Rice County Republicans

A field report comes in from our good friend,  Ray Cox.

Tim Rud and David Bly appeared at a candidate forum at Carleton College on Tuesday [28 Oct 08] evening. There was good attendance by students and some folks from the Northfield community.

It was interesting to hear the significant differences between the candidates on some important issues. The first question from the moderator dealt with Minnesota’s projected budget deficit and how the candidates would deal with it. Bly told the audience that he thought it would be very difficult to reduce state spending and that he promotes ‘revenue enhancements’ as a way to deal with the shortfall. He then explained that he also wants to see a new 4th tier for income taxes created, higher than any tax level Minnesota presently has in place. It was clear that Bly’s plan to deal with a budget shortfall is taxes, taxes and more taxes. And remember, this is on top of a 2007 budget that expanded state spending by 10.4 percent.

Tim Rud on the other hand said he felt it was essential that the state reduce spending to deal with the budget shortfall—-just as businesses and families in Minnesota do when dealing with their own finances. He then went on to explain that he also wants to expand job growth and opportunities in Minnesota which in turn will increase revenue. Finally, he said he feels there is still inefficiencies in state government agencies. Becoming more efficient in delivery of services will lower expenses.

The moderator than asked about health care, specifically asking if the candidates support the proposed Minnesota Health Plan. Tim Rud said he thought much of the plan had fine goals, but that the 9 percent payroll tax was too much of a burden to ask workers and businesses to pay. He identified how our present health care system is generally working very well, but he would like to see more efficiencies in administration, thereby lowering costs of health care insurance. Rud also promoted competition in the health care industry, allowing people to purchase insurance products from companies located in other states.

Bly explained that he is a solid supporter of this health plan. He said Minnesota must invest in this type of program and if we do ‘we all will do well’. He said competition in the health care business is not good, in that it only works because health care providers deny care to people that need it.

In addressing a question about the State Grant Program for supporting qualified college students with state funds, Tim Rud told the audience that he was a solid supporter of the plan. He noted that the 2007 legislature reduced funding for the Grant Program and stated he would not support such action that reduces funding for this important program.

Bly’s response was to blame the budget reduction on Governor Pawlenty. He went into great detail explaining that the Governor would not support a higher education bill that didn’t contain a particular new initiative for granting 9th grade students funds for college costs. He said the committee ‘looked around for ways to fund the Governor’s initiative’ and ended up having to take it from the State Grant Program.

In summary, Tim Rud represented great personal responsibility concepts and for state government to live within its means. Bly promoted extracting more and more taxes from residents and plans for the state to transfer assets from one group of people to another group. The choice was very clear….we need to send Tim Rud to St. Paul.