Merv Riepe
Non-Partisan | Nebraska
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Merv Riepe
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
Member of the Legislature, Dist. 12
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
U. Nebr. Omaha, Omaha, NE, BS, 1968
U. Iowa, Iowa City, IA, MA, 1970
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Navy, Hospital Corpsman, 1960-1963
AFFILIATIONS
United Way of the Midlands, Campaign chair, Council Bluffs, IA, Mid-America Council of Boy Souts
Board member, Ralston Boy Scouts, Pac Leader
Outlook Nebraska Inc, Chair & board member, United Methodist Church council & finance committe
Member, Omaha Symphony, Board member
Nebr. Wesleyan University, President's Advisory Board, Children's Square USA
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Legislative District 12, State Senator, 2014-2918
Ralston Board of Education, 2020 to date
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Ralston School Board, 1990s
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017-18
|100%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Pete Ricketts
Mike Foley
Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom
OTHER (2)
*Nebraska Farm Bureau
Omaha Police Officers Association
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Councilman Brinker Harding, Councilwoman Aimee Melton. ongressman Don Bacpn, Omaha Police Officers Association, Governor Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Farm Bureau, NIFA Small Businesses and others.
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (8)
Don Bacon (2020)
Donald Trump (2016)
Kristin Stiffler (2022)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2018)
Pete Ricketts (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (21)
Adrian Smith (2018)
Black Hills Corporation (2018)
Bob Evnen (2015)
Bold Active Conservatives of Nebraska (Bacon PAC) (2018)
Charles Herbster (2018)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
American Nurses Association (2016)
National Education Association (national, state & local affiliates) (2016)
OTHER INFORMATION
Party affiliation: Republican
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I am a prolife candidate. That said, we must look at specific legislative language and determined what can address the issues at hand. We must be compassionate and seek to understand concerns, especially regarding life of the mother.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
We must be competitive with bordering states to attract and retain good jobs that will attract talent. We must address operational costs and evaluate programs that may have outlived their original purpose. The consumption tax is under discussion, but I must to see financial projections before I can personally consider such a significant change.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Services under the Health and Human Services Department, which I chaired between 2016-2018, comprises one-third of the entire state budget--in excess of $3B. We introduced Managed Medicaid to slow down the cost of providing services without surrendering quality. One place to look for efficiency is to ensure individuals receiving benefits are in fact eligible. Services to humans provided by other humans are expensive.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
We have now come full circle to the believe that not everyone requires a college degree to perform many tasks. We should not add additional entitlements while we are seeking to finance services we currently provide.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Freedom is a foundation of our constitution. We live and love the diversity of our culture and our political being.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, but the church building is not religion. The government should be able to close church buildings for purposes of public safety. Due process should always be required.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. Having been an administrative officer at Bergan Mercy Hospital and Children's Hospital for 36, I have seen the impact on costs when government pays the bills. I want to see organizations established to provide health to a select population over a number of years with the incentive to keep members of the group healthy and functioning along with lower costs. I introduced Direct Primary Care enabling legislation signed into law and want to create cooperatives to provide services to individuals with substantial insurance costs.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government should not require vaccinations. We are a nation where one solution does not address all. We must have convincing truth and trust in our scientific community and education that can be made understandable to the American public.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We need to avoid nation building and seeking to impose our cultural and religious values of the Muslim and other religions. That said, should we be struck, we need to strike back and strike back hard.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Disagree
The state of Israel must be preserved.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
We may need to increase the number of immigrants allowed into the United States. We need to continue to allow temporary visa and other special visa. We cannot have open borders with all of the problems
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We need to secure the border and allow a portion of immigration on a merit basis. We need to accommodate select refugees who have supported our military in its actions. We need to resolve the undocumented (Dreamers) brought to this country as young children without simply having it occur again.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Neutral
I believe in public education to ensure a basic education for all -- a constitutional right. I need to understand the impact of school choice on public education and its potential good for each child. I have a concern public education is experiencing mission creep. Education is the variable that creates great equality and not a caste system.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
America was founded on Judeo-Christian values and is the basis of our moral foundation.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Currently the only group not protected are White, heterosexual males under the age of 40. I want protections of non-discrimination for all. I believe in live and let live and the practice of kindness and mutual respect. .
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Agree
My personal belief is the marriage as we have known it from biblical times is between a woman and a man with the intent to populate the world. That said, I believe consenting adults should be able to love who they love and embrace life together.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
As humans, we are 99.9% the same only with different skin pigmentation. I believe in teaching the history of America, good and bad but still with the knowledge more people seek to come to this country that to leave. I do not believe in setting race against race nor do I believe using guilt is constructive. I believe in a color blind society.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian. As a farm boy, I grew up working next to my father who taught me the importance of honesty, being true to your word, integrity and trust.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Support voter I.D.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
While charges of racism surface, many people have friends and family members of various races. We must not let those who wish to divide us succeed.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A. We need incremental change to address global warming. In the world, we cannot surrender our economy while other nations such as China and India are given a pass on accountability.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
We must have energy independence.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Provide structure and services that would not or could not be make available by less than a collective group. The government exists to administer the rules and regulations that we the people adopt.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I don't like names because to times we are more or less of what we are designated. Given my many years in health care from bedside care to administration, I consider myself a "compassionate conservative."
iVoterGuide Notes:
Upon review, candidate notified iVoterGuide that his answer should have been "Compassionate Conservative."
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Public votes in the Nebraska State Legislature between 2014-2018,
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
My commitment is to stability in Nebraska. I support parental rights, proficiency in basic educational standards, improved mental health, greater health care access while at the same time garnering operational efficiencies to control spending and reduce taxes.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support screening and psychological testing of officers prior to select. Once selected and trained in working in dangerous situations, I believe we must put our trust in a group, and I find our officers worthy of that trust.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
We need to look at greater coordination of the delivery of mental health services.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Constitution rights observed in concert with police safety. 1. What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
Not the gun but rather the person using the gun.
