Al Franken's Blog, page 41

DEBATE: McFadden Plays Politics With ISIL And Terrorist Recruitment

Investment banker Mike McFadden continues to play election year politics with ISIL’s activities abroad and here at home. Sen. Franken has been on top of terrorist recruitment in Minnesota since taking office. Any accusations to the contrary are patently false and an unscrupulous attempt to deceive Minnesotans. The Department of Justice (DOJ) just announced a new program to combat terror recruitment after Sen. Franken pressed them for more resources.

FRANKEN HAS REPEATEDLY PRESSED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO ENSURE COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS WERE EFFECTIVE AND THAT THERE WAS REAL COOPERATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MINNESOTA’S SOMALI COMMUNITY

September 2009: Franken Thanked FBI Director For Briefings On Terror Recruitment In Minnesota, Inquired How The Bureau Was Doing In Recruiting Agents Who Have Cultural And Language Backgrounds To Improve Those Investigations. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 9/16/09]

March 2011: Franken Questioned Homeland Security Secretary On Whether “There Had Been Real Cooperation From That Community In Minnesota, Including Imams And The Mosques.” [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/9/11]

March 2011: Franken Said He Had Spoken To The Justice Department About Ensuring There Was Cooperation From Minnesota’s Somali Community. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/9/11]

March 2011: Franken Pressed Homeland Security Secretary On Whether She Was Working “To Have A Somali Face On Some Of Our Counterterrorism Efforts In The Somali Community In Minnesota.” [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/9/11]

March 2011: Franken Confirmed With The FBI Director That Minnesota’s Somali Community Was Cooperating Well With Law Enforcement To Prevent Terror Recruitment. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/30/11]

March 2011: Franken Questioned FBI Director About Whether His Agency Was Recruiting Agents From Within Key Communities For Counterterorism Work. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/30/11]

April 2012: Citing The Positive Relationship Between Minnesota’s Somali Community And Law Enforcement When It Comes To Stopping Al-Shabaab Recruiting In The Twin Cities, Franken Said Racial Profiling Undermines The Relationship Between Communities And Law Enforcement. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 4/17/12]

FRANKEN AND HIS STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FBI AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES ON THE ISSUE OF POTENTIAL ISIS RECRUITMENT IN MINNESOTA AND PRESSING THEM ON HOW THEY’RE USING THE TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO PREVENT THAT RECRUITMENT

August 2014: Franken Told KMSP His Office Had Already Been In Contact With The FBI About The Possibility Of Minnesotans Having Perished Fighting Alongside ISIS. During an August 2014 interview with KMSP, Franken, asked about news that up to two Minnesotans had died fighting with ISIS, said his office had been talking to the FBI about the news. He called it “disturbing” that Americans were going to fight with ISIS. [KMSP, 8/30/14]

September 2014: “Franken Urges Department Of Justice To Focus On ISIL Recruiting At Home.” On September 2, Franken wrote Attorney General Holder, expressing his concern about the President’s lack of a strategy regarding ISIS in Syria and told Holder, “We must act diligently and responsibly to prevent Americans from taking up arms with ISIL, or from reentering our country if they do.” [Star Tribune, 9/2/14]

Star Tribune: Franken Called On The Attorney General “To Focus DOJ Efforts Where Terrorism Recruitment May Be Happening.” In his letter to Attorney General Holder Franken said, “The Justice Department, in coordination with other relevant agencies, should use its existing legal authorities to prevent Americans who intend to do serious damage to U.S. national security interests from reaching Syria or returning to the U.S. once they have done so.’” [Star Tribune, 9/2/14]

September 2014: “Franken Said U.S. Officials Need To Closely Track Minnesotans With Ties To ISIS And Arrest Them If They Are Suspected Of Supporting Terrorism.” Franken told Minnesota Public Radio that “any federal authorities should closely scrutinize any who return. The Democratic senator said he hopes to meet soon with FBI officials in Saint Paul for an update on their assessment of the Minnesota-ISIS connection.” Franken added he was hoping to meet with FBI agents in St. Paul to discuss the issue further. “Franken said U.S. officials need to closely track Minnesotans with ties to ISIS and arrest them if they are suspected of supporting terrorism.” [Minnesota Pubic Radio, 9/2/14]

September 2014: Franken Met With FBI In St. Paul To Discuss Potential ISIS Recruitment In Minnesota, Said He Had Been Working On This Issue Since He First Came To The Senate. During a September 8 interview with MSNBC, Franken said he had met with the FBI’s Special Agent In Charge in Minnesota to discuss potential ISIS recruitment in Minnesota. He said that the Somali community in Minnesota was cooperating with law enforcement, saying “Believe me, no one is more upset about this than they are, than that community.” Franken added that he had met with FBI shortly after arriving in the Senate to discuss potential recruitment by Al-Shabaab in Minnesota as well. [MSNBC, 9/8/14]

September 2014: After Franken Called For More Resources, Justice Department Announced A New Program To Combat Terror Recruitment. According to the Star Tribune, “The Twin Cities were one of three muncipalities in the country that will participate in a pilot program to boost outreach in the Islamic community in effort to combat recruitment of naturalized Americans by the terrorist group ISIL, Department of Justice officials said Wednesday. The pilot project will ‘bring together important Minnesota law enforcement, religious, and community leaders to expand outreach to Minnesotans,’ according to Sen. Al Franken’s office, which has urged the Obama administration to deliver additional resources to Minnesota.” [Star Tribune, 9/17/14]

Bottom Line: Investment banker Mike McFadden is playing election year politics with a very serious issue.

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DEBATE: McFadden Would Eliminate The Federal Minimum Wage

Investment banker Mike McFadden has told Minnesotans time and again that he would put profits over people and not only oppose raising the federal minimum, but that he would do away with it altogether.

McFadden told MinnPost in May that he does not support an increase in the federal minimum wage and has said repeatedly that if it were up to him he would eliminate it, saying “there shouldn’t be a single federal wage” and that it “doesn’t make sense.”

FACT: MIKE MCFADDEN NOT ONLY OPPOSES RAISING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE, HE  DOESN’T THINK WE SHOULD EVEN HAVE ONE

McFadden Opposed Raising The Federal Minimum Wage, Said It Would “Destroy Jobs.” In May 2014, MinnPost asked McFadden, “So you don’t support a federal increase?” He responded, “Yeah that would destroy jobs. I think there’s a better way to do it. I’m a big fan of the Earned Income Tax Credit.” [MinnPost, 5/12/14]

April 2014: McFadden “Said There Shouldn’t Be A Single Federal Wage In Place For Every State.” According to the Pioneer Press. “Minimum wage: [McFadden] Called it ‘a very important safeguard.’ Said there shouldn’t be a single federal wage in place for every state, but took no position on the bill moving through the Minnesota Legislature that would raise it to $9.50 and then link it to inflation. ‘That’s a state issue.’” [St. Paul Pioneer Press, 4/10/14]

April 2014: McFadden Said, “The Idea That You Have One Wage That Is Applied Across The Whole Country Doesn’t Make Sense To Me.” In an April 2014 interview with WCCO Radio, McFadden was asked if he supported raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. McFadden responded, “Chad, it’s a great question. And I will support anything that produces jobs and generates jobs and the minimum wage has been an important safe guard. I happen to believe uh it’s much, it, it, it, makes much more common sense to me that it’s something that’s decided locally as opposed to at the federal level. Uh, the idea that you have one wage that is applied across the whole country doesn’t make sense to me.” [WCCO Radio, 4/16/14]

May 2014: McFadden Said, “It Concerns Me That The Government Dictates A Wage Across The Whole Country.” In a May 2014 interview with MinnPost, McFadden was asked if he supported an increase in the federal minimum wage. He replied, “I support anything that increases wage and increases jobs. My concern is two-fold: One is federal versus state. It concerns me that the government dictates a wage across the whole country. As we all know, the factors that we face in Minnesota are dramatically different than New York or California or Alabama.” [MinnPost, 5/12/14]

Bottom Line: Eliminating a critical safeguard like the federal minimum wage just shows how out of touch Mike McFadden is with the struggles of middle-class families.

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The post DEBATE: McFadden Would Eliminate The Federal Minimum Wage appeared first on U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website.

DEBATE: McFadden Would Protect Billionaires Over Minnesota Students, Families

Investment banker Mike McFadden thinks Congress should ignore the millions of Americans struggling with student loan debt and would protect millionaires and billionaires over giving half a million Minnesotans the ability to refinance their high-interest student loans.

FACT: MIKE MCFADDEN OPPOSES PLAN THAT FULLY PAYS FOR ALLOWING GRADUATES TO REFINANCE STUDENT LOANS BECAUSE IT RAISES TAXES ON MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES

McFadden Spokesman Said He “Supports Allowing Students To Refinance” Student Loans, But Program Should Be Paid For With Budget Cuts Elsewhere. “Looking back, I’m not sure whether on my first round with McFadden he was aware that this was a bill that would actually reduce the deficit but that he objected to the means by which it would do it, or whether he was unaware and didn’t want to commit to the cost of the bill until he heard about how it would be financed. After I understood what was in the bill, I followed up through spokester Erickson and got this response: ‘Mike supports allowing students to refinance, but instead of raising taxes, Mike thinks the government should cut spending elsewhere to pay for it. If Sen. Franken were serious about helping students refinance their loans, he should reach across the aisle and try to build consensus with Republicans, not play politics by tying the bill to a massive tax increase.’” [MinnPost, 7/10/14]

FACT: MIKE MCFADDEN CARES SO MUCH ABOUT THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS HE … ATTACKED AL FRANKEN FOR FOCUSING ON IT

McFadden Criticized Franken And The Senate “For Focusing On Student Loan Refinancing.” “Citing an Associated Press report saying that an al-Qaida affiliate in Syria is trying to recruit American ISIS fighters to launch terror attacks on U.S.-bound flights, U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden (R-MN) slammed Senate leaders for focusing on student loan refinancing and campaign finance reform instead of passing legislation taking passports away from Americans fighting with terror groups abroad.” [McFadden Press Release, 9/14/14]

Bottom Line: The fact that investment banker Mike McFadden would protect millionaires and billionaires and dismiss the importance of giving half a million Minnesotans student loan relief just shows he is more interested in playing politics than actually solving problems.

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DEBATE: McFadden’s Health Plan Would Create A Race To The Bottom

Investment banker Mike McFadden’s plan to let insurance companies sell plans across state lines would create a race to bottom and hurt Minnesotans.

FACT: SELLING INSURANCE PLANS ACROSS STATE LINES WOULD CREATE A RACE TO THE BOTTOM THAT WOULD INCREASE COSTS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED GOOD COVERAGE THE MOST

“Selling Insurance Across State Lines: A Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Health-Care Idea.” In February 2010, the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein wrote that legislation allowing health insurance to be sold across state lines “would not change the number of insured Americans or save much money, but it would make insurance more expensive for the sick and cheaper for the healthy, and lead to more healthy people with insurance and fewer sick people with insurance. It’s a great proposal if you don’t ever plan to be sick, and if you don’t mind finding out that your insurer doesn’t cover your illness.” [Washington Post, 2/17/10]

CBO Said Legislation Allowing Insurance To Be Sold Across State Lines Would Not Mean More People With Insurance And Would Increase Costs For The Sick. “As it happens, the Congressional Budget Office looked at a bill along these lines back in 2005. They found that the legislation wouldn’t change the number of the uninsured and would save the federal government about $12 billion between 2007 and 2015. That is to say, it would do very little in the aggregate. But those top-line numbers hid a more depressing story. The legislation ‘would reduce the price of individual health insurance coverage for people expected to have relatively low health care costs, while increasing the price of coverage for those expected to have relatively high health care costs,’ CBO said.” [Washington Post, 2/17/10]

Allowing Insurance Companies To Sell Across State Lines “Means We Will Have A Single National Insurance Standard.” “Conservatives want the opposite: They want insurers to be able to cluster in one state, follow that state’s regulations and sell the product to everyone in the country. In practice, that means we will have a single national insurance standard. But that standard will be decided by South Dakota. Or, if South Dakota doesn’t give the insurers the freedom they want, it’ll be decided by Wyoming. Or whoever. This is exactly what happened in the credit card industry, which is regulated in accordance with conservative wishes.” [Washington Post, 2/17/10]

Bottom Line: Investment banker Mike McFadden’s plan would undercut Minnesota’s strong consumer protections and create a race to the bottom in terms of quality health care.

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DEBATE: Sen. Franken Supports Mining

Investment banker Mike McFadden’s claim that Sen. Franken does not support mining is false. Senator Franken supports mining. He’s fought to protect mining jobs by fighting illegal dumping and ensuring that we use more American made steel.

Sen. Franken believes the Polymet project will create jobs and that it will be done in an environmentally responsible way. Even PolyMet officials confirmed that Sen. Franken and other officials “have been supportive” of the project.

PolyMet Officials Confirmed That Franken And Other Officials “Have Been Supportive” Of The Project. According to MPR, “Brad Moore, the company’s executive vice president for environmental and government relations, said PolyMet will not get involved in political battles such as Minnesota’s Senate race. But he said since the mine project was first proposed, Republican and Democratic elected officials on the state and federal levels have been supportive.” [Minnesota Public Radio, 8/22/14]

PolyMet Officials Confirmed That The Approval Process Has Made The Project Safer And Better, Said Regulators Have Been Tough, But Fair. According to MPR, “’It is been a very long process. It typically is in America,’ Moore said. ‘But in going through that process, the project has improved. The environmental compliance or environmental impacts are lessened and, as a result, we’re going to be sure to meet all state and federal requirements in order to actually operate the mine’ … ‘We have been pleased with the level of coordination between the agencies,’ Moore said. ‘They’re appropriately tough on us, but they’ve also been fair.’” [Minnesota Public Radio, 8/22/14]

October 2013: Franken Said He Was Happy PolyMet Was Working With Stakeholders To Overcome Environmental Objections To Its Proposed Cooper-Nickel Mining Project. “I’ve met with PolyMet officials on several occasions. And as they work toward a new plan to mitigate the environmental impact of the proposed mine, I am optimistic that the company will be able to allay these concerns, allowing the project to move forward – and delivering on the promise of new jobs and a stronger Iron Range economy. To that end, it’s encouraging to see PolyMet working closely with stakeholders like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, and area tribal communities as they prepare their revised plan.” [Mesabi Daily News, MINE II, Franken Op/Ed, 10/30/13]

March 2014: Franken “Expressed Confidence In The State’s Ability To Allow The [PolyMet] Project To Go Forward While Also Ensuring All State And Federal Environmental Laws Are Followed.” According to MPR, “At least three DFL members of Congress from Minnesota have weighed in on the environmental study for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota … ‘In the same way that we have enabled the economy to grow while protecting the environment in the past, I believe we can and will continue to strike this balance for future mining projects,’ wrote Franken, who is seeking re-election this year. ‘As the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement is finalized, I therefore urge you to ensure it is done in a way that is consistent with state and federal environmental laws, and in a manner where taxpayers are protected from future environmental remediation costs.’” [Minnesota Public Radio, 3/18/14]

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DEBATE: McFadden Supports Chinese Steel Over Minnesota Jobs

If the Keystone XL pipeline were built, investment banker Mike McFadden would prefer to bolster big corporations’ profits by letting the entire pipeline be built out of Chinese steel — not American-made steel — if it were cheaper. McFadden’s position would undercut an American industry that supports thousands of jobs in Minnesota.

FACT: MIKE MCFADDEN WOULD BE HAPPY TO BUILD THE KEYSTONE PIPELIE WITH CHINESE STEEL ALL IN THE NAME OF BEING “COST COMPETTIVE”

McFadden Said He’d Support Using Chinese Steel To Construct Keystone “If It Is Not Being Subsidized By The Chinese Government.” “McFadden had just come off stage with Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken and other Senate candidates. Franken fielded a few reporters’ questions, including a follow-up on McFadden’s comment in the forum that the incumbent voted against the Keystone XL and other proposed oil pipelines. Franken explained that he supports the Keystone being built from American-made steel, which would help the Iron Range’s taconite mines. He also said he wants the pipeline to provide oil to Americans, not for overseas sale, which could happen. Moments later, a question put to McFadden was: If the cheapest steel comes from China, is that OK? ‘I would love to see us use U.S. products when we can,’ McFadden said. ‘But it must be cost competitive. I am a supporter of free and fair trade. So, Forum News Service pressed, would Chinese steel be OK? ‘Yes,’ McFadden replied, ‘If it is not being subsidized by the Chinese government.’” [Bemidji Pioneer, 8/9/14]

McFadden Said He’d Support Building Keystone With Chinese Steel Because “I’m A Big Believer In Free And Fair Trade.” “The star was Mike McFadden, the GOP candidate looking to snag Al Franken’s U.S. Senate seat in November. In the forum, he was aggressive, confronting Franken about not approving the Keystone XL pipeline. But it was after the debate where he hit a rough patch, faced with the question of whether he would be okay if the pipeline was built with cheaper Chinese steel instead of material from the U.S. ‘I’d love to see it built with U.S. steel, but I’m a big believer in free and fair trade, and I want us to do it in the most efficient way possible,’ McFadden said. ‘What I’d love to see is for us to use American products where we can, but we’ve got to be cost-competitive.’” [City Pages, 8/11/14]

Bill Hanna States McFadden’s Chinese Steel Comments Reflect His Personal Beliefs.  In a column in the Mesabi Daily News, Bill Hanna wrote, “And for McFadden, his comment at Farmfest likely emanates from his beliefs. However, that free marketplace thinking just doesn’t seem to have any understanding of history of the Iron Range.  It was our ore mined by hard-working Iron Rangers that forged the nation’s steel that won two world wars. Those armaments that supplied the war effort in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters — from tanks to planes — weren’t just plucked off a shelf labeled “War Goods.” They had to be produced with American sweat — and that production began in the mines of the Iron Range.” [Mesabi Daily News, 8/15/14]

Bottom Line: Mike McFadden’s plan to use Chinese steel to boost the profits of big companies and put the livelihoods of hardworking Minnesotans at risk is wrong.

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#MNVotesEarly: Bailee

Sally King, Digital Intern

As a college student, Bailee knew that her school workload would be heavier by the time November came around. So the chance to do her research on the election now and vote early was a no-brainer.

“I didn’t want to take my chances — November gets pretty busy with end-of-semester crunch time and preparation for the holidays….I just wanted to get it done ahead of time.”

It was Al’s work on the issues she cares about — like agriculture and education — that led her to cast her ballot for Team Franken.

“Al has worked hard on agricultural issues. I believe that farming is the backbone to our state’s economy, and it’s important that we support future farmers. But most of all, I am passionate about his stance on education. As a student who struggles with traditional standardized testing, I appreciate that Al actually gets that standardized tests alone aren’t a good measure of a student’s — and their teacher’s — abilities.”

Voting in Minnesota has never been easier, and there’s no better time than the present. So join Bailee and make a pledge to vote early in-person or by mail this year.

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FACT CHECK: Mike McFadden Twists Washington Numbers For Another Misleading Ad

For Immediate Release:
September 29, 2014











FACT CHECK: McFadden Twists Washington Numbers For Another Misleading Ad











Sen. Franken has a record of working across party lines to deliver results

Today, the Franken campaign released the following statement in response to investment banker Mike McFadden’s latest attack ad.

“The real choice Minnesotans face this election is who will work hard and stand up for them in the Senate. Sen. Franken has a strong record of working across party lines to deliver concrete results, and has repeatedly stood up to the President and his administration when his policies, proposals or regulations don’t make sense for Minnesotans,” said Franken campaign spokesperson Alexandra Fetissoff.

“Investment banker Mike McFadden has made it clear that he’ll put the interests of big corporations and powerful special interests ahead of middle class families. McFadden has repeatedly defended tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas and he would eliminate the federal minimum wage, raise the Medicare retirement age and consider privatizing Social Security.”

The so-called “study” McFadden uses to call Sen. Franken “the most partisan Senator in all of Congress” also claims that Sen. Ted Cruz is more bipartisan than half the U.S. Senate—the same Tea Party Republican who led the charge to shut down the government last year.

Read the facts here.

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Three ways to get involved if you don’t live in Minnesota

Chelsea Moore, Volunteer Coordinator

As the Volunteer Coordinator, I field a lot of questions, mostly concerning how people can get involved in the effort to re-elect Al. More often than not, these people will be directed to a field organizer on the ground who can plug them in to future organizing events: canvasses, phone banks or team meetings.

But sometimes, these people don’t live in Minnesota or physically can’t get to an event. That’s why I’m working with the Field team to make sure that anyone can get involved in this campaign, no matter the obstacles.

1. Take a volunteer vacation: Whether it’s 4 days or 4 weeks, you can come join us in Minnesota to Get Out The Vote for Al! When you arrive, you will receive a full orientation with an organizer and be assigned to a team that will best utilize your strengths as a volunteer. Sure, it’s not vacation on a white sandy beach — but it’s a critical role you will fill and an experience you’ll never forget.”

2. Join the Remote Calling Program: Can’t get to Minnesota? No problem. You can still make phone calls to voters in Minnesota for Al! The Virtual Phone Bank makes it easy to log in and start calling. Click here to signup.

3. Donate! Strapped for time, but still want to do something? You can pitch in $5 right now. If it wasn’t clear: we have to mobilize thousands of volunteers to reach Minnesota voters. We have to keep ads on the air to fight the super PAC attacks. We have to get out voters on Election Day. That’s why every dollar counts, and you can bet we’ll use it well.

Got a different idea for how you can help? While I’d like to think the three aforementioned ways to pitch in are the most effective – I’m all ears. Drop me a line here.

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Did you see: “Minnesota needs federal action on railroads”

Sam Fettig, Communications Assistant

Al penned an op-ed in the Grand Forks Herald, addressing his work on fixing serious problems with rail service in Minnesota.

WASHINGTON — There’s no doubt about it: Rail service in Minnesota is a mess — and it’s hurting farmers, businesses and consumers throughout our state.

I’ve met with sugar growers in East Grand Forks, grain producers and rural energy leaders in Albert Lea and farmers everywhere in between. They tell me that shipping delays are a serious threat to their livelihoods, and that they’re fed up with rising prices and subpar service from the two rail companies — BNSF and Canadian Pacific — who enjoy a monopoly over many of the markets they serve in our state.

A recent report estimates that the lack of reliable rail service already has cost Minnesota farmers more than $100 million. In a state where one in five jobs rely on agriculture, that is simply unacceptable.

The rail companies point to last winter’s extreme weather, which forced trains to run slower and exacerbated a backlog of orders they’re still struggling to fill.

There’s no doubt that the cold made a bad situation worse. But excuses won’t help farmers get their goods to market. They don’t change the fact that trains full of oil from North Dakota are rattling through our state, passing right by our overloaded grain elevators.

And they don’t offer much solace to businesses worried about how subpar rail service (especially from Canadian Pacific, which shippers tell me is even further behind than BNSF) is affecting their bottom line.

That’s why I’ve been working hard to force real action to address the rail backlog and improve service for our state.

The Surface Transportation Board is responsible for regulating rail companies. And I’ve had a simple message for the STB since I got to the Senate: Do your job — by forcing the railroads to do theirs.

Make no mistake: I’m working to make sure the voices of Minnesota farmers are being heard in Washington.

After I demanded action from the STB, they directed the rail companies to prioritize fertilizer shipments so that farmers could get it in time for the spring planting season. And this summer, the board listened to Minnesota and demanded that the rail companies make and stick to a plan to prioritize grain shipments and address the backlog.

Next up: coal. Dairyland Power Co-op’s power plant near La Crosse, Wis., gets its coal by barges that, in turn, are fed by rail. But BNSF is behind in getting coal to the barges; and if it doesn’t catch up by the time the Mississippi River freezes, Dairyland would be forced to buy power from other, more expensive sources.

And because Dairyland is a cooperative, that means higher prices for members, something we’ve seen happen before.

I want the Surface Transportation Board to do its job once again and force BNSF and Canadian Pacific to devote more resources — employees, engines and railcars — to the Upper Midwest before the cold weather arrives. And I’m glad that the STB held a field hearing in Fargo, where they got an earful from concerned businesses and consumers.

Fixing the shipping backlog is a top priority for me. But with so little competition in the market, the big railroads have little incentive to improve service unless they’re forced to do so. In fact, some shippers have told me that they fear retribution from the rail companies if they speak out about the problems they encounter.

That’s why I teamed up with Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana to make it easier to file a formal complaint against the railroads. It used to cost a prohibitively expensive $20,000 for a farmer or manufacturer to file a complaint; Vitter and I got the fee down to $350.

But, in the long run, we need to address the lack of rail competition, a problem known as “captive shipping.” It’s a problem that’s been hurting Minnesota for a long time — in fact, I’ve been familiar with it since I was just 4 years old.

My family moved to Albert Lea in 1955 so my father could open a quilting factory there. It failed. Later, when I asked my dad why he’d picked Albert Lea to launch his business in the first place, he responded, “Well, the railroad went through Albert Lea.”

Why, then, had the factory failed?

“It went through, but it wouldn’t stop.”

More than a half-century later, poor rail service remains a serious threat to Minnesota’s economy. Eliminating the backlog currently facing our farmers and businesses is an important first step, but it’s time we addressed the problem of captive shipping once and for all.

Read the full article >>

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