Rick Beard

Where Beard stands

Grouped by topic by Vote Book; headings and quoted words are the candidate’s own, with the source under each one. “As reported” items are a news outlet’s description, not an exact quote.

Energy & environment

Describe your top three Nebraska values.

1. Land conservation. Without protecting our natural environment, we have nothing. Farming industrial hemp cleans our soils of heavy metals and nitrates while using less fertilizer and water than corn. Let's ban new data center construction and grow industrial hemp. 2. Caring for and respecting our neighbors, regardless of political affiliation, religion, sex, race, or heritage. 3. Telling the truth. Our current leaders deceive us frequently for their corporate and special interest friends. Let's get back to some sort of transparency and accountability. Did you know we are the only political party in Nebraska that didn't use plant candidates and questionably egregious tactics to manipulate this year's election? That's the truth!

Taxes & spending

How would you manage the state budget while protecting services that support Nebraska families and communities?

State auditor Mike Foley surfaced that corporations receiving million$ in tax incentives are no longer providing any jobs whatsoever in Nebraska. Sections 33, 37, and 66 of the ImagiNE Nebraska Act clearly state that if a corporation receiving tax credits is not fulfilling their requirements (jobs for Nebraskans), ALL of their current and previous tax incentives are due back to the state immediately. We will have Mike Foley run full audits on all corporations receiving incentives through the ImagiNE Nebraska Act to recapture funds owed to the state for failing to provide jobs to Nebraskans. I will implement a state run cannabis program that is estimated to make Nebraska upwards of $500,000,000 dollars annually in new state revenue.

Jobs, wages & cost of living

How would you pitch Nebraska to a business looking to locate here?

For me, Nebraska was a great place to grow up, get an education, start a business, and buy a house. There's so much potential here to do so many things. At least there was. Right now, it would be hard for me to pitch Nebraska to a future business since our young workers leave for cannabis friendly states and better wages. We have nitrate loaded land, poor water quality, high property taxes, massive wildfires, bad roads, and no signs of fixing it. The state is a billion dollars in the hole and our largest industry is having very hard times that will negatively impact everyone in the state. Without a huge tax incentive, what is the attraction for a business? When we fix our self inflicted state-level problems is when we become appealing.

Elections, ethics & government

What is your approach to balancing states’ rights and federal authority?

My platform centers on local autonomy, protecting voters' rights, ending federal overreach, and stopping special interest influence in our politics. But first, we have to end the corruption in Nebraska that's criminalizing massive economic opportunities that voters approved. Through state cannabis revenue and fairly taxing corporations we can ensure the means to have federal partnerships with matching funds that support local and state programs. We're entering an era where states increasingly have to solve their own problems, with or without federal assistance. We need to utilize all the powers granted to states while we solve the problems our federal government has left us...like a demolished cattle and agricultural market for example.