Mayer: Universal health

care is best solution

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Democrat candidate for First District Congress Joe Mayer says he would have voted against going to war with Iraq if he had been in Congress last year. If elected this November, he would work to extricate U.S. troops as quickly as possible.

"There was no reason for us to invade Iraq. Few people seem to remember that Saddam Hussein once was considered our friend," said Mayer, a self-proclaimed "retiree" who has answered the DFL Party's call to go up against Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht in this fall's general election.

"I give Gil praise for what he has done in trying to get lower cost prescription drugs for Americans, but I consider his approach as tinkering, taking one part of it to change," Mayer said.

"The whole system has to be changed before we really can say that the situation is solved. The reason that prescription drugs are cheaper in Canada is because the government is buying them in large quantities.

"What America needs to solve the problem is universal health care including prescription drugs."

He said he doesn't see it as being socialized medicine.

"I see it as making sure that every American has some form of health care.. Then, we would have cheaper prescription drugs for our citizens. That's the way we should be doing it."

Even though former President Bill Clinton was responsible for the North American Free Trade Agreement being signed, Mayer said, the resulting job drain to other countries must be stopped.

"I realize we have to have these trade agreements, but we also have to protect the jobs that we still have so that our people will be able to survive and prosper."

Mayer, who lives in Rochester, "just two miles from Gil's house," was a teacher, coach and administrator at Lourdes High School during the course of a 27-year career. He and his wife Elaine have been residents of the First District for 47 years.

Mayer realizes he is getting a late start in a big race. He is in the process of setting up an advertising committee for what appears to be a tough -- and expensive -- battle against an incumbent congressman.

"A lot of people around Rochester know me because I was a coach, but I realize it's going to be tough getting the name recognition that I need throughout the district. Someone suggested I should go all radio (advertising), but that's why I'm setting up the committee, to make the decision on what's the best way to go."

Editor's Note: The first sentence of this story was corrected the day immediately following its original publication. to read: "Democrat candidate for First District Congress Joe Mayer says he would have voted against going to war with Iraq if he had been in Congress last year.