Ashford ups tax cut plan despite Democratic disapproval

By   /   March 8, 2013  /   5 Comments

Joe Jordan | Nebraska Watchdog

Although he’s backing Brad Ashford for mayor Mike Fahey thinks Ashford went off the track on taxes, at least briefly.

In more of Nebraska Watchdog’s exclusive interview with Fahey, the former Democratic mayor, says Ashford’s recent push to eliminate the state income tax was off base.

Nebraska Watchdog: Are you in agreement with Brad Ashford on the income tax plan?

Mike Fahey: No. But I like the idea of talking about it.

Nebraska Watchdog: When Ashford came out for this massive income tax cut that’s not exactly a Democratic proposal.

Mike Fahey: No it isn’t.  But I think Brad did it more for let’s get this conversation going. I mean he quickly backed up to having the deal after he found so much opposition.

Ashford Billboard Near 132 and "L" Streets

Ashford Billboard Near 132 and “L” Streets

Ashford was called in by Republican Gov. Dave Heineman to help push the tax cut which quickly stalled and is now the subject of a year-long study.

But one look at a new Ashford billboard—the one Nebraska Watchdog saw was in Republican west Omaha—finds Ashford “fighting to eliminate your income tax” not, as Fahey suggested, backing away from the fight.

In addition Ashford tells Nebraska Watchdog that the former head of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, Republican Abbie Cornett, is now Ashford’s senior adviser on tax policy.

Fahey’s move to back Ashford, who is running as an independent, upset many Democrats looking for Fahey to get behind incumbent Democrat Jim Suttle.

In his interview with Nebraska Watchdog (see video here) Fahey defended his choice.

Nebraska Watchdog:  What do you think Ashford’s chances are? In the money race he’s fifth out of five.

Mike Fahey: He needs to raise more money no doubt about that but he’s certainly been in the news a lot so he’s gotten a lot of free publicity.

Nebraska Watchdog: Suttle’s critics continually point to his tax increases: the property tax increase he brought in the restaurant tax. Did you leave him with an unmanageable situation?

Mike Fahey: No but we knew we were going to have to raise taxes. We knew that going in because of the pension issues. I give (Suttle) credit it had to be done.

Nebraska Watchdog: Why Brad Ashford and not the standing Democrat Jim Suttle?

Mike Fahey: It’s nothing against the Mayor it really isn’t. It’s just that Brad and I have been very good friends for 30-35 years.

Mike Fahey: Again this is not about anything against Mayor Suttle.

Nebraska Watchdog: Do you think he thinks it is?

Mike Fahey: No I don’t think so. He doesn’t seem to be holding any grudge because I’m not there.

Nebraska Watchdog: There are Democrats who wonder why you’re doing this.

Mike Fahey: Yea I know.

Nebraska Watchdog: And I know you say he’s a friend but there is a Democrat sitting there, Jim Suttle.

Mike Fahey: And I’ve been very careful not to say anything negative about Jim. I think he’s made some tough decisions as mayor, not popular by any means. But I really think there are two different styles of being a mayor, many different probably, but reaching out and building consensus is one ability I think Brad has an edge over Jim.

Nebraska Watchdog: Do you think Mayor Suttle has been pushing people down, you know my way or the highway?

Mike Fahey: I don’t want to be that negative. I just think people have different styles. And I think if you’re able to reach out and build consensus rather than being a little bit of a lightning rod you’re going to have a much better chance of being successful in that office.

Contact Joe Jordan at joe@nebraskawatchdog.org

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Joe Jordan

  • Hunyock

    Ashford didn’t do all this just to start a conversation. He did what Heineman told him to do and heavily pushed two ill conceived bills that would have done great harm to large and small communities in Nebraska alike. It was a big money and power grab by the state.

  • racefish

    Of course no Democrat will accept tax cuts. It’s against their very nature.

  • D. Mark

    Everyone who runs for office is going to cut taxes and produce more jobs!
    Can anyone remember a politician who actually did this?

  • Guest

    What is so hard to understand about the fact that we are in a place where we are forced to raise revenue? If we cannot get anything such as legalized Casino gambling or revised Helmet laws or legalized recreational marijuana in order to raise revenue then we are stuck with raising taxes, period. Nebraska’s Money is pouring into our boarder states and they are laughing at us all the way to the bank.
    If they lower Property Taxes they will raise income Taxes, If the lower or eliminate Income Taxes they will raise property Taxes, sales Taxes, Gasoline Taxes etc. to make up the difference, If all you want to do is cut spending then don’t bitch when your car drops into a 4′ deep pot hole or your neighborhood school closes or the Fire Dept. or Police Dept. cannot respond to your emergency call because they are under staffed. Damn, this is 4th grade math people. some want to cut spending, I agree, the State wastes Millions on unneeded BS like installing a $750 air Conditioning Unit, hew computers and security systems in a building at the Old Hastings Regional Center only a few Months before they closed down most of the services in that building. The State works on a budget system where in they have a set amount of Money to get them through a fiscal year. about a month or two before the end of the fiscal year they [pick any dept.] will spend every surplus dime they have in order to insure they get at least the same amount for the next yr. and hopefully more.
    If the Average Joe knew how the State budget works they would burn the Prairie Penis to the Ground.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1709212272 Kirk Welch

    What is so hard to understand about the fact that we are in a place where we
    are forced to raise revenue? If we cannot get anything such as
    legalized Casino gambling or revised Helmet laws or legalized
    recreational marijuana in order to raise revenue then we are stuck with
    raising taxes, period. Nebraska’s Money is pouring into our boarder
    states and they are laughing at us all the way to the bank.
    If they
    lower Property Taxes they will raise income Taxes, If the lower or
    eliminate Income Taxes they will raise property Taxes, sales Taxes,
    Gasoline Taxes etc. to make up the difference, If all you want to do is
    cut spending then don’t bitch when your car drops into a 4′ deep pot
    hole or your neighborhood school closes or the Fire Dept. or Police
    Dept. cannot respond to your emergency call because they are under
    staffed. Damn, this is 4th grade math people. some want to cut spending,
    I agree, the State wastes Millions on unneeded BS like installing a
    $750K air Conditioning Unit, new computers and security systems in a
    building at the Old Hastings Regional Center only a few Months before
    they closed down most of the services in that building. The State works
    on a budget system where in they have a set amount of Money to get them
    through a fiscal year. about a month or two before the end of the fiscal
    year they [pick any dept.] will spend every surplus dime they have in
    order to insure they get at least the same amount for the next yr. and
    hopefully more.
    If the Average Joe knew how the State budget works they would burn the Prairie Penis to the Ground.
    the bottom line is you can’t do one without doing the other and expect anything to move. This goes for the Fed Gov. as well as State and Local Gov.