Peterson criticizes No Child Left Behind

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

GILFILLAN -- Seventh District Congressman Collin Peterson sounded off on the No Child Left Behind Act Tuesday at the Farmfest Congressional Candidate Forum.

"It's a disaster and should be eliminated. We need to get unfunded, federal government mandates out of education," Peterson said.

Patty Wetterling of St. Joseph, a Democrat seeking the Sixth District congressional seat, is a former junior high teacher. She said the requirement relies too much on testing and keeps teachers from teaching.

"It has so many shortfalls, it's frightening," she said of the federal requirement.

Southwest State University Political Science Professor David Sturrock, who is running in District 7, called No Child Left Behind is a classic example of what's wrong with Washington's "one-size-fits- all" approach.

"It may eventually do some good, but there will be many problems at first," Sturrock said.

Peterson vehemently opposed bi-lateral trade agreements, calling them a disaster, with U.S. producers having very little to gain and a lot to lose. He warned of trade agreement loopholes.

Other warning signs, according to Peterson, are Europeans being able to produce sugar for six cents a pound, thanks to subsidies; and Brazil and Argentina producing soybeans for $3 an acre.

He added that there is lots of imported meat in this country that people don't want the public to know about.

Sixth District Congressman Mark Kennedy,a Republican, said it was easy to bash trade but that it's the reason there are currently good corn and bean prices. He called for export expansion for greater prosperity.

"We need to grow exports," Kennedy said. "Pushing forward with the World Trade Organization agreements will lower tariffs."

Peterson called the 2002 Farm Bill a success thanks to bi-partisan efforts that created a "good-as- it-gets" situation in this part of the country.

Regarding the dairy industry, Peterson urged getting rid of the milk marketing program because it is so imbalanced against Minnesota. Other candidates agreed.

Green Party candidate Greg Mikkleson said Americans need to wean themselves off the Farm Bill.

Some candidates promoted getting the United States out of Iraq.

First District Democratic candidate Leigh Pomeroy said the war costs every American family $2,500 per year.

Kennedy said America needs to advance the cause of democracy and freedom. He told the story of an Iraqi woman who visited him.

"She said she wanted an American flag. So I got her one that flew over the Capitol. She draped it around herself, gave me a big hug and cried," Kennedy said.

Pomeroy, who teaches mass communications, film and writing at Minnesota State University in Mankato, asked if the First District Congressman (Gil Gutknecht) supported family farms and education funding or big business.

Gutknecht was not at the forum. He was represented by one of his campaign managers, Butterfield farmer Nels Pierson.

Pierson said bringing up the war in Iraq at the debate that centered heavily on rural issues was an "abomination."

Pierson said Gutknecht strongly supported family farms and other needs of rural residents.

Preston Mayor David Pechulis, who is seeking the Independence Party nomination to run against Gutknecht, said an international coalition is needed to fight terrorism and that the American government should be held more accountable.

"I'm not tied to big business. I'm about the people and what they need, like health care for just $97 a month, which is what legislators pay," Pechulis said.

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, left, the

ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Agriculture

Committee, talks with farmers in the Farmfest forum tent Tuesday after commenting about

The Farm Bill

and rural issues.

Staff photo by

Fritz Busch