Buescher stops for coffee, discussion during campaign swing

Brian Buescher grew up on a farm outside of Deweese but turned his attention to law while in college. He knows just how much Nebraska's farmers and ranchers love to tell lawyer jokes.

"I've heard a ton," he said with a laugh.

Buescher graduated high school in a class of 28. He studied law at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.-the only time he lived outside of the state, as he returned to focus on agribusiness litigation.

"Being a farm boy I get to fight for farmers every day," Buescher pointed out. "They are in a tough spot when they come to me."

Over the years, Buescher and his team have been involved in water usage cases, taken on federal agencies and battled for revision of regulations affecting Nebraska farmers and ranchers. Now he hopes to translate that experience into a successful run for the state's attorney general's office.

The Republican from Omaha toured through the panhandle late last week, stopping in Sidney on Friday morning to meet with local residents at the Book and Coffee Corner. In an increasingly crowded campaign field, he believes experience in agribusiness cases sets him apart.

"I've represented a lot of farmers," he said. "I've been up against the EPA, the USDA. I push back-that's what I do every day."

In Buescher's opinion, the best way to force federal regulatory agencies to change laws seen as potentially detrimental to Nebraska involves a combination of thorough research and public pressure, backed by the threat of legal action.

"You don't just go out and file lawsuits," he explained.

In addition to farm, ranch and water issues, Buescher points out that prison reform and Colorado's marijuana laws will challenge the next attorney general.

His solution to prison overcrowding requires an amended "good time" law. Violent repeat offenders, he said, should not be eligible for release under the good time program. At the same time, he intends to battle for shorter jail terms for non-violent offenders, offset by intensive supervised probation.

Buescher cites studies suggesting that programs such as probation can reduce recidivism rates.

And, he said, "intensive supervised probation is about half the cost of jail."

As for marijuana, Buescher is firmly opposed to legalization in Nebraska. He considers it a gateway to other behaviors. Yet he understands that Colorado's ruling puts pressure on law enforcement officials throughout Nebraska.

Dealers transporting the drug into and through the state will be a problem, particularly for rural counties along major highways.

"We have to provide appropriate support to counties here-give them the resources they need," he said.