2024 Nebraska Senate Voters Guide
Deb Fischer (R) vs Dan Osborn (I)
The Candidates
Ban. The overturning of Roe v. Wade was “a huge victory for the pro-life movement.” Has always been “pro-life.” Supports banning federal funding for abortions and for any Planned Parenthood activities; would redirect the funding to health centers.
Legal. Opposes “extreme national measures to ban abortion.” The “decision” should be “between [a woman] and her doctor.” It’s about “protecting individual freedoms,” not a government “dictating morality to its people.”
Unclear. Supports landowners leasing their land for solar energy: “If you own a piece of land, you should be able to do whatever the hell you want on that land.”
Reverse “the excessive regulation.” The $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill started “the inflation nightmare”; opposes “reckless spending.” Voted for the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill: “investments in core infrastructure will grow our economy.”
Will go after “corporate greed.” “Guarantee a right-to-repair” one’s own equipment and cars. “Hold… government agencies accountable for their budgets.” “Fix federal crop insurance subsidies which unfairly favor large operators.” Support local alternatives to the big 4 meat packing plants.
Unclear. Sees school vouchers and charter schools as a local, not federal, issue. “I don’t want the federal government in education. I’ve always been a strong supporter of public schools.”
No. “Strong and well-funded public schools are the backbone of the American education system.” Vouchers “allow rich people to get tax credits and funding for their kids to go to private schools, while taking funding away from the public schools.” They “punish rural areas that lack private options.”
Mostly loosen. Voted to block EPA air pollution standards for trucks, reduce the scope of the Clean Water Act, limit the ability of the Fisheries Service to designate critical habitat areas, and not fund restoration projects on federal lands. Introduced a bipartisan bill to expand environmental precision agricultural tech. Fund conservation projects to protect at-risk wildlife.
Likely tighten. “One of our supporters brought their child to an event…. I promise you right now, I will do everything I can in office to keep our air breathable and our water and land clean. Nebraska is too beautiful not to fight for.”
Loosen. Voted against a bipartisan gun safety bill that strengthened background checks and encouraged “red flag” laws. Sponsored a bill allowing legal carrying of firearms across states. “I will continue to fight to protect the Second Amendment.”
Mixed. Supports “reasonable gun safety measures” such as “gun safety education” and “red flag laws.” Is “fundamentally in favor of the Second Amendment. Law-abiding citizens… must always have the right to bear arms.”
Unclear. “(Healthcare) decisions shouldn’t be made by insurance companies.” Moderna’s CEO “made $398 million” quadrupling the COVID vaccine price. “I will never support handing huge pharmaceuticals [companies] a blank check.” Opposes taxpayers subsidizing employee health care for big companies that don’t pay a livable wage.
Voted against a bipartisan border bill in 2024. Prefers “Trump-era reforms that kept our southern border secure” such as the wall and Remain in Mexico. In 2018 supported a pathway to citizenship for DACA participants.
Supports the bipartisan border bill. “Without borders you don’t have a country.” “We have to be able to fund our border security, our border patrol better.” “Then we can work on immigration reform in terms of a clear path to citizenship for the ones who are here.”
No recent position found. In 2015: “I do not support legalization.” In 2016 tried to cut Dept. of Justice funds until it had a plan to monitor effects of state-level legalization.
Legal. “Legalize cannabis.” “It’s time to… stop wasting taxpayer dollars on putting people in prison for cannabis crimes.”
No. In 2021 voted against raising the federal minimum to $15 by 2025.
Yes. A federal increase “is an urgent issue for all Nebraska businesses.” Raise to $12/hour nationally so Nebraska won’t be undercut by neighboring states with lower wages.
No. Voted against a student loan payment pause and debt discharge rule. Opposed Biden student debt forgiveness plan.
No. After he had “yo-yoed back and forth” on student loan forgiveness, decided “ultimately… don’t think the government should be bailing those folks out.”
Lower middle class and small business taxes by cutting ‘wasteful’ spending and closing “loopholes used by multi-nationals to avoid paying taxes.” “I’m tired of” the redistribution of wealth from the bottom 90% to the top 1%.
Mostly harder. Voted against monitoring states with a history of voter restrictions. Opposed expanding voter registration and voting access. Cannot support “giving the federal government control over elections.” “These are state decisions.”
No position found.
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