Welcome to an election special. Midday broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio in Duluth. And on the Iron Range today. We bring you interviews with the four candidates seeking the Minnesota 8th District congressional seat election coverage on wscn and wirr is supported by the law firm of David stromgren a general civil practice attorney counseling the legal needs of families. I'm Bob Kelleher in the Minnesota Public Radio studios in Duluth in this hour will hear pre-recorded interviews with income a Democrat Jim Oberstar Chisholm Republican Andy Larson of Duluth Reform Party candidate stand Estes a little Falls and libertarian Larry fuel by Sandy. I spoke with each candidate separately and the topics covered vary somewhat among the interviews. Some of the interviews were edited to fit all four within the one hour available will begin with a conversation with Stan Estes running on the Reform Party ticket.You have been as is I've seen hitting the environmental issues strongly. Is that one of your bleeding campaign issues? What what is it that you're trying to do with the environment to preserve or protect? What do what is your goal? It seems like we've we've all heard about the Frog problem out here and nobody seems to be concerned enough about it to take up action and decide that we need to clean up our water and clean up our air and have cleaner food. And of course to take maybe better care of our environment and I've already had somebody that that's decided that possibly the Frog problem is caused by environmental pollution from aircraft overhead just playing so I think we need to at least realize it whether the frogs are in immediate problem to our health or merely a long-range problem that they are a problem. It is a problem and it will affect our Our Lives eventually even if it merely reduces the amount of life on the air. A planet is it you know the chaos on the family. I think it's getting so bad. And I think part of that is probably a matter of the chemicals in our food saver. There's been a lot of research on that and it's been proven if they reduce the sugar and dyes and preservatives in food that children can learn much faster. We're having trouble with the endocrine disruptors now and pcbs and dioxins. Everything is hitting the news then I think we need to get more concerned with it. Doesn't the Reform Party of promote raining in government making government smaller. That's correct. Especially want to reduce packs, of course so that they are there's no wire money pouring in you know, like and I think some of the foreign age of course comes back in the form of Pac money to people who are in the office has already and you're trying to limit the you-know-what have term limits and chairmanship limits. I take it all adds up to that we need to do that. I also think that we need to limit corporations and businesses from donating money until all the taxes have been paid on it. In other words. The only in the only contributions of be from individuals. I was trying to get to though is if you have an environmental agenda and think the federal government should be perhaps doing more to protect and study the environment is that take an increase in government or at least preserving agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency. It would be yes maintaining at least their status quo, but I think the main thing is to ensure that the forthcoming laws adequately protect our environment, you know, and I don't think by changing regulations in the bwca. I believe is merely a matter of getting more. Motorization up there. And as far as I can see motorization is a pollutant, you know, what now that we've proven that of course was a gasoline used on our highways and a switch to get gasoline, of course, but now they have a Benzene and violin and totaling and they have other poisons that I'm so besides the heat. Let's put off from burning these fossil fuel that is also seem to be causing a worldwide problem. I understand on The Boundary Waters issue. You would be in favor of leaving it as-is. That's correct. You know I'll leave it as is rather than change the controls of it and that is because of As far as I am the way, I understand there is federal legislation that says if they allow any type of motorized trails in there that he that it will open it up for recreation and take away their Wilderness designation of it. And I don't really want to see that I'd like to keep it in as a Wilderness Area and I think are you know great grandchildren should be able to see it as far as going in there and changing it to her cutting down trees or something. I mean to me, I think we should leave that alone for at least maybe 50 years before you think about that. Do you think Jim Oberstar has been in office too long? I think that's my personal feeling is of course. Yes. I think he's become has been for many years a professional politician. And I think we need people in ordinary citizens working in government that have ideas of you. No ordinary. I think like a trillion dollars to me. I wouldn't have much idea really what it looks like and they talked about trillions and billions like it's coming out of their wallet. What are the odds the other candidates the Republican candidate for the same office as he wouldn't serve any more than than two terms and I see you're in favor of term limits. Would you make that kind of a vowel or definitely? Definitely I I think two of them to terms is I think probably one term to get the idea what's going on in another term to accomplish the more of the goals that you know that you set out. I believe it would take us definitely weeks at least to get the familiar with you know, the routine and how to handle situations. I haven't seen any any poles that would show how up, the four candidates are running in the 8th District. But if it were purple I would guess the that your numbers would be probably lower than one or two of the candidates. Are you running with the intention of winning this race definitely in the people I talk to I believe that I know there are posters going on out there and I cuz I've heard of 2/3 of the funny part of it is I only asked which of the two candidates do you support they don't ask which of the four candidates do you support? So obviously they're trying to influence the voting just by doing that. And I don't think there's any doubt that people want to change and whether there's enough of mother that 62% or at least 60 at to 80% that don't vote. I mean, maybe they want to change and I'm hoping it'll happen. But I'm sure the gym over Stars campaign is probably the the best bankrolled. Are you finding it hard to run against a well-entrenched incumbent with the with the resources behind him? There's no doubt about that. It's going to take me awhile to you know, I'm going to be in pain for a while as far as financially. Yes, and I think that if I had sufficient funds I would probably gain a lot more support in a lot more. Of course, I could do a lot more advertising and that would help tremendously. Where do you stand on. Some of the moral issues that are raised to other candidates? I know I consider themselves pro-life candidates in and one says that he would be an activist and pro-life though. We've talked about gun control. How do you feel on those two topics? Well, I'll take that pro-life issue first. I believe that life begins at conception. I think the woman I should have, you know the right to a right to abortion if she's if it's because of incest or rape and I I don't think I'd want to be active in that very active in that though because of the fact that I think it's a moral issue and I think we got to start out teaching our children better values in the schools and more Christian ideas. And we also have to start quit knocking other religions. I think so that you know our children don't get the idea that everybody else is is it is wrong. Now as far as the gun control, I believe we should have the right to bear arms. And I think we should teach the children in school that how to how do I treat a gun with respect? I don't even know if we have as many killings if people in children in school, learn the dangers of having a firearm and took safety courses so that they recognize the value of a gun and also the meaning of a gun If you were in Congress, and we're in a position to help reduce the size of government, where would you target those reductions? To reduce the size of government. I believe the reduction should of course come at the top. I take some of them might be right at the legislative salaries and benefits presidential salaries and benefits certainly one. They just increased E coli which is cost of living allowance for the presidential candidates to run. It went from like 21 million to 63 million in 95. I don't think I don't think that was a good move when there's a lot of people out here that are You know, I'm hungry and have trouble with housing. That's a lot of dollars. Would you keep the other military funded as it is now? That I would probably have to research a little more because I know it's fluctuated some as to how many of its downsides has. Do. You know the way I understand from what it was a few years back Anna. I would prefer to keep it relatively a small in number. But yes, in other words. I don't think we should have cost-plus contracts which means that everything they do they get percentage of profit on and we shouldn't have such a thing as cost overruns they bid on it sits there and over there. Decades, I mean that has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars in billions. What are the topics am I am I overlooking? What else are you campaigning on? well that's a there's so many subjects that it's almost impossible to talk about all of me know the healthcare immigration jobs. We haven't discussed job. Social Security I think if they left that in the trust funds that would have probably been A very good thing and rather than putting it into the general account and be kind of like you trying to figure out how to make your house payment. You know, what the same time your figure out. How are you going to buy your groceries? I mean if one of them is only paid yearly it wouldn't that make my sense? I don't think and I think in crime we should try to not build any more presents. I believe we should be tougher with it repeat offenders, but I believe they're sixty 70% of the people in prison that don't need to be there and that we should possibly allow them to come out and live with people who are basically like on welfare and offer them the $10,000 if they would be responsible for this prisoner and carseat set up counseling, you know between the two so that should make sure that they would be compatible and I and I think it would save taxpayers a lot of dollars and it recuperate. Rehabilitate these people so they could come back into society. So you mentioned jobs and I presume you mean the increasing the availability of jobs about doing that. That is a difficult question. But I think it's one of the things that reminds me of his the NAFTA treaty and then when you mention how do you increase jobs? It kind of reminds me of a question. Like, how do you keep the horse in the barn That Got Away for years ago. I think if we could go back and relook at those treaties and I know where the federal government can take a look at them again. I don't know if they can resend them or anything but my understanding we've lost three 400,000 job. Do you know and not too many years just because it was the NAFTA Gap treaties and so forth. And maybe one thing to look at the other thing would be to start up a like a database I think of jobs. Online so that everybody to have access to knowing where jobs are and what they pay. And you know what I what's available. They need time. I need to be a good idea to business success starts at Kevin online job service that correct. Is there any one issue that pushed you to make the leap be deciding to a run for this office? Well, I guess it's it's just basically all the issues together. I think that the politics is just getting I think so far out of hand that the average citizen needs to get back into it. And I think that if I if I get elected I'm a really really ignite some people so that they are going vote and feel interested in government again, I think they've been you might say sold on the river too many times. And I know one thing you know that I talked to you earlier about it. I think it's kind of bad in that Izzy unfair media attention to different candidates. I think if particularly if they have the right to be on the ballot and there's a lot of statements made like they have the right to be heard and yet at the same time the news media seems to always pick the winner before the horse races even started. And I don't think that's fair. I think this should be you know the same amount of time spent to each candidate. Arrested. Thank you very much. Thank you. Stan Estes on the ballot as Stan the Man asked US represents the Reform Party Next. I spoke with libertarian Party candidate Larry fuel. Okay. It's a Lego head looks that's what your plans will be faster self-reliance self responsibility. And one of the main things in my campaign that I'm really looking forward to doing is dysport abolishing the IRS. I support abolishing the IRS and the federal polishing IRS in the federal income tax replacing it with constitutional impulse and excise tax on Imports Terrell, Texas. I will cut federal spending and privatized a large portion of the federal programs. I support Parents Choice in education and focusing law enforcement on violent crimes. I also Sports choice in healthcare and medical savings account and a repeal of mandated benefits of deregulation of alternative medical practices. One of the things that I'd like to tell you is that Government is a bought a constitutional principles not about program. I have a short segment here. I'd like to read the view about the this is taken from Thomas. Jefferson's first inaugural address. And this is what he has to say about government says a wise and Frugal government which shall restrain man from entering one another to leave them. Otherwise free to regulate their own Pursuits of industry and Improvement on shall not take from the mouths of Labor read that it has earned. This is the sum of good government Thomas Jefferson first inaugural address 1801. Would you think that's pretty good? It's it it sounds very appropriate maybe for 1801 not saying that it's not appropriate now, but there are some who would say that I suppose. Yes, yes indeed. Or something that would say that though why I believe in a constitutional government of small Federal limited government and I think that's the problem that we have to get back to 20 people are too dependent upon our federal government if people had their full paychecks, they could help each other out more and it matter fact even help their families a lot more. I think this is what works what we should have one direction. We should be taking. You're speaking pretty much the libertarian party philosophy of less government more of individual rights that we have rights until they're Crossing up. Somebody else's rights. Basically there. There's a lot of fine points that if people would want to pick at it may be hard to argue that the tariffs alone would bring in sufficient Revenue Toronto a federal government. But of course, I presume you're talking about a smaller federal government. Do we have now whether other things that are not but otherwise stop all of federal programs would all be eliminated like Medicare and social security security is is that the we privatize Social Security Converses boring like a hundred fifty billion a year. Cover up their Heist ending and there is no such thing right now as people think there's a social security trust fund. What is nothing there collecting interest. I was going from generation be from their pocket to generation a the elderly. What we have to do is take and get the government out of that completely private I said and what we do is sell off the federal assets and use the proceeds to buy private retirement annuities for senior citizens were dependent upon Social Security the younger generation, they could start saving for themselves in private and what he's like the solar to 401k and that would collect interest. By the time that they would retire they'd have more in her than what Social Security would ever give him right now. A lot of these private private programs. There's a lot to be said that we have to take start taking a look at a matter fact, they're doing this in Chile right now with Social Security and it's working quite well. What would people be required to participate though to to make donations to a to this or or some retirement program will Basie like employers know they meant to have a matching fund of? Stop people on please pay like about 7% then 7.2% something like that, but then employers match that basically that 15% could go directly right in two employees are fun and radians are like a similar to a 401k and it would be a requirement so that they make sure that there be something in there for him. I want a Libertarian government deal with the environment. You asked that because matter fact in one of my brochures. I I do have I mentioned that about the environment but really what I believe that's all you know, we have this super fun. I don't think that the taxpayer should be paying for this why I say is responsible for the damage you do and that takes the profit out of pollution. No make these corporations or who's ever doing the Looting make sure that they're liable for it and they're going to pay for it or else they go to jail. Making a strict liability add is what's going to do it. Not a government agency. That's yo are making taxpayers pay for something that they didn't even do. And that that's the way my solution to its environment. What about the environmental problems where you can't really Trace maybe with an industry around a hundred years ago. This long gone that was left of savitar slick out. How do you go about cleaning up something when there's no no no company to blame. Turn on cabinet still here to blame. Cuz they're starring role in government and in doing that kind of cleanup. deaths today and I probably would be some responsibility through the state level which would be different. It would have to be a safety net there that we have to cover for problems such as that. Companies that would be paying there be some type of tax on that. Otherwise, I'll do anything more than that. I don't think that's how you look like. You said there are spray some companies that have polluted your prior Year's night on my area here. What they've done is play Paisley went around a charged all these companies in overboard on that. They went too far with it, and I asked you a charging a company's too much than breaking them on with too much regulation. How dumb how would you deal with some of the popular moral issues it if we think of State gun control how much how much gun control is appropriate if any in your mind, if I don't think there should be any I'm not your gun control in the Second Amendment and then I deeply believe I'm 100-percent Play I Believe in the Constitution Second Amendment didn't say that you kept on a certain type of rifle. You can own a certain type of gun for citizen has the right to bear arms. Cancel that 100% How about a woman's right to choose an abortion shouldn't even be involved in it at all because the government cannot legislate morality morality comes from the Bible through Jesus Christ. Yeah, I can't make a decision on that. I'm I'm pretty much myself is pro-life but like I say government doesn't have a role of government has caused a lot of federally funded abortions government. You just stay completely out of it. That's my feeling on it. If it's that the federal government in general kept the peace and maintain a military. I would suspect it would have much Rolling In keeping national parks or Wilderness areas. I'm thinking of The Boundary Waters canoe area and voyagers discussions underway wood. Would you limit the federal government's ownership of property like that and in control of properties like that, the only land that the federal government can own it's actually on military bases and that's enough Article 1 Section 8. Actually, I believe in the government closer to home. I wear it should be like either the county or the state that the actual should be watching over there. Someone that's closer to home can understand what's going on in the community knows what's going on worth. What someone in Washington DC does? So basically Federal property like that should be either returned to though the private sector or turned over to a closer public body County or state. What the what would encourage you to run for office? Obviously, it's a it's a long stretch for a Libertarian party always feels a lot of candidates but has not that many successes and that's a pretty tough race against 22 year incumbent what encourages you to run in the 8th District? Why does realize that things have gotten out of hand government has gotten too large then involved in too many too many aspects of individual lives. I feel that the only way that's how we can solve these problems is through the communities. One thing we have to realize this government is not Society government is not our community and government is not her family. I want to give people through choice and they can pick someone else. Willing to stand up for constitutional issues. I don't feel like I'm meant that I'm running against that's been in there for 22 years who says he's for family saw. You take money off a from the paycheck so Families, how can you say you're actually for the helping this family stuff. You don't stand up and say I'll be to see what the government's doing is going to break your legs and then I'm going to come back and we're going off of your crush. I I feel less totally run. So I just basically want to go back to the Constitutional law. I'm at Matson up. Get back to working people are pay checks on people cannot better take care of themselves and their communities that they had your full paycheck and they could send their children to private schools or do homeschooling on being at the Elder whole paychecks off all around it be helping people a lot better. So this election I thought well, I am going to run I want to make a difference and I'm going to tell people that there is somebody else out there that they can vote for it doesn't have to be a lot e Dar La TD expect together a protest boats and and of course you what you would hope that people would identify with your philosophy in but with you, but when you go into a campaign like this do do you tell yourself you have a chance to win do you go into it with the hope of winning the intended wedding? Oh, yes. I'm running I'm running to win. Otherwise, I wouldn't be running at all. I'm running for the intent to win. I've been through about 20 parades this summer. I've talked to a lot of people throughout the district in the County's and there is quite a large number of people that are the feel the same way. I do are there just disadvantages of the way governments involved in her life. Whether I'm going to win or not, that's busy up to the people what they decide what how your boarding is going to be but I know that we're gaining more and more people in our party that's are feeling the same way. I am. Any other thoughts are basically I don't have any other thoughts. I'm not a Mudslinger and I don't believe in cutting down. My opponent was going mudding and then you're not going to get over anybody. That way. I I just tell the people what the problems are and we've got the solution. There is another alternative an SPC what I have to say. Okay, Larry fuel. Thank you. Thank you very much. You're listening to a midday election special with the candidates on the ballot for Minnesota's 8th congressional district seat. Today's midday special. Another election coverage on wscn wirr is supported by the law firm of David stromgren a general civil practice attorney counseling the needs of families next an interview with incumbent Democrat Jim Oberstar Congressman. / * if you're awarded two more years in office, what are the what are the some of the key issues the top topics that you'll be looking at over the next two years on two levels the national level in our 8th congressional district level on a national level. I think the single most daunting challenge continues to be the deficit. We have made enormous progress in the three years of the Clinton presidency since enactment of the deficit-reduction legislation in the summer of 1993 in getting the deficit under control. It is now nearly 60% lower than when President Clinton took office in January 1993 was 290 billion dollar deficit then the latest numbers for the beginning of this quarter are 109 billion dollars. That is an enormous. Cut in the deficit and it was done through a combination of cuts in federal government programs eliminating 104 Federal programs altogether, I cutting all together 400 programs below their previous appropriation level and continuing over three years of successive deficit reduction initiatives to restrain government spending. At the same time cutting the deficit has meant keeping interest rates under control keeping unemployment low and the lower interest rates have also helped with deficit-reduction because as the interest rates have continued to decline or Hold Steady as they have for the past 6 months that means government pays far far less in interest on deficit held by the public and that however, it may prove illusory. Now that is that deficit-reduction mate may prove to be as such a good thing that that people will say now is the time to begin expanding our spending on different to initiatives and on a tax cut. One of the big mistakes in this Congress has been for the Republican leadership to increase military spending a total of 20 billion dollars in just two years nine nine billion dollars in last fiscal year 11 billion dollars for this fiscal year over the president's budget recommendations. That is an excessive increase when we have been cutting a virtually every other federal government program. So I think the challenge for the next two years on the national level of means keeping the deficit down not increasing. Government spending particularly in the military area which means a commitment to long-term cost increases once you begin a new weapon system you're paying for it for 5 to 10 years. And that I think will continue to give encouragement to that that is deficit-reduction and a continuing downward spiral toward deficit approaching 0 and deficit number that is an increasingly smaller percentage of gross domestic product at the current deficit has less than 2% of our total GDP and that is a very good number and gives encouragement for the private money market to invest in America's future. So that is my objective to continue to resist the temptation to have tax cuts. Most of it frankly proposed by the Republican Congress were for the upper 2% of the income bracket. To continue holding the line on government spending continue to reduce spending hold military spending and check and get our deficit under control. That is the most important contribution. We can make nationally for this country. There are other concerns of course revisiting Medicare and Reviewing the passage of the welfare reform legislation to see how well that is working and how weather in fact jobs are being created for people to move them from welfare-to-work and nationally also and Theory authorization of the nation's Transportation programs under the Intermodal Transportation efficiency act or iced tea, which moved us in 1991 into the post Interstate Europe that will be a major undertaking of the committee on Transportation infrastructure on which I serve and along with the transportation legislation are committees going to have to address the reauthorization of the federal Clean Water Act of 1972. And again, depending on who was in the majority in the Congress that may be a good thing or maybe and everything for the American public as it turned out to be In this last Congressman Republicans tried to roll back significant that protective measures for our Clean Water Act. One of your opponents has been calling for income tax for making tax rates of flattered or taking out the other marriage penalty. There have been some adjustments made income taxes the past couple of years. What do you think of tax reform is a time into a make income taxes simpler? I've been through so many tax reform initiatives in 22 years at I start out distrusting any tax reform initiative right from the very very beginning. I take see your Harry Truman Viewpoint show me prove to me that your idea is a good one and worthy of initiative what the Republicans in this Congress called tax reform turned out to be tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. That's not fair and that's not right. There are to be sure many aspects of the tax code that unfairly or at least seemingly unfairly benefit one or another group in our society. There are initiatives to stimulate one or another type of business activity preferences that benefit of various social purposes such as just recently This Congress one that I'm very much in favor of tax credit for adoption of hard-to-place children. It's initiative. I worked on for many many years has this Congress passed a $5,000 tax credit. I initially proposed a 1500 $500 tax credit than $1,500 deduction. 15 years ago when I first initiated this idea. This car is gone far beyond that original proposal. But again, it's an example of using the tax code to serve a social purpose all of those. Existing good and an invaluable and an important initiatives in the tax code need to be re-examined and two in the question asked what will we be better off with a tax code for tax structure that is as you put it flattered, but we thought that was happening in 1986 in the tax reform bill that the Reagan Administration started out with and which we consider be modified in the Congress it wound up with with only three tax brackets that in place of the numerous tax brackets that previously existed and we we hoped to avoid bracket creep that is just by inflation moving from one tax bracket into another and suddenly without a real increase in earnings. You're paying more in taxes because you're in a higher percentage bracket. Well, we thought with the three Tax bracket sweet avoid bracket creep and I think to a great degree have done but the other side of the equation of eliminating the tax preferences in the code for upper-income Americans season 4 of businesses. So that business judgments would be made on the basis of what is in the best economic interest of the company rather than how can I company's investment investment to avoid the greatest amount of taxes. We didn't achieve that goal very well and Restructuring the tax code is is a very tempting idea except that in the end with all the pressures and all the forces and all the lobbying work Sensations. It's usually fall short of the stated goal of achieving more fairness in our tax structure Canada and your and European economic Community have a concept that I think we should not be afraid to discuss and that is of a value-added tax. I'm not advocating it but I'm saying it that it is is it that there is an aspect of the value-added tax as practiced in the European community and in Canada that we are to consider and and that is that all the cost of government is included in the value-added tax, but when a product is exported the tax is rebated at the at the border so that the goods exported are more competitive in international Commerce. We are not exporting our cost of government. We are swallowing it at home. We're selling Goods in the international market place that make our Industries more productive more competitive and that is one of the very strong reasons that Japanese good cell for sell. So competitively in the US market place because the Japanese at the border swallow the cost of government. Export the product and claim a larger market share that is a an idea that I think we ought to give serious consideration to and at 2 that we have to study in and create some computer models to see how it how it would work and who would benefit and and to who might be hurt you've been in Congress for 22 years now 22 years and some say that's long enough some say that that is an issue in the campaign that it's hard to stay in touch with your constituents. When you have a Residence Inn, Washington DC and must spend so much time there is that a legitimate campaign issue. No other argument to make my home is just him I live there. That's when I when I can find the time to be there, but my district is Big goes from International Falls to Elk River. Two guys from the Grand Portage to Taylors Falls from Duluth over to Little Falls in the outskirts of St. Cloud. I often Charter aircraft to cover my district to get from meetings and in such desperate to price of the district is sa Eveleth in and Elk River in a matter of a day or two know I spend a great deal of time traveling throughout the 8th congressional district average over a hundred twenty days a year when you consider the Congress is in session except for election year nearly twelve months a year. That means a great deal of traveling to to stay in touch with people and the idea of term limits was very Very carefully crafted into our constitution by the founding fathers who have gave house members a 2-year limit every two years you come up for re-evaluation by the people and I found that the people the 8th congressional district are very Discerning. They know when they're well served and I know when they're not and we have many many examples of Statewide office holders who had a resounding vote of confidence in one election in the people of this district and fell short in the next election were turned out of office because they didn't win the confidence and Trust in the vote of the people of the 8th congressional district. So I am I filled it to my most important responsibility to the people is to represent them faithfully and and honestly, And to do that I have to travel throughout the district and and listen to people and sit down with them and and understand their concerns and respond to those concerns in the Congress has been made out of the political differences between yourself and senator Paul wellstone Over The Boundary Waters canoe area Wilderness in voyageurs National Park. What is your relationship with Senator wellstone when I get along very well, we had a difference about the Boundary Waters canoe area, but that's that's one of one item out of hundreds on which we do agree and which we work together issues affecting working men and women Children and Families quality of life Economic Development. Paul wellstone has had a solid Progressive voting record for the people of Minnesota and for the people of the 8th District and any other thoughts. Well, I'm very grateful to the people they district for the confidence. They've given me over the years and and for the open this with which I've been received it throughout the 8th District. I enjoyed my work I enjoy serving people and I'm in a position in the Congress if we win back the house the swallows. I think we have a very good chance to do. I'll be the chairman of the committee on transportation and infrastructure with jurisdiction over Aviation and Federal Highway program the interstate highway program Transit and rail Transportation, the Coast Guard Maritime issues the Clean Water Act the economic development program of the federal Economic Development Administration. All of those programs will have legislative action in the coming Congress, and I want to I much prefer to be in the leadership position as chairman of the committee then as the ranking Democrats trying to bring balance to Republican initiatives. So I look forward to this the next two years has years of building building on our success with Northwest Airlines airport development throughout the 8th District Highway and Intermodal Transportation initiatives with the Saint Lawrence Seaway initiative that we're going to be undertaking and to find a new by national entity to operate the Saint Lawrence Seaway to and too frankly with the Boundary Waters and the voyageurs National Park to bring resolution to those two issues along the lines of the legislation that I had to do in 104th Congress. I look forward to it too. Very busy ears Congressman Jim Oberstar. Thank you for joining us today. Had our final interview today is with the Republican Challenger for Minnesota's 8th. Congressional district. Andy Larson of Duluth. Why do you want to wait when we start talking about some of the key issues in your mind? What are the issues that that you want to bring forward in this campaign that that you think are important for most important issue for us? Well now I'm debating with myself here for a moment. But certainly the budget getting the budget balanced the tax issue all of which relate to the size of government and the need for raining in the federal government a little bit. It has its impact on the way across Society, of course. For example, we talked about High Cost of medical care about 48% of the cost of Medical Care is taxes. So the government And itself is making the necessary for more taxes to pay more expenses. So forth in its a mushrooming or snowballing. Maybe it's a better term we need to rain in that federal government and go get things back to the people and I think there's a wider Divergence ideology as far as governments concerned this time than it has been in my lifetime in politics, which gets to be 48 years now, but we've got the ultra-liberal people going with the president. And the bureaucracy in Washington generally and then all the rest of us are back home. So this last time around we saw it changed and that for the first time in forty years of the Republican Party had control of Congress both houses, and I think some progress is being made to get things back to the people. And that's where I would like to participate get involved in the work with this current Republican Congress. I'm not interested in serving a long time. In fact, I believe in term limits, but if I can go out there for a time or two and then some of my experience and knowledge that I've gained over the years to solving some of these problems. That's what I want to do. Are you saying you you wouldn't serve more than two terms two terms as what I'm looking at. I would be $7 and that's a good time too. Go have fun instead of working hard at the contrast to determine limits is certainly a represented by Jim Oberstar who's been in Washington for 22 years. You think that's a that's a bad thing. You're it's an issue in this campaign without necessarily being my issue. It's the motors issue. I hear it as I go around the district. They're saying he's been there long enough. We're glad to see somebody that's seriously giving him a run for his money and I wish I could be more serious. But the people that write the checks for campaigns haven't figured that out yet in our current system of representative in Congress or the senate for a longer time is able to get more influence more power a better position on committees. What is it that makes it too long when when does a at what point does as a person no longer serve the usefulness there? Well with term limits, of course, you would not have that advantage of being there a long time and I prefer star isn't in his 90s, but we do have people out there in their 90's that are still going to run for another term. I believe there's at least one person who will be a hundred before his current term is done and leave you going to run for re-election. So there is a place for the term limits and the idea that going to lose these people is not a valid ID and because there are other people that can come along and fill their space and maybe I'm better because they will have the hometown perspective rather than the Washington perspective a lot of the problem with government today. Is it they got so used to Washington and Washington Jargon, and so far that they really lose touch on the issues with the People Back Home. You talked about them talked about reducing the budget or the budget deficit which I'm sure most people in it some level in agreement with how to go about it and they talk about taxes. What what kind of tax issues are are you talking about? You are you referring to tax reform income tax reform? I would like to see some tax reform to the point of looking seriously at the flat tax proposal to big army is pushing there's some other proposals that would replace the Internal Revenue Service As We Knew It Archer for example has talked in terms of a consumption tax. I don't like the idea of a consumption tax or a national sales tax because I see on the state and local level is too painless a way to pay taxes and the people aren't going to notice how much they're paying and that's going to App for continuation of bigger government and I think that's the wrong way to go. Someone said recently and I don't recall who that if we keep the current Trend in federal spending. We now are paying as the average individual family pay more for taxes than they do for food clothing and shelter combined. It's well over fifty percent that the average family is paying or if there's to Breadwinners in the family. One of them is paying the taxes the other ones supporting the family to look at like that and recently someone that said that if we continue this trend for more years of the present Trend and we will see 80% tax. Gets to be the point where the Scandinavian countries got before they hand to start trying to get out of some of the federal programs that they had and get back to something more realistic You talked about reducing the size of government and that would involve them cutting something. Something would have to go I where would you start? First of all the cutting should be done in administration and not in the service that the government is performing in other words some rather than paying 80% Administration in having 20% Get back to the people still get the same amount back to the people but cut out some of those layers of administration that cost the taxpayers and where to get the money to Ashton and back again in some cases. Maybe the money out of stay home and then to our state and local taxes take care of problems involving himself in I think it can be done. That's the direction an area that I would look at one of the ideas that comes to mind his back. And by the time I was studying political science and maybe the Harry Truman there are shortly thereafter that time budgets were voted upon on two levels. You had one appropriation for the mission of the department and another for the administration of the department. Now, it's 1-1 appropriation for an apartment and decides on how much Administration are going to have in our little go to the people and that's one of the areas to look at her cuts. Are there any any certain branches departments that you would Target for elimination? I've looked at the education department as one possibility. There are a few services and education department has been involved in it might be something to look at saving. Generally speaking. However, I think most of it comes out education department would be better if it originated on the more local level where people have some input either say level or maybe even in some instances the local school board level. Each of these areas. It's hard to make a broad general statement, but you're going to take the department of Parts us pick up say what do we need to keep if anything and and if nothing get rid of the whole thing of if there's something worthwhile keep that How dumb your your personal your moral beliefs affect your your Washington terms? You're pro-life bumper. Luxurious wood. Would you be pro-life activist? I probably would they have been locally in support of Relay for Life activity or defending her. So who have been arrested after you a local abortion clinic and so forth. So I think I would tend to keep that same interest in the subject so to speak. Hello. I am running against a fellow who's also claims to be pro-life, but he has on some occasions voted for abortion then. District of Columbia, for example, I believe also in the military hospitals, so he has not been 100% pro-life fees. Talk to good story back home, but there are some boats that the we have uncovered that indicate. He's not as strong as I would want to be. How do you feel about gun control measures the federal government some attempts to restrict people's rights to own some classes of weapons language from early if we're talking about a bazooka that blows up tank. So we probably don't need those in the individual homes, but the one you're defining an assault rifle as including as one newscaster did recently a 22 rifle that's not an assault rifle and they're in the other is a 30-30 deer rifle for my mate made another major Mauser, which I used to shoot a deer. there's a difference between shooting during shooting Adam and I fall in the latter category you See you been involved in the area Republican Party politics for a long time. And and this is your first run for Congress. Are you running with a hope or expectation of of winning this race? Yes. I am starting too late. Then sometimes as I've always advised other people started early, but the decision was made the about 4 days before the convention that yes, I got to do it and I have some difficulty getting people to take me seriously enough to write me the check. So I need to carry on the battle, but it all week and feel Goliath was falling by rock that David through and I guess I'm still looking for that smooth Rock. I think it can be done. There's a lot of people out there that are not happy with the current Congressman for a number of reasons starting with he's been there too long. It really doesn't live here. He has become arrogant. He's some This latter next thing these are things I hear from people out there. Basically, though, I I've known Jim since he work for blatnik and that he's a nice guy just different Philosophy for Mike. He's he's deliberately suspender and I'm the conservatives like the rain in government Andy Larson. Thank you.