From left, U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer, Pete Ricketts, 3rd District Congressman Adrian Smith, 1st District Congressman Mike Flood and 2nd District Congressman Don Bacon attended the annual summit hosted by the Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln chambers of commerce on Thursday at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
ASHLAND — Nebraska’s congressional delegation offered a gloomy assessment of the state’s economic outlook Thursday at an annual gathering of business, agricultural and government leaders.
Amid a panel-style interview Thursday morning at the annual summit hosted by the Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln chambers of commerce, the state’s five Republican federal officeholders took aim at inflation, the country’s trade policies and the growing national debt as they described the greatest threats facing Nebraska’s economy.
Speaking from a stage at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District said the state’s agricultural industry in particular is “going into a really dark period.”
Pointing to low corn and soybean prices and a recent report from a state economist indicating rural Nebraska is already in a recession, Flood warned that the state’s farmers are facing a “credit crunch” and that row crop producers “need more markets” to sell them in.
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Nebraska’s inflation-adjusted gross domestic product declined 3.1% on an annual basis compared with the previous quarter, which was the fifth-biggest drop among states — primarily due to a decline in farm income.
A report earlier this year predicted Nebraska farm income will drop to $6 billion this year, down from $7.2 billion last year and the lowest number since 2020.
“We need to brace ourselves for what will be a very tough year for Nebraska agriculture,” Flood said.
The warnings from Nebraska’s congressional delegation did not stop there.
Facing a question from a moderator over what the greatest threat facing the state’s economy is, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer answered quickly:
“Inflation,” she said. “That’s the biggest threat. And that’s what all Nebraskans are feeling, whether you’re a single mom … trying to buy groceries or pay rent, or you’re a senior on a fixed income and you can’t keep up with your expenses.”
Fischer, who is seeking her third term in the Senate this November, said she hopes the Supreme Court’s summer ruling overturning the decades-old “Chevron Doctrine” could help the federal government “get a handle on regulations” that Fischer indicated have played a role in rising living costs.
Both Fischer and U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, who is seeking to be elected to the Senate for the first time this November after Gov. Jim Pillen appointed him to the body in January 2023, called for reduced federal spending — a goal that Fischer said the Senate’s Appropriations Committee, of which she is a member, is committed to.
“There is hope,” Fischer said. “But it’s a little further over the horizon.”
Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes Omaha, called for the creation of a bipartisan debt commission to tackle the country’s $35 trillion national debt.
Ricketts and Rep. Adrian Smith of Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District each took repeated aim at President Joe Biden’s administration’s trade policies, with Ricketts accusing the administration of having “done nothing on trade.”
“The world is watching,” Smith said. “The world expects more on a trade agenda from the United States of America than what they’ve seen over the last 3½ years.”
All five of Nebraska’s federal delegates blamed Biden for inflation and other perceived poor economic trends over the past three years — an attitude that seems to reflect the mood of the country.
Recent polling suggests nearly half of Americans believe the economy is in a worse state than in January 2021, when former President Donald Trump left the White House.
But the national GDP — a common indicator used to measure economic growth — has consistently increased since the third quarter of 2022, and Americans’ personal and disposable income has also increased this year compared to last.
The U.S. has experienced more post-pandemic economic growth than any other economy included in the G7, an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies that includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
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Top Journal Star photos for August 2024
Izzy Grzbielski, 9, of Lincoln (left), and Abby Wilson, 6, race down the slide at the Antelope Park playground on Monday. The city hopes to replace the playground equipment at Antelope Park during the summer of either 2026 and 2027 and replace it with play equipment that meets today’s new standards for inclusive play.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Flanked by state senators, Gov. Jim Pillen signs LB34 during a press conference addressing the outcome of the special legislative session at the Capitol on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Ayana Robbins, of Omaha (top), makes her bed with help from her mom, Arvela (right), as her uncle, Melvin Tyree, installs a curtain rod underneath during UNL move in day on Wednesday in the Knoll Residential Center.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Nebraska’s Nash Hutmacher (left) and Keona Davis walk into a patch of light during a team practice on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, at Hawks Championship Center.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Eighth grade student Arrin Richardson works during study hall at Irving Middle School on Wednesday. Last year, LPS began using digital hall passes in high schools and in January started the program at Irving. This year, all 12 middle schools are using it.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Captured using a double exposure, state senators register their votes with red and green lights during a motion to end debate. Fierce opposition from a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Gov. Jim Pillen’s tax plan kept the Legislature from ever voting directly on the proposal on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Tae’veon Coleman, 7, (left) waits to cast his line as the sun sets during a Community Lake day hosted by Big Gumdrop Outdoors at Oak Lake Park on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Lincoln. Big Gumdrop Outdoors, is ,a nonprofit created by Elijah Riley, a Lincoln native and UNL student, to help kids connect with nature and play outside.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Scott Middle School sixth grade teacher Eric Nelson tries to catch cheeseballs on a shower cap covered in shaving cream during an end-of-the-day pep rally at Scott Middle School on Monday. The goal was to catch as many cheeseballs with your head while they were thrown by a student partner.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Framed through the grate of a fire pit, Olivia Dagget-Keagle, 9, blows out the fire on her blackened marshmallow during a Community Lake day hosted by Big Gumdrop Outdoors at Oak Lake Park on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Lincoln. Big Gumdrop Outdoors, is ,a nonprofit created by Elijah Riley, a Lincoln native and UNL student, to help kids connect with nature and play outside.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly hits a ball next to teammate Andi Jackson during a team practice, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
A bicyclist rides along the Billy Wolff Trail near the Union Plaza Amphitheater on Wednesday. After 13 straight days of highs of 90 degrees or above, including 100 on Monday, a cool front brought relief to Lincoln, with a high of only 75 on Tuesday. Wednesday’s high, which reached into the upper 80s, will likely be the warmest for several days. The National Weather Service forecasts highs in the 70s to around 80 through the weekend, about 10 degrees below normal for this time of year.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Jordan Jones, 6, and her brother Sincere, 7, (from left) react while riding the Super Drop ride at the Heart of America Carnival during the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Sandhills Global Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Todd Heiser of Lincoln makes one of five trips of the day to drop off tree debris at a collection site at Holmes Lake Park on Monday. J.J. Yost, assistant director of Parks and Recreation, said the debris drop-off site at Holmes Lake has been one of the busiest — and it’s also one of the smallest. The city has brought equipment to all the drop-off sites to consolidate tree debris. At Holmes Lake, workers also used a grinder to further process debris. Yost said the city is encouraging residents to use other sites, which include Seng Park (south of the ballfields); Woods Park (south lot off of J Street); Oak Lake Park (main lot off of Charleston Street); and Hofeling Enterprises, 2200 South Folsom Court. City parks sites will accept debris until Aug. 19.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nowear BMX’s Sam Bussell (top right) performs a trick on his bike during a performance at the Sandhills Global Event Center on Saturday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Wilber native David Rogers, 10 (first right) holds his cousin William Mays, 3, as they dance during the 63rd annual Wilber Czech Festival held in Downtown Wilber on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
A wild horse jumps onto its back as it tries to throw off a rope held by Troy Graybill (from front) Chris Hajek, and Scott Graves as they try to saddle it during the wild horse race a during the final day of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo at the Garfield County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Burwell.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nebraska Capitol groundskeepers Lexis Funk (left) and Heather Dinslage collect fallen tree branches Thursday in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
JC Brager’s Sawyer Bokowski (left) fields a ball as Papillion-La Vista South’s Derek Geist runs to third base during the second inning of a National division Class A Legion baseball tournament game against on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Den Hartog Field.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Harry Tompkin, owner of Palace Glass Co., hands off a piece of stained glass to Kelly Mathes (from left) as they sort through inventory on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Lincoln. After 43 years of creating stained glass, Harry Tompkin plans to close his shop by September. Most of the remaining pieces are rejuvenation projects or those that were planned before his decision to close.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Burwell’s Keelin Swett, 12, blows a bubble with her gum while waiting in the staging area behind the chutes during the final day of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo at the Garfield County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Burwell.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
New teachers gather for the Lincoln Public Schools New Educator Kickoff on Monday at Southwest High School.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Bob Swanson uses a chainsaw to clean up large fallen branches after a storm pummeled the city Wednesday in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Quade Peterson of Litchfield is dragged underneath a wild horse while attempting to saddle it in the wild horse race competition during the final day of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo at the Garfield County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Burwell.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Akroyd Darkgrove, played by Shade Ingraham (left), has popcorn thrown at him by Jacob Parman, 7, of Fargo, North Dakota, during a performance of “Phantom of Darkgrove” at the Denman and Mary Mallory Kountze Memorial Theatre at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park in July. Audience interaction is a big part of what makes the melodramas at the park special, crew members said. The crowd is encouraged to respond vocally to musical cues throughout the play and throw popcorn at the villain.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Noah Wong, 7, unzips backpacks for the assembly line to place school supplies inside it during Spreetail’s annual Back(Pack) to School Event on Friday.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Nebraska Volleyball head coach John Cook poses for a photo in front of the chutes before the Grand Entry on the final day of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo at the Garfield County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Burwell.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Matt Rhule (center) leads a group of participants inside to cool off during his “She’s Got Game” girls football camp on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Nazar Durzhynskyi, 9, focuses on keeping the ball off the ground using his racket while participating in a practice drill during a tennis camp held for Ukrainian children at Woods Tennis Center on Thursday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley
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Publish date : 2024-08-29 13:00:00
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