KEYC-TV (CBS and Fox) ran two stories about yesterday's event at Kevin Paap's farm. Walz, Peterson Awarded For Dedication To Agriculture was the lead story on Fox:
Good evening and thanks for joining us, I'm Nicole Winters.Area farmers and Minnesota Farm Bureau officials took time away from their crops today to honor two members of Congress for their support of the ag industry.Fox Mankato's Carly Aplin tells us why these lawmakers are being honored...
Rep. Tim Walz says, "It's never about the politics, it's more about the policy."
That philosophy is one of the reasons Congressman Tim Walz and Congressman Colin Peterson are receiving the Friend of Farm Bureau Award. Kevin Paap says, "That award is based on their voting record, their support of agriculture in the last two years in Washington."
One of the hot topics over the last two years was the multi - million dollar Farm Bill.Kevin Paap says, "You can't [have the ] Chairman of the House Ag Committee on your farm and not talk Farm Bill."President of the MN Farm Bureau Kevin Paap did talk Farm Bill with Chairman Collin Peterson at his farm today where they presented the awards... and talked about the bill that will benefit farmers in the upper Midwest.
Rep. Collin Peterson says, "We got better safety nets for our crops, we got the dairy provisions, exactly what we were looking for..."
Carly Aplin says, "The dozens of farmers and Farm Bureau officials came to the Paap farm today not only to congratulate the Congressmen, but discuss issues they face on a daily basis."
Rep. Tim Walz says, "From high energy costs and fuel costs, to input costs for them and they're also concerned about the ability to get credit because a lot of these farms operate on borrowing in the short term and selling their produce in the end, paying back the loan if that credits not available we can't put the crops in the field."Ag issues will always be a concern for both Congressmen and they agree whoever's elected next year will have plenty to do...
Rep. Collin Peterson says, "We have to keep watching the implementation of the Farm Bill... we'll have plenty of things to do."At the Paap Farm, Carly Aplin, the Fox Mankato News at Nine.
An earlier story, Farm Bureau Honors Walz, Peterson, focused on Congressman Peterson's role as House ag committee chair.
That was a fun event, with a lot of farmers and their kids enjoying a break from harvest in the impeccably orderly and clean farm shop. One farmer good-naturedly teased Mrs. Paap about how his own wife wouldn't dream of bringing a pie out to his shop.
In the Winona Daily News, we learn that badmouthing earmarks has consequences in Goodview discusses how to repay $4.28M loan for radium plants:
. . .The city earlier this week obtained a $4.28 million state loan to front the cost of building the federally mandated radium-filtration plants, which are under construction now. Now — for the third straight year — Goodview leaders are eyeing water-rate increases to repay the loan amid uncertainty over a $3 million federal earmark they hoped would cover much of that cost.
Federal lawmakers authorized the earmark in November 2007, but Congress must appropriate the funds before they reach Goodview, which may not happen anytime soon. In today’s economic climate, Congress faces “a very tough budgeting environment” for appropriations like the Goodview funding, said a spokeswoman for Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn.
Mayor Jack Weimerskirch also isn’t holding his breath for the federal earmark authorized last year thanks to support from Minnesota lawmakers such as Walz and Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar. But the money still must be appropriated, and Weimerskirch said earmarks in general are viewed suspiciously by many legislators.
“We look at it as funding of an unfunded federal mandate,” Weimerskirch said. “But it’s still looked at as an earmark, and it has all those dirty connotations.” . . .
Worthington area Republicans tell the Globe that Stolen signs span parties. Apparently, vandals favor swiping signs for those at the top of the ticket: McCain-Palin and Coleman. People are urged to file police reports of stolen or defaced signs.
LTEs for candidates pile up like leaves. A couple highlights: in Tim Walz is a great congressman, Steve Bachler tells the readers of the Austin Herald:
I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Rep. Tim Walz a few weeks ago. I was very positively impressed. He has that rare combination of likability, integrity, intelligence, knowledge and a diligence to work hard for all of his constituents.
Walz is a great fit for us in southern Minnesota. Please remember to vote for Tim Walz for Congress on Nov. 4.
Lisa Maloney writes the Winona Daily News to say Walz has my vote. She's most concerned about Social Security. In the Austin Herald, David Woodruff writes in Celebrate officials willing to serve:
On Saturday, we were to have the honor of Walter “Fritz” Mondale’s presence at a rally in support of Rep. Tim Walz. Mr. Mondale was unable to attend due to the death of a friend. . . .
. . .I think we should quit calling or hinting that all of our elected officials are just stooges. We will have different ideas, but our society should be able to handle the differences. Legislative action is somewhat chaotic and messy. The people we elect generally are in one of two parties. Our representatives have to cooperate with others to achieve what they feel is best for their constituents. Sometimes, that means they will support something that they otherwise would reject. Big deal. We can’t all be kings or dictators. . . .
A fine letter in the Mankato Free Press about how Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is about good governance.
Blueman and veteran Hal Kimball slices apart Brian Davis's opinion of the IAVA in Brian Davis Disses Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: Shameless. Go read it.
The ultra-conservative Fairmont Sentinel endorses Davis: no surprise there. The editorial board has recently called for privatizing Social Security, blamed the poor for the mortgage crisis and repeated other hardline conservative talking points. Congressman Walz was earlier endorsed by the Albert Lea Tribune and the New Ulm Journal.
Other district dailies still to endorse in the race? The Rochester Post Bulletin, The Winona Daily News, The Worthington Globe. The Mankato Free Press and the Austin Herald will not be endorsing. The Strib will endorse as well.
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