Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: Getting Our Country Back on Track
July 19, 2024
Like most Americans, I was horrified by the recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. I’m grateful that President Trump survived the attack. Our nation prays for the innocent victims. Corey Comperatore was murdered while using his body to shield his loved ones from gunfire.
This shouldn’t have been allowed to happen.
Political violence is anti-American. An attempted political assassination is an attack against America and our democratic republic. Everyone must condemn it. I’ve repeatedly called for a full investigation into the safety measures and procedures leading up to the attack. Transparency brings accountability. I’m committed to conducting oversight to make sure Americans get a full view of what went wrong.
America is at a turning point. Nearly two-thirds of Americans agree that the country is on the wrong track. Washington’s overspending and detached-from-reality regulations have caused stubbornly high inflation. American families are paying over $13,000 more a year to enjoy the same quality of life they had when Biden took office. Open border policies have created a humanitarian and national security catastrophe. Drug overdose is the leading cause of death among young Americans.
These are big challenges that require thoughtful solutions. Saturday’s assassination attempt is a reminder that the rhetoric we use to discuss these issues matters. Consistently demonizing political opponents as “Hitler” doesn’t help us address these challenges. Saying that the opposing political party “threatens our democracy” doesn’t move ideas forward. We need to return to debating without demonizing.
In Nebraska, we understand this. It’s why Nebraska is what America is supposed to be. When we identify a problem, we work across partisan lines to fix it. When I was Governor, we passed legislation eliminating state taxes on military retirement pay and social security benefits. These landmark bills weren’t Republican priorities or Democrat priorities. They were Nebraska priorities. Our state is better off as a result.
That same approach guides my policy work in the United States Senate. For example, I’m working with my colleagues on bipartisan bills to bring relief to hardworking families hampered by stubbornly high inflation. Following our example in Nebraska, I want to cut federal taxes on military retirement benefits and Social Security. My SNAP Next Step Act would get families off welfare and into higher-paying, better jobs.
I’m also working in a bipartisan way to slash the political regulations and mandates that slow economic growth. Sixty-four percent of Americans believe our economy is weak, not strong. We need to get our economy back on track. By cutting wasteful spending and unleashing American energy, we can bring down prices and decrease our dependence on foreign adversaries.
Additionally, I’m working to keep Americans safe. That’s why I’m supporting a comprehensive package of solutions to end the national security, humanitarian, and drug catastrophe at our border. I’m fighting for a strong defense that deters our adversaries. I’ve also fought against lowering criminal penalties for violent crimes.
I’m confident we can get our country back on track. I won’t stop fighting for real solutions until that happens.
My team and I are here to serve you. Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224. You can also view my website at www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact.