U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts said there have been some surprises during his first year in Washington, D.C., including a pleasant one.
Despite what you hear about the polarized nature of Washington and the Senate, Ricketts said, it is a civil place where Democratic and Republican lawmakers treat each other with respect.
“That’s been a very nice surprise,†the Republican said.
Ricketts, who joined the Senate a year ago after being appointed to the body by Gov. Jim Pillen, marked the one-year anniversary of his swearing-in with a press call with Nebraska news media.
He opened the call with an election-year critique of President Joe Biden.
Ricketts criticized the Democrat for policies on the nation’s southern border that “make every state a border state.â€
And he blamed Biden for the 17% inflation seen since the president took office three years ago, including a 20% increase in grocery prices and 34% increase in the cost of gas.
In response to a question, Ricketts acknowledged there have been a number of drivers behind the record inflation, including the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions and the nation’s labor shortages.
But he traced much of the inflation to a $1.9 trillion pandemic recovery bill Biden pushed in 2021.
The bill was so big, Ricketts said, it was enough to grow the nation’s economy by 10%. With so much more money flowing into the economy, he said, dollars have naturally been worth less.
“You can trace it right back to that stimulus bill,†Ricketts said. “It’s not rocket science.â€
Ricketts said he met Biden once during his first year in the Senate. During a NATO conference in Lithuania in July, Ricketts was in a group of senators who briefly spoke to the president.
So far, Ricketts does not have a big legislative accomplishment — in part, he said, because the Senate has passed so few bills. He blamed that on the Senate majority leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer. Ricketts said Schumer has been slow to schedule legislation, including budget bills long ago passed by the House.
Ricketts said he is hopeful that when the farm bill comes up for a vote, he will be able to attach a bipartisan bill he has introduced related to the nation’s food stamp program, now called SNAP.
Modeled off a program Ricketts put in place while governor of Nebraska, the measure would encourage states to offer SNAP recipients job coaches and assistance with résumé writing in hopes of improving their job prospects. That can reduce their need for public assistance.
“I believe that will have a great opportunity to be attached to the farm bill,†he said.
Pete Ricketts sworn into office as a U.S. Senator
Photos: Pete Ricketts through the years
OMAHA, NEB. - 05/06/2016 - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (right) shakes hands with Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts before addressing a campaign rally in Omaha on Friday, May 6, 2016, at Werner Enterprise Hangar. FRANCIS GARDLER/Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER/Journal Star
Nebraska City, Nebraska - 09/12/2021 - Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Former Vice President Mike Pence wave to the crowd at the Nebraska Steak Fry on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, at Arbor Lodge. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
EAKIN HOWARD Journal Star
LINCOLN, NE - 4/10/2017 - Gov. Pete Ricketts joins members of the UNL Rodeo Team on horseback for a ride around the Governor's Mansion Monday, April 10, 2017 to proclaim Rodeo Week in Nebraska ahead of the 59th Annual UNL Rodeo, which will be held April 14th and 15th at the Lancaster County Event Center. ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
ERIC GREGORY Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB - 05/13/14 Pete Ricketts, left, talks with former Nebraska governor Kay Orr while waiting for election results during the Pete Ricketts campaign party at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska Tuesday, May 13, 2014. -
CHAD GREENE/For the Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln, NE - 4/6/2017 - Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts (L) and University of Nebraska - Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green applaud after the video presentation of keynote speaker Clayton Yeutter, former United States Secretary of Agriculture, during Green's installation ceremony on Thursday, April 6, 2017, at the Lied Center. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS Journal Star
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts makes remarks following the unveiling of a statue of Ponca Chief Standing Bear, in Statuary Hall of the US Capitol, September 18, 2019, in Washington, DC. Standing Bear, who won a groundbreaking civil rights case for his tribe, replaces William Jennings Bryan. MIKE THEILER For the Journal Star
MIKE THEILER
LINCOLN, NEB. - 01/14/2021 - Gov. Pete Ricketts (left) does an elbow bump with Sen. Suzanne Geist during State of the State, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, Nebraska State Capitol. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB - 11/04/2014 - Republican Governor-elect Pete Ricketts (left) reacts as he take a call 15 minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, at The Cornhusker, Marriott Hotel. FRANCIS GARDLER/Lincoln Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER/Lincoln Journal
LINCOLN, NEB - 05/13/14 Pete Rickets, right kisses his wife Susanne Ricketts, center, as his son Roscoe Ricketts, 14, looks on after a victory speech during the Pete Ricketts campaign party at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska Tuesday, May 13, 2014. - CHAD GREENE/For the Lincoln Journal Star
CHAD GREENE/For the Lincoln Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB - 10/25/2014 - Gubernatorial candidate Pete Ricketts, right, talks with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman during a press event at Rickett's campaign headquarters on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, at 317 S. 12th Street. DAN LITTLE/Lincoln Journal Star
DAN LITTLE/Lincoln Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB - 01/08/2015 - Governor-elect Pete Ricketts takes the oath of office before Chief Justice Mike Heavican and his wife Suzanne on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at the State Capitol. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln, NE - 1/25/2018 - Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) speaks alongside Clarice Jackson, with Liberate, Educate, and Reform Nebraska (LEARN) Parent Coalition, after the School Choice rally on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in the Capitol Rotunda. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS
LINCOLN, NEB. - 05/05/2021 - Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts displays a proclamation for "Beef Month" and highlights the Good Life Steaks Beef Passport dining program on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, during a press conference at Misty's, a local steakhouse. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER
Lincoln, NE - 9/4/2020 - Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (L) and Gov. Pete Ricketts meet with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue (not pictured) at Great Plains Beef on North 84th Street, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB. - 10/05/2020 - Former Nebraska football head coach Tom Osborne speaks against legalized gambling next to Gov. Pete Ricketts during a news conference, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, at Nebraska State Capitol. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB - 05/01/2017 - Governor Pete Ricketts greets Vietnam War veterans returning from Washington, D.C., on the honor flights during a homecoming celebration on Monday, May 1, 2017, at the Lincoln Airport. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star
KRISTIN STREFF Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB. - 1/15/2019- A double exposure Gov. Pete Ricketts as he gives his State of the State address combined with the legislative name board Tuesday, Jan.15, 2019, at the Capitol. KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
KAYLA WOLF Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB - 05/13/2016 Governor Pete Ricketts shows the audience the proclamation after signing it during a ceremony to proclaim Hannah Huston Day in Nebraska on Friday, May 13, 2016, in the Governor’s Hearing Room at the State Capitol. Hannah Huston Day will be celebrated on Monday, May 16 to coincide with "The Voice's" semifinals. MATT RYERSON/Journal Star
MATT RYERSON/Journal Star
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts makes remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor, Maryland, February 24, 2017. Politicians, pundits, journalists and celebrities gather for the annual conservative event to hear speakers, network and plan agendas for the new President Trump administration. MIKE THEILER, For the Journal Star
MIKE THEILER For the Journal St
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts waves as he leaves an opening ceremony for the new beltway on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Lincoln South Beltway in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln, NE - 5/11/2022 - Gov. Pete Ricketts (L) shakes hands with Jim Pillen, Republican candidate for governor, during the Nebraska Republican Party general election kickoff on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at the Republican state headquarters. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS Journal Star
LINCOLN, NEB. - 10/05/2020 - Gov. Pete Ricketts puts on a mask during a news conference, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, at Nebraska State Capitol. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Governor Jim Pillen (left) announces the appointment of former governor Pete Ricketts (right) to Nebraska's open senate seat, on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. The vacancy, left open by the departure of Ben Sasse, has been expected to go to Ricketts after his depurate from the governorship last year.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
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