Conservative Champions

With the death of Nancy Reagan, America mourns the loss of yet another champion of conservatism. This exemplary First Lady and her husband, President Ronald Reagan, inspired the world through their love and devotion to one another and to their country.

Nancy Reagan was an influential woman in her own right, but the impact made by the Reagans together helped to shape the future of America. They truly believed our country was “a shining city on a hill,” and this conviction pushed them to empower the American people rather than government to address the country’s challenges. After the tumultuous 1970s, the Reagans created a new era of freedom, opportunity, and prosperity.

The death of Nancy Reagan comes only a few weeks after the passing of another influential conservative, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Reagan. Justice Scalia was a brilliant jurist and a tireless defender of our Constitution. His decisions on the Court led to important conservative victories, and the respect he commanded from jurists across the political spectrum is a testament to his lasting impact.

These recent deaths are enormous losses to our country, and I am deeply saddened by the passing of such steadfast, bold leaders. My own interest in politics grew out of conversations with my grandfather and my parents about President Jimmy Carter and his challenger, Ronald Reagan. Nancy Reagan’s passing marks the end of an era for our country and conservatism.

America looks much different today than it did during the Reagan years. Nearly eight years of President Obama’s divisive policies have led to rapid growth in government, an endless flow of regulatory burdens, and an ongoing failure to address the growing threats to our security posed by ISIS, Iran, and North Korea.

There is much at stake for our country, and I remain concerned about the expanding power of the executive branch eroding the division of powers and threatening our system of representative democracy. I am hopeful our next president will work to bring Americans together while promoting conservative values and demonstrating a genuine commitment to the legacies of those who devoted their lives to preserving them.

Nancy Reagan told us to “open your eyes to life … and to make it count.” As we carry the mantle of freedom and opportunity in America, I will keep working to ensure Congress enacts policies which uphold Nebraska common sense and defend the values enshrined in our Constitution.