Omaha World-Herald Endorses My Friend Brad Ashford for Congress ! World-Herald editorial: Brad Ashford offers new approach for Congress Posted 33 minutes ago Vote for the person, not the party. Many say it; fewer actually do it. Click Here! But in choosing a 2nd District congressman this year, voters have the opportunity to elect a candidate for whom political party matters little. Brad Ashford offers a proven record of legislative accomplishment and a disdain for partisan bickering. In more than three decades of public service as a Republican, independent and now a Democrat, Ashford has gone his own way. The U.S. House could use someone like him. As an eight-term incumbent, Rep. Lee Terry has worked hard to serve his constituents, gaining enough seniority to chair a subcommittee. Yet in some respects, the Republican is a prisoner of D.C. gridlock. Two Terry bills were signed into law in this Congress — reauthorizing poison control centers and allowing veterans and out-of-uniform servicemen to salute the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance. Terry points to Senate Democratic leaders as a reason why more of his bills haven’t become law, but the congressman’s legislative portfolio remains relatively thin. His apology-producing gaffes — talking about his “nice house” during the government shutdown and an ignition switch joke in a hearing on General Motors’ ignition problems — embarrassed. Ashford’s record is different. In 16 years in the Nebraska Legislature, he has built a reputation as an effective lawmaker who doesn’t shy away from difficult issues or the hard work to solve them. Say what you will about Ashford’s changing political affiliations, party takes a back seat with him. “I’m going to think about what we need to do based on what people in Omaha tell me,” he says, adding that he’s told House Democratic leaders that “I may not agree with you.” His long involvement in public service also includes stints on the state’s labor court, with the Omaha Housing Authority and on the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority board. But it’s his legislative skill that uniquely qualifies him for Congress. The Omaha senator served two terms from 1987 to 1995, and two more from 2007 until now. He has a solid record on economic development, including backing the law to provide tax incentives for businesses that create jobs, and he was engaged in efforts to help fund construction of the CenturyLink Center, a spark plug in Omaha’s riverfront redevelopment. He supported one of the largest tax cuts in Nebraska history. He pushed anti-gang legislation to create mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes. He authored legislation to enable public schools to offer career training to students who aren’t headed to college. He waded into the immigration argument, emerging with legislation to require public agencies and state contractors to verify the immigration status of those seeking jobs or public benefits. Seeing a need for the state to do more with juvenile offenders, he pushed a bill to fund rehabilitation services. Most recently, he tackled prison overcrowding and won passage of legislation to expand mental health programs, create vocational training for prisoners and improve community corrections alternatives. While this newspaper has disagreed with Ashford over the state giving good time to inmates automatically, few lawmakers have done more to enhance public safety. Amid this year’s ugly campaign rhetoric, it must be remembered that state law gives the governor’s administration power to revoke good time for misconduct. Yet that rarely happened. Ashford does his homework, traveling to other states to learn their best practices. He shows colleagues respect and seeks consensus when common ground often appears elusive. To be sure, Congress is a different animal than the nonpartisan, one-house Nebraska Legislature. But where Congress stalls out, Nebraska lawmakers move to solve problems. To bring some of that Nebraska way to Washington, Ashford pledges to seek a coalition of 25 members from both parties to cooperate in trying to break through Capitol Hill gridlock. His is an approach worth trying. If elected, it will be incumbent upon Ashford to walk the talk, to seek consensus while continuing to chart his own independent course. His track record suggests he would. Changing the toxic D.C. culture has to begin somewhere. Sending Brad Ashford to Congress would be a good start.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 06:49:12 +0000
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