Republicans will choose between Schreyer, Finstad in 21B

From the Independent of Marshall

On Tuesday, primary elections will be held throughout the state to allow political parties to choose candidates for office where there are more than one are running, and to allow voters in local elections to narrow their choices in races where there are more than two candidates.

Two candidates are running from the Republican Party for the House Seat in District 21B, Brad Finstad and Cody Schreyer are from New Ulm. Schreyer is a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Finstad, who won the party endorsement at the 21B endorsing convention, is an aide to U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Minn.

The two candidates responded to this questionnaire. Their answers are given here to help voters make a choice on Tuesday.

District 21B includes Brown County; Adrian, Nelson, Riverdale, Madelia and Butterfield townships in Watonwan County, and Three Lakes, Morgan, Willow Lake, Sundown, Brookville, Springdale, North Hero, Lamberton and Charlestown townships in Redwood County, along with the cities included in those townships.

1. What can the Legislature do to help young people enter farming?

FINSTAD: I was raised on a farm and have spent my entire career working on agricultural issues.

I believe the Legislature can help young farmers enter farming by creating new opportunities and market place for our agricultural products.

Minnesota farmers can lead the way in renewable fuel production, and thus the Legislature must be committed and push forward in areas of biodiesel and ethanol.

This can only be accomplished with a strong voice at the capitol supporting agriculture.

Currently, farmers are restricted by many rules and regulations that aren1t necessarily based on sound scientific studies and research.

We need to STOP regulating our farmers off the farm.

SCHREYER: The legislature can help young people enter farming by making sure conditions are good in the rural communities. This will help keep young people in the area. I propose to help our rural economy by improving our roadways, lowering tax rates to keep and attract business to the area, improve education, and by supporting ethanol and soy diesel. If we make conditions favorable for our youth they will stay in the community, which will help young people decide to stay and enter farming.

2. How can legislators ensure that roads, bridges and highways are properly funded?

SCHREYER: The legislature can ensure that roads and bridges are properly funded, by making it our number one priority. We need to make sure the government spends money on the basics first. Roads, Schools, Health Care, Law Enforcement, to insure the state protects the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens before spending money on pet projects. We also have to make sure money that is allocated to our roads stay for our roads. I have made this my number one priority and I will work with everyone to find a solution to get it done.

FINSTAD: By incorporating common sense and a commitment to work hard, we can ensure sure that rural areas are getting a fair shake in the transportation funding.

Tax dollars must be used responsibly and should be prioritized according to those infrastructures in most need.

Rural funding cannot take a backseat to projects such as light rail, which takes away funding for rural Minnesota.

Bonding should be considered as a source of funding because transportation is a long-term capital improvement that people will benefit from years down the road!

The environmental process needs to be streamlined, which would allow for more timely completion of projects and reduction of associated costs.

3. How can the state improve education funding?

FINSTAD: A start would be to eliminate government waste and programs that are taking teachers away from doing what they do best -- teach our students. Government programs such as the Profile of Learning diminish parental and teacher involvement with our students and increase funding. The Profile needs to be ended.

I believe parents and the local community should be trusted with making decisions that ensure education policies reflect community values.

The focus of education should be on the basics - reading, writing, science and arithmetic.

SCHREYER: We can improve education funding by cutting spending that is unnecessary for the state. The state spent over 1 million dollars on a water fountain in the government center in Minneapolis, $400,000 on Hermann the German in New Ulm and there are many more examples all across the state. We need to fund our basics fully first then if there is some extra spend it wisely. Roads, Education, Health Care, and Law Enforcement should be funded first because it is the states job to protect its citizen1s health, safety, and welfare.

4. How can the state balance its budget while avoiding harsh cuts in programs?

SCHREYER: The state can balance a budget without harsh cuts in programs that are necessary by having its legislature work together. The legislature needs more respectable representatives. We need to end the name calling between political parties, we need to stop the objections to bills and amendments based on what party comes up with them and base it on the bill itself. Sense another election year is not coming up and we have some new representatives maybe we can work the small difference out and come up with a balance budget without hurting many programs.

FINSTAD: It is time for our state to become fiscally responsible and conservative during these tough times.

We need to take a good look at the budget and prioritize our spending.

When times are tough in rural Minnesota we relate back to basic economics and make a list of the "must haves" and the "nice to haves".

This list, or process will help guide us to make the right and responsible decisions.

I will use common sense and work to bring people together to get the job done.

5. What can be the state's role in helping cities to pay to upgrade existing wastewater treatment systems or build new systems?

FINSTAD: The state of Minnesota has the responsibility and obligation to ensure safe, clean and reliable drinking water.

The state should look into providing low interest loans and grants to those communities that are in need of upgrading their water systems.

I will work with DTED, MPCA and our communities to make sure that there is a greater commitment, possibly through the bonding process, for rural water systems.

Rural and economic development is essential to our communities.

This all starts with a safe, clean and reliable water system.

SCHREYER: The state can help aging wastewater treatment systems and water systems by making basic needs of communities a priority. I know there are some grants out their that our area has received for this and the state should help by if not funding it, then at least low or no interest loans to help the community improve their wastewater treatment and water systems. Once again I believe we need to help our rural communities improve to help keep and attract businesses and our youth to our area.