overcrowded in the country. How would you address this issue?

A (Ridenour): We need to understand the problem and root cause, because if we want to throw money at it that it's going to fix the issue and it's going to be sustainable.

A (Ridenour, cont): Need to look at justice reformation, trade training to get nonviolent offenders back into the workforce. We also have a workforce shortage.

A (Herbster): The new prison will not solve all the problems. We will still be short of beds, even with a new prison. The location of the new prison will be paramount. Where we're located now, Tecumseh, we don't have the workforce to support a prison.

A (Herbster cont): Need to look at mental health, mental wellness, there's a huge issue today with mental health. Many of those people end up in a cell in prison. There has to be a plan to work with those individuals, put them back into the workforce. Training a trade.

A (Herbster cont): Drugs are coming across our southern border.

A (Lindstrom): We are discussing a new prison, it's much more than the cost of building the prison. It's operating costs and it might be closer to a billion. Need to look at mental health, drug courts, workforce issue.

A (Lindstrom): We have 152 percent capacity, want to make sure that those people not violent get the skills to get hired. I'm supportive of a bill to offer a tax credit to get felons back to work. I'm not going to say no on a prison, but we need more.

A (Thibodeau): The fact is there aren't enough nonviolent criminals to relieve the crowding in our prisons. Another problem is it's an unsafe work environment.

A (Thibodeau cont): The alternative is to build a new prison. You can add those things that make it easier for inmates to get to the services they need, drug addiction and mental health. Can't mandate counties or cities to do those things, because who will pay?

Q: Farmers have been through it all, droughts, commodity prices, etc., what's the biggest threat to farmers and ranchers?

A (Herbster): The biggest threat to ag in general is the fact that we have foreign countries who are purchasing our ag tech and our land.

A (Herb cont): There's some reason Bill Gates owns farm land in so many states. We have to protect ag and our food production in Nebraska. We don't just feed America. We feed the entire world.

A (Herb cont): I'll make sure a foreign country, especially one that's trying to take us down, can't purchase farm land in Nebraska. I worry about rationing food if we don't do all we can.

A (Lindstrom): The top burden I hear from farmers and ranchers is taxes, particularly the burden of property taxes. Need to offset the costs of K-12 education. Either beef, corn, soybeans have so many unique challenges. Water is a huge issue for them, particularly in McCook.

A (Lindstrom cont): Need country of origin labeling, smaller independent processors. Overarching theme is property taxes.

A (Thibodeau): Farmers and ranchers I speak with are very concerned about big corporate farming. They say the big four has made it almost impossible for small farmers to make it. They're also worried about taxes, fuel tax and property tax. Everything is hurting them. Fertilizer.

A (Thibodeau cont): Thankfully, Nebraska is fighting 30x30 and they need to fight Colorado for our water.

A (Ridenour): Need a better solution to property taxes that is crippling our most important industry. We have Nebraskans starting local processing in Nebraska. I want to support them, cutting red tape and helping these establishments.

A (Ridenour cont): We can work with them to make sure the Big Four can't control things here. We also need broadband in rural areas, to make sure they have the tech to keep up with the times and industry.

Q: People have talked a long time about changing the system of income, sales and property taxes, what further reforms would you pursue?

A (Lind): Working on income tax, corporate and property taxes. Next step is trying to tackle the demographic of 18-35. We're competing with Iowa and South Dakota. It's a combination of controlling spending.

A (Lindstrom, cont): But we need to tackle is raising the threshold for an individual filer to 50k and family to 100k. Get closer to an income tax of zero percent. I think that will encourage people from a tax standpoint to come here.

A (Thibodeau): Tax problem is imperative to fix. I hear over and over about why we need property tax relief. It seems like there's a little bit of credit and the focus is always on the income tax. It's important to look at property taxes first.

A (Thib cont): You can audit to find spending to cut. We can go back to school funding to help with property tax relief. If we need to get rid of some exemptions smartly.

A (Ridenour): First it starts with cutting spending. We need proper reporting in this state. Leverage tech to make financial reporting more accurate. Need to work toward EPIC consumption tax. It's sustainable.

A (Ride cont): It'll increase the tax revenue but lower the burden on Nebraskans. You decide how much you pay and when you pay. A consumption tax will increase our revenues and it takes into consideration those of lower income and provides assistance.

A (Ride cont): We are a sinking ship and there's nothing we can do but bail out.

A (Herb): Talking about Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Iowa, North Carolina, other states. We have a 1967 tax code. Everybody's aware of that. For the last eight years we've talked about fixing that. We need to do it.

A (Herb cont): You need to look at all of it, Blueprint Nebraska, EPIC tax, no inheritance tax, property tax. (He has often talked about this all of the above approach and said he'll get specific when he talks to people more.)

Q: What do you think about the shift in the way we talk about politics? What's the importance of Nebraska Nice in how you campaign and how you would lead or is that way of thinking in the past?

A (Thibodeau): I prefer to talk about Nebraska Nice. Wish we'd have not changed to Nebraska it's not for everyone. There's no reason for our political discourse to head south. Too many people are there for their own agenda or trying to draw attention to them.

A (Thib cont): When you serve in the Legislature or you serve as governor, it's not about you. It's about serving Nebraskans. It's hard to know who to vote for when you turn on the TV and it's always somebody attacking somebody for something.

A (Ridenour): As governor, I'm going to be a role model in respect and peace. And producing the attitude that we need to respect each other. We are all elected officials.

A (Ride cont): We're not going to get anything done in this state if we don't find some common ground and learn to speak to one another. We can.

A (Ride cont): All this is doing is hurting our state. This is all of our home. "If we want a home that's better than what it was yesterday, we have got to play nice."

A (Herbster): I've learned running my businesses in six states. Everything rises and falls on great leadership. Servanthood of our Savior. I will guarantee that the voters, whatever party affiliation, everybody has a seat at the table.

A (Herb cont): In the business world, I always learn more from those people who were critical of me than those people who were positive about me. There is no room for us to criticize and critique others because we were all created in God's image.

A (Lindstrom): I've gotten along with everyone no matter where they are on the political spectrum. Last year, the Social Security tax cut passed with a unanimous vote. Worked with Sara Howard on opioids. Worked with Tony Vargas. Yes we disagreed. Sometimes 90 percent of the time.

A (Lind cont): But there was always one thing we could agree on. Those coalitions and conversations are how we get things done. They matter to getting things done. Our political ads, I've told my staff we are going to be positive, a positive message, positive ads. Work with all.

Q: How will you make this state work for all Nebraskans, including the marginalized, for example LGBTQIA?

A (Ridenour): Go there, shake hands, listen to them. We need to know their issues, what's going on. As governor you're a servant of the people, all people. I will start and have been doing, is being there.

A (Ride): You don't get that full perspective by not connecting and engaging with Nebraskans. I believe our leadership has not been doing that good enough.

A (Herbster): Already I don't know how many groups I've met with, plus campaigning the entire state from the west and east, I can share with you that people want to be heard. They want people who will listen. Great leaders were great listeners, and they didn't sit in an office.

A (Herb cont): It doesn't make any difference what their background is, what their color is, what their belief system is, I'm going to spend as much time with them as it takes. I'll stay up half the night. Bringing people together is what great leaders do.

A (Herb cont): Together we are going to make Nebraska great again.

A (Lindstrom): Nebraska is not for everyone is not a message I want to send as governor. We're not going to be able to grow organically by sending that message. Knowledge and education are the great equalizer. We need to invest in kids and communities.

A (Lind cont): We are investing in North O, South O, places that have a much higher poverty level. When you give people a hope and a job and provide the education you're going to get a positive outcome. I'll be the governor for everyone.

A (Lind cont): We will partner with communities to meet those needs.

A (Thibodeau): As the only woman up here, I get told I have great ideas and asked why I don't get behind one of the men. I will not go into any community and talk at them or to them. It is about building relationships and connecting. I've owned a business. We can share.

A (Thib cont): If we keep throwing money at things, nothing will change. Let's do a deep dive and see what is needed.

Q: There are proposals to spend hundreds of millions on the Perkins canal and the big lake in eastern Nebraska, what do you think of those proposals?

A (Herbster): The most important asset Nebraska has is our people, our voters. I've built businesses all across the U.S. because the people of Nebraska are special. Secondly, outside of our people, the next most valuable asset is our land and resources, and that includes water.

A (Herb cont): Whatever it takes to preserve our resources and protect our people, you can be assured that will be the first thing I think of every day I wake up.

A (Lindstrom): This is a topic I brought up at a Farm Bureau forum in Kearney before the governor proposed it. What I stated was that the migration into Colorado would impact Nebraska ag in particular. I agree we do need to spend some dollars to protect the water rights.

A (Lind cont): When we talk about the lake, and we talk about how to make the state competitive, I think it's a very good investment that will help keep younger people in Nebraska and have that outlet for recreation.

A (Thibodeau): When we are looking at these proposals, there's stories and what's been presented, it's reading and asking questions. Farmers are worried about Colorado.

A (Thib cont): In addition, building that canal could help put water in there for years like this one when it's dry. So farmers can continue to irrigate in dry years and not worrying about water. When I look at Ashland proposal, I'd like to look at it a little more.

A (Thib cont): I worry with Lake Mac that we'll be taking money from one side of the state and putting it in the other.

A (Ridenour): I appreciate our Colorado neighbors but to me it's Nebraska first. We have to make sure we do it smartly. We have to make sure the money is there. We have to make sure the solution is sustainable. We don't want to find out it will cost more.

A (Ride cont): I like that they're studying. One of the reasons I support the lake between Lincoln and Omaha is because a consumption tax would bring in more money from people coming from out of state.

Q: What have you learned during this global health crisis, the pandemic, and what would you change about how Gov. Ricketts handled it?

A (Lindstrom): Gov. Ricketts did a good job with the information that he had in front of them. One of the thing when we look at mandates. I will push back on mandates from the federal and state side. d freedoms for all Nebraskans.

A (Lind cont): When you think about the right to assemble, I want to make sure that we will stand up against any type of mandate and make sure we side with individual rights.

A (Thibodeau): (Mentioned shutting down churches and businesses, which as far as I know didn't happen in Nebraska. She didn't say where.) I will never violate our constitution to make a solution that's worse than the problem. Child care centers lost business.

A (Ridenour): The rights of individuals should not be infringed by the government. We need a plan. Pandemics happen. We need to know what we're going to do for the next one. We can't shut down our economy. Gov. Ricketts didn't.

A (Ride cont): I'd have called for special session to get legislation to avoid mandates of vaccines and masks.

A (Herbster): I'd follow my friend Ron DeSantis in Florida. No mandates. The pandemic is real. I just lost my father in law at 94 years old to COVID. China released COVID to get Trump out of office.

Closing Herbster: The pandemic let us shut churches down. In this country, we have lost our moral compass. We've taken god out of schools, out of churches, out of our businesses. Our families are under attack. Our freedoms are under attack.

Herbster closing (cont): You continue to have a country with open borders, they're not tested, they're not vaccinated. (I've read where there is usually testing before release, but I'd have to check.) Nurses who gave their lives. No. 1 thing I'll do is pray.

Herbster closing (cont): We will not get out of where we are unless we get back to where we were.

Ridenour closing: I want to make Nebraska a better place for our children. I decided to run because I believe we need leadership in this state that fights for top priorities that matter to Nebraska. Constitutional rights and liberties. Fighting against abortion. Tax change.

Ridenour closing (cont): I'm tired of hearing about all the great things DeSantis and Kristi Noem are doing in other states and start hearing about great things we're doing here.

Thibodeau closing: I'd like to say what differentiates us. It's hard to know what the candidates are about. One decided not to show up, he's campaigning from Facebook and spreading lies about others. (She's taking a shot at Pillen, who's not here.)

Thibodeau closing (cont): Another is talking about recruiting businesses and headquarters his in another state. (She's talking about Herbster with Conklin Inc.) There's another here who talks about himself as a tax cutter who raised your gas tax. (She's talking about Lindstrom.)

Lindstrom closing: This election comes down to next generation leadership. What distinguishes me in this race is that I'm a tax-cutter. I will continue to do so as governor. We need to recruit and retain talent. Rural broadband. Infrastructure spending. Our four-lane highways.

Lindstrom closing (cont): Rural housing. Workforce housing in general. Incentives for people to stay in their community. I have three young kids. I want to make sure that all Nebraskans and all young families have the same opportunities. Meeting the needs of local communities.

We are wrapping up. Thank you for following along. Story to come on @NE_Examiner.

Live look at my fingers after that hour.

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