Farmers Union asks Hughes, other senators to return campaign funds

McCOOK, Neb. -- District 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes was among a group of legislators the Nebraska Farmers Union asked to return Smithfield Foods campaign contributions or abstain from voting on legislation which advanced to final reading Monday.

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) circulated a letter to state senators last week asking them to consider returning their Smithfield Foods, Inc. contributions to their campaigns, file a conflict of interest form, or to simply not vote on LB176, according to a press release posted online.

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American subsidiary of the Chinese company Shuanghui Group, the world's largest pork producer and processor, according to Wikipedia.

NeFU claims LB176 is being strongly lobbied by Mueller Robak as a contracted representative of Smithfield Foods Inc., the nation's largest hog producer and processor, and the legislation would allow hog processors to directly own hogs in Nebraska.

NeFU obtained data from the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission revealing 20 state senators received a total of $12,200 in recent political campaign contributions from Smithfield Foods, Inc. with all of the contributions coming in early January 2016 with the exception of one $1,000 contribution to the bill's sponsor in 2015, Senator Ken Schilz.

Three state senators received $1,000 political campaign donations, four senators received $750 each in political campaign donations, and Sen. Hughes was among 12 who received $500 each in political campaign donations, with one senator receiving $200.

"Given the history of large amounts of corporate ag money being invested in political campaigns and high priced lobby firms, we are simply saying that in order to protect the public perception of the objectivity of the legislature, we hope that many of the checks are returned. If the checks are kept, we suggest that at a minimum, a conflict of interest filing should be considered. Another simple option would be to vote "Present" but not cast a yes or no vote on LB176," said NeFU President John Hansen in the release.

Hansen touted the NeFU as a strong defender of Nebraska's unique unicameral system of government and the hard working men and women that make the sacrifice to serve. He said the NeFU has also been a long-time supporter of transparency and clean government measures.

Hansen said the Smithfield's Accountability and Disclosure filing was sought after several senators noted in recent meetings on LB176 that the proponents were getting good sized campaign contributions. "$11,200 of campaign contributions to support corporate pork legislation in one month is not chicken feed," he said.

NeFU released the letter Wednesday in advance of Thursday's debate on LB 176. The bill subsequently advanced Friday on a 33-12 vote with Sen. Hughes among those voting in support. The bill was placed on Final Reading Monday.