Deb Fischer, Ben Sasse (R's NEB) have strikingly different views of the Senate heading into 2016

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/news/politics/deb-fischer-ben-sasse-have-strikingly-different-views-of-the/article_b7cd06af-cf24-5d08-8ee1-07b80e4b29f5.html

POSTED: SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 2016 12:30 AM | UPDATED: 1:40 PM, SUN JAN 3, 2016.
By Joseph Morton / World-Herald Bureau

WASHINGTON — Nebraska’s two U.S. senators have plenty in common as first-term Republicans who ran for office touting their conservative credentials.

Sens. Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse both criticize the health care law, support federal spending cuts and denounce burdensome regulations.

But as they carve out their political identities in the Senate, they’re taking strikingly different approaches to the way they do their jobs.

In her first three years, Fischer has embraced the nuts and bolts of legislating: introducing bills, hammering out details of major legislation and helping it reach the president’s desk.

FULL story at link.

Different views
Nebraska’s two U.S. senators — Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse — are both Republicans, but they voted differently on several key bills last year.

Education
Senate voted 85-12 to overhaul federal education laws.
Fischer: Voted yes. “Once again, the Senate has passed significant, bipartisan legislation showing we can come together and get major things done for the American people. Through this bill, control over education decisions will return to parents, teachers, and local school districts who are best equipped to ensure future generations will have the skills they need to succeed.”
Sasse: Voted no. “Like many of my colleagues, I am grateful that this bill takes important and encouraging steps to reduce the federal government’s decades-long, heavy-handed intrusion into Nebraska classrooms. But — given the urgency our kids deserve — we still have more work to do to help re-empower Nebraska’s parents, local teachers, and school districts.”

Medicare
Senate voted 92-8 on the so-called “Doc Fix” for reimbursement rates to health care providers.
Fischer: Voted yes. “We’ve been able to pass a doc fix, instead of thirty-some patches since 2009. You know, that’s crazy, that’s not how government works. So we were able to get that done.”
Sasse: Voted no. “We should use this crisis as an occasion to be talking about real entitlement reform.”

Highway bill
Senate voted 83-16 to provide funding for infrastructure projects.
Fischer: Voted yes. “For the first time in over a decade, Congress has come together and provided long-term solutions for America’s transportation challenges. Through bipartisan cooperation, this bill will provide certainty and authorize funding for our nation’s infrastructure over the next five years.”
Sasse: Voted no. “Like many Nebraskans, I’m grateful that Senator Fischer has tirelessly championed critical highway reforms but disappointed that the rest of Washington uses budgets that make little sense.”