PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2006
CONTACT: 308-238-0375

Scott Kleeb Challenges Adrian Smith to a Series of Debates

KEARNEY, NE – The campaign office of Scott Kleeb, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 3rd district, issued a direct challenge to Republican candidate Adrian Smith today, asking the Gering State Senator to agree to appear in a series of debates between now and the general election November 7.

“The people of this district are independent-minded voters who want to hear what their candidates have to say, not through slick TV ads from outside groups, but from the candidates themselves,” said Kleeb for Congress Campaign Manager Ryan Hughes. “We want the outcome of this election to rest on a clear and open debate of the issues, so that voters know exactly where the two candidates stand and can make an informed choice in November.”

“This is one of the largest districts in the country,” Hughes added. “So we feel that it is especially important that the candidates commit to debates at several locations, so all third district voters have an equal opportunity to hear what they have to say.”

“Senator Smith was quoted yesterday saying that he was not familiar with Scott’s ‘stand on the issues,’” Hughes continued. “If Adrian Smith doesn’t know where Scott stands it’s because he does a better job of talking than he does of listening. If he had read the papers, he would know that Scott has outlined a positive agenda to lower health care costs, reinvigorate investment in rural development, and reduce pork spending that has tripled during the last 10 years. And he would know that Scott does not agree with the idea that farm subsidies should be eliminated.”

Smith reportedly received $242,000 of his primary campaign funds – or roughly sixty percent of his total campaign funds – from the Washington D.C.-based Club for Growth, a special interest group that opposes farm subsidies.

“The third district receives more than $240 million each year from federal farm programs,” Hughes said. “Rather than doing away with this investment in rural communities, Scott believes it should be spread more evenly, so we maximize the impact on economic development at the local level.”