Nebraska Democrats accuse Fischer of being “Welfare Rancher” (AUDIO)

Vince Powers addresses reporters during Lincoln news conference.

Nebraska Democrats remain on offense, launching a second set of television ads aimed directly at Deb Fischer, this time calling Fischer a “Welfare Rancher” for using below-market federal leases to graze cattle.

Nebraska Democratic Party National Committeeman Vince Powers discussed the advertising campaign during news conference at both Omaha and Lincoln. The party also held a conference call later in the day to speak with out-state news media.

During the news conference in Lincoln, Powers said Fischer saved as much as $125,000 a year by leasing 12,000 acres of federal land in north-central Nebraska. Fischer operates Sunny Slope Ranch near Valentine with her husband. Her husband’s family obtained the lease rights years ago. Democrats say Fischer’s ranch has paid $244,000 for her cattle to graze on federal land since 1973 while the market value of such grazing rights would total nearly $2.9 million. Democrats claim the break is made available to less thant 1% of Nebraska ranchers and costs taxpayers a total of $120 million a year.

Powers said it is a significant tax break.

“For those of you who have a mortgage and your mortgage is $1,000 a month, if the government says you only have to pay $50 a month, we’ll let the taxpayers pay the rest, that’s Deb Fischer’s deal.” Powers told reporters.

Powers accused Fischer of criticizing welfare on one hand, while benefitting from it on the other. Powers said that has become a trait of the Republicans.

“I’m so sick and tired of these Republicans who put their hands in the taxpayer’s pocket and then when it comes time for somebody who by accident of birth has a single parent, doesn’t have any money, they won’t even give them health insurance,” Powers said. “The Nebraska Democratic Party is the party of free enterprise. We honor work and we don’t think just because you’re a wealthy rancher, you should be pocketing over $100,000 of taxpayer money.”

The television ad campaign will run throughout the state, according to Powers. The first TV ad criticized Fischer for signing a

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