Nebraska regents marketing campaign on antiabortion measures

Within the midst of re-election campaigns, two College of Nebraska regents are spending massive on advertisements opposing a state poll measure to guard abortion entry, The Lincoln Journal Star reported.

Regents Rob Schafer and Jim Scheer, each Republicans, donated cash for commercials reportedly produced by the Nebraska Household Alliance, a bunch that opposes abortion rights. The commercials, which aired in mid-October, ended with the disclaimer “Paid for by Schafer for Board of Regents.” A later spherical of associated antiabortion commercials was attributed to Scheer’s marketing campaign.

The commercials landed weeks earlier than voters are set to resolve on two abortion-related poll measures, considered one of which is able to shield entry to the process—which Schafer and Scheer oppose—whereas the opposite will prohibit it.

It’s unclear how a lot the 2 regents spent on the ads, although the newspaper famous that Scheer—a former state lawmaker who’s operating unopposed—not too long ago acquired a contribution of greater than $1.5 million and has spent greater than $900,000 on TV ads.

Neither regent supplied remark to The Lincoln Journal Star. However former regent Chuck Hassebrook, who served on the college’s governing board from 1995 till 2012, mentioned it was unprecedented for members to make use of their campaigns to have interaction in broader tradition conflict points.

Nebraska is one of some states that elect college boards. Present governor Jim Pillen, a Republican, served as a regent from 2013 till resigning in early 2023 after he gained the gubernatorial election.