Archive for August, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 26, 2008
NELS ACKERSON TO DEBATE STEVE BUYER
Zionsville, IND - On Thursday, August 28, at the Hendricks County 4H Complex Democratic challenger Nels Ackerson will debate Steve Buyer.
Nels Ackerson and Steve Buyer will meet for their first debate this coming Thursday night at the Hendricks County 4H Complex. The debate, sponsored by the Hendricks County Farm Bureau, will be held in the auditorium, Halls A & B. Doors open at 6PM with the debate scheduled to start at 7PM. The 4H Complex is located at 1900 East Main in Danville, IN.
“The Farm Bureau is doing a great service to the people in Hendricks County and all 12 counties of the Fourth District. Public dialogue about the issues is essential in helping voters make an informed decision in this election,” says Ackerson, “They deserve to hear what I intend to do on their behalf as well as to hear Steve Buyer defend his own voting record.”
Ackerson has challenged the incumbent to debates in each county of the 4th District. Ackerson has accepted debate invitations from veterans groups, Purdue University, a Chamber of Commerce, and the media, but this is the only debate that has been accepted by the Buyer campaign so far. Moderator for this debate will be Dave Russell of the Brownfield Network.
This is believed to be the first congressional debate in Indiana for this year’s general election. Seating is limited so people are encouraged to arrive early.
The 4th Congressional District includes the following counties: Marion, Hendricks, Johnson, Boone, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, Montgomery, Fountain, Clinton, White and Tippecanoe.
For more information or to schedule interviews following the debate please contact the campaign office at 317-733-8468.
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Nels is running for Congress to bring much-needed change and bipartisan leadership to Washington on behalf of Hoosiers in the Fourth District. From his childhood years on the family farm in Eagletown to a decades-long legal career representing the “little guy” against powerful governments and corporations, Nels has always stayed true to his Hoosier values. He is a champion of individual rights and economic opportunity who believes there is nothing we can’t accomplish by working together. Nels and his wife, Sharon, live in Zionsville. They have four grown children and a granddaughter. Learn more at www.nels4congress.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 20, 2008
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - Nels Ackerson, Democratic candidate for Congress in Indiana’s 4th District, today pledged to adopt pay-as-you-go spending limits and a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget.
Ackerson is a fiscal conservative. His proposals are part of the “Ackerson Pledge for Fiscal Responsibility and Government Accountability.” Nels has publicly committed to taking action on four initiatives when he becomes Congressman:
- Require Pay-As-You-Go spending
- Fight wasteful earmarks, sole source contracts to political cronies, unjustified subsidies.
- Apply effective regulations to prevent taxpayer bailouts of huge companies
- Support a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget
Appearing in Indianapolis and Lafayette, Ackerson said, “Congress has failed us by borrowing recklessly and spending beyond its means. The people we’ve sent to Washington are bankrupting our country. They are not being honest about the size of the loans they’re imposing on future generations. This reckless borrowing and spending is endangering critical funding obligations like Social Security and Veterans Healthcare. I want to change that immediately.”
“Congress has borrowed so much money that every baby born in America today inherits over $31,000,” Ackerson noted. “That’s $125,000 of national debt owed by every family of four. This borrow and spend approach is a cruel form of taxation without representation for our children and grandchildren. Even worse, we’re now borrowing from foreign rulers in China, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, hurting our independence and security.”
“It is time for us to change our government, to change the ‘borrow and spend’ mentality. It is time to establish new and better policies that ensure a better economy. And that is what I pledge to work for when I am elected to Congress.”
Ackerson was joined in Indianapolis by former United States Congressman Andy Jacobs, Jr., who proposed the first balanced budget constitutional amendment in Congress more than 30 years ago.
“Nels’ pledge is a solemn commitment to do what he says he will do,” Jacobs said. “That’s a courageous act and a refreshing change from politics as usual in Washington. It’s called accountability. He will be accountable to the voters and to his conscience.” Observed Jacobs, “Nels will be a great congressman for Indiana.”
Today’s pledge is the second in a series of pledges that Nels Ackerson will announce. The first pledge included four ways in which Ackerson pledges to support Veterans Rights.
Nels Ackerson believes in the need for truth in government, for conservative fiscal policies, and for active protection of Social Security and Veterans healthcare. He is running for Congress to bring much-needed accountability and bipartisan leadership to Washington on behalf of Hoosiers in the Fourth District. Nels and his wife Sharon live in Zionsville. They have four grown children and a granddaughter. Learn more at www.nels4congress.com.
Press Release – Nels Ackerson Issues Debate Challenge to Steve Buyer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2008
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. – Nels Ackerson believes that voters in the 4th district have a right to know how their representative stands on the issues that affect their lives. Sixteen year incumbent Steve Buyer believes he can continue to avoid any debates, having recently declined to respond to yet another invitation to participate in a debate. The most recent invitation is the sixth request that the Buyer Campaign has ignored or refused to schedule.
In response Nels Ackerson has issued a broad challenge: He wants to debate Steve Buyer in each of the twelve counties in the 4th District. “Steve Buyer is choosing to play Washington spin games to avoid facing the people and discussing the facts of his voting record,” said Ackerson. “We have constituents regularly calling us and we have accepted every invitation to debate. We have agreed to just about any format, any date, and any location. But Steve Buyer refuses to commit to any specific public debates. I think it’s time he offered the people of this district more than photo ops. Steve Buyer has five weeks of vacation away from Washington this August that could be used to meet with constituents for debates.”
The organizations that have offered to host debates and are awaiting confirmation from Steve Buyer include:
- WILO Frankfort
- Frankfort Chamber of Commerce
- Frankfort Times
- The Purdue University Student Government
- Veterans of Foreign Wars, Crawfordsville
- Hendricks County Farm Bureau
- Disabled American Veterans, Lafayette
Issuing his broad challenge, Ackerson noted that accountability and communication are fundamental to democracy, and that voters have a right to a representative who is willing to listen to them and to keep them informed of what he’s been doing in Washington. “There are a lot of conflicting stories about his record, particularly on veterans’ benefits. There are a lot of questions about the facts. Given his record on the declining economy, the 16 year absence of any cohesive energy policy, and his proposed veterans’ tax, I think it’s critical that we discuss the issues with our constituents.”
From the Bedford Times-Mail
Ackerson, Buyer spat about VA
By BOB BRIDGE bob@tmnews.com
July 31, 2008
BEDFORD — A small group of city officials, media representatives and Nels Ackerson supporters shared umbrellas Wednesday afternoon outside the Lawrence County Courthouse as the Democratic candidate for Indiana’s 4th District Congressional seat addressed issues associated with military veterans.
Speaking in front of the limestone monuments dedicated to fallen soldiers, Ackerson criticized GOP incumbent Steve Buyer for his failure to serve America’s veterans and offered a four-point pledge to treat veterans fairly if elected to Congress in November.
“I will keep our promises to protect veterans,” he said. “I will support the families of soldiers and veterans. I will fight to provide better job transition and assistance for returning veterans, and I will work to protect and honor the American flag.”
Ackerson’s words did not fall on deaf ears. While several citizens applauded his 15-minute address, Buyer’s camp quickly responded to the criticism via a press release.
Buyer spokesman Jon Clark described Ackerson’s claims as absurd.
“It is unfortunate that he is using veterans’ issues for political gain,” he said. “Mr. Buyer’s opponent has no record of service to veterans. Today, he rolled into town and attacked one of the nation’s leading advocates for the military, veterans, military families, and survivors.
“Congressman Buyer helped stop the Veterans Administration clinic from moving off the grounds of the Soldiers Home in Lafayette, and he is committed to working with the VA and Gov. Mitch Daniels to expand and improve the health care services being provided at the Soldiers Home.”
Clark said under Buyer’s chairmanship of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, the VA’s budget increased by more than $8.3 billion, approximately a 10 percent increase. He claimed Buyer improved life insurance protections, transition services for service members, and access to health care services for rural veterans, among other benefit improvements.
Clark also noted Buyer recently voted in favor of a historic increase for veterans education benefits via the new GI bill.
Ackerson argued Buyer had not been a friend to veterans and his rhetoric didn’t match his actions. He said veteran organizations will confirm that reality.
“It’s time veterans in Indiana had an honest advocate,” he said. “I think people are tired of political leaders who say one thing when they’re at home and then vote a different way when they go to Washington. People want accountability. They’re tired of double talk.”
Ackerson claimed Buyer was appointed chairman of the VA committee only after he pledged to cut benefits.
“He repeatedly voted to limit benefits, even voting in the minority of his own party,” Ackerson said. “He denied service organizations from presenting their legislative agenda during House-Senate hearings, a move that was blasted by the American Legion and other service organizations.
“Under his oversight, the VA experienced repeated scandals, financial mismanagement, and unauthorized medical testing of Gulf War veterans.”
Ackerson reiterated his plea for a face-to-face discussion of the topic.
“We obviously disagree,” he said. “Let’s have a debate. Let’s have a clear airing of these views. Let’s see who is right, and who is wrong.
“We’ve been invited to six debates throughout this district, and we have accepted them all. He has not. I welcome a debate.”
Ackerson said party politics should not play into the issue of veteran affairs.
“Our men and women in service did not go to war to fight for us as Republicans or Democrats,” he explained. “They did so as Americans. I’m not speaking today as a Democrat, though I’m proud to be a Democrat. I’m speaking as an American with a personal pledge to the people I plan to represent.”
Bedford Mayor Shawna Girgis, an independent, greeted Buyer when he came to Bedford to detail his energy plan. She also introduced Ackerson to Wednesday’s gathering.
“I want to welcome Nels Ackerson to our community,” she said. “It’s good for us to hear what all the candidates have to say.
“We have a lot of veterans in our community and a lot of folks who are currently serving in the military.”
Times-Mail Staff Writer Bob Bridge welcomes comments at 277-7282 or by e-mail at bob@tmnews.com.
Nels Ackerson Announces “Ackerson Pledge” on Veterans Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2008
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. – Nels Ackerson believes that the 4th District deserves a Congressman who will fight for Veterans rights. Today he announced the “Ackerson Pledge to Veterans”, a series of concrete initiatives to honor America’s commitments to Veterans.
“My opponent, Steve Buyer, has been in Congress for 16 years. While claiming to support our serviceman and women, he has consistently voted against the interests of Veterans. Whether cutting promised Healthcare budgets, alienating Veterans organizations, or trying to institute a Veterans Tax, Buyer has not been the advocate that our veterans need. That is why I am announcing the Ackerson Pledge to Veterans. I want the voters in the 4th district to know exactly what I stand for and exactly what I will do in Congress. It’s a matter of principle, of integrity, and of accountability.”
As part of the “Ackerson Pledge to Veterans” Nels has publicly committed to taking action on four initiatives when he becomes Congressman:
· Nels will keep our promises to protect Veterans benefits
· Nels will support the families of soldiers and Veterans
· Nels will fight to provide better job transition and assistance for returning veterans
· Nels will work to protect and honor the American flag
Ackerson was accompanied by members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled Veterans of America at campaign stops in Zionsville, Lafayette, and Crawfordsville. At each location Ackerson committed himself to four initiatives on behalf of America’s soldiers and veterans. “The Ackerson Pledge is my pledge to the people of the 4th district and to our soldiers and veterans that we will honor their service by delivering on our promises,” said Ackerson.
Nels further added that he is committed to being a champion of Veterans and is opposed to the Veterans Tax proposed by Steve Buyer. Said Ackerson, “Our veterans have given us their best, and they deserve to be treated honestly and to receive the benefits they were promised. And when I am in congress, that is exactly what I intend to do.”
