There were plenty of candidate forums preceding it, but the one held by NFIB and its co-sponsors was unique for drawing all seven Democratic and Republican candidates running to represent Nebraska in the U.S. Senate for the sole purpose of probing their business and economic views.
The April 22 event at the Omaha Sheraton Hotel was sponsored by NFIB, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Business-Industry Political Action Committee and the National Association of Manufacturers.
NFIB/Nebraska State Director Bob Hallstrom was joined by Jessica Kolterman, director of governmental relations for the Nebraska Farm Bureau, and Steve Seline, chairman of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, as the moderators for the forum, which featured:
- Sid Dinsdale (R)
- Dave Domina (D)
- Clifton Johnson (R)
- Larry Marvin (D)
- Bart McLeay (R)
- Shane Osborn (R)
- Ben Sasse (R)
The candidates were probed for their views on the recently passed farm bill, Obamacare, tax reform, the minimum wage, and regulations with a particular emphasis on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Reporters from the major media covered the event, the highlights of which include sound bites from each of the candidates on CBS Channel 3 Action News and a report in the Omaha World-Herald. Reporters from NBC Channel 6 News and from KIOS Radio, NPR, also filed stories.
A candidate meet-and-greet for NFIB members, their guests, and other small-business owners was held an hour before the forum. One of the many advantages of membership in NFIB is the opportunity to hear directly from, and speak directly to, the candidates and top policymakers who will make, and do make, the laws your enterprise must comply with. These member-exclusive events are held for state and federal offices throughout the year.
The Primary Election is Tuesday, May 13.
Do You Know How Politically Powerful You Are?
The power of the small-business vote is huge. To see how influential you are, check out NFIB’s Small Business Media Kit, A Resource for Reporters and Editorial Writers. You’ll also read such brief information on what a small business is, and what are the five biggest distinctions from a big business.
