ICYMI: Bruning Endorsed by Lincoln Journal Star

April 24, 2012 - PRLog -- ICYMI: Lincoln Journal Star Endorses Jon Bruning

Jon Bruning has earned the right to be the Republican candidate for election to the U.S. Senate.

He is smart, capable and has upheld conservative principles during terms as a state senator and as attorney general.

Bruning's record as attorney general for the past 10 years shows that Nebraskans have received their money's worth.

He was instrumental in establishing the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit in 2004.

Bruning promised the Legislature that the unit would become self-supporting by recovering funds from violators. Recoveries exceeded the unit's operating budget by 2006. Since the unit was formed, it has recovered almost $33 million on what Burning describes as public investment of only $1 million.

The performance of the separate consumer fraud unit also has improved under Bruning's leadership. The amount recovered annually for consumers has doubled to about $1 million.

One of the things the Journal Star editorial board likes best about Bruning's record is his service in support of the state's open meetings law and open records.

In 2004, Bruning and Assistant Attorney General Dale Comer took the University of Nebraska regents to task for using a secretive process for selecting a new president for the university.

The university tried to argue that the secret, closed meetings that a committee of regents held in Kansas City and Omaha did not constitute an interview. Bruning's opinion provided the regents with a dictionary definition of the word "interview," and informed them "In Nebraska … statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning."

Bruning also has been steadfast in upholding the public's right to know in various cases involving school boards. Two years ago, for example, his office concluded that the Beatrice school board had violated the state's open meetings law in selecting a new superintendent.

Bruning already has moved onto the national stage as president of the National Association of Attorneys General in 2009-2010, and as one of 26 state leaders who sued to overturn the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act….

In a crowded Republican field that includes state Treasurer Don Stenberg, state Sen. Deb Fischer and businessman Pat Flynn, we think Bruning's record and talents make him the best-qualified to be the GOP standard-bearer in the U.S. Senate race.