As state representative I will seek to foster economic development in greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities Metro area by reducing the burden of over-regulation on business. I will support the reduction of taxes and through these means the stimulus of our local economy.
At the core of our economy lies abundant affordable energy. Without electricity we would be living in the stone age! If rolling brownouts or blackouts start happening here (like we've seen in California and other parts of the country) our computers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and gas furnaces will cease or have limited functionality. Manufacturing plants employing hundreds or thousands of workers miss a day of pay and the company loses a day out productive output if the power supply is interrupted.
While working for Westinghouse I saw firsthand as our American expertise helped the Chinese create plans and begin construction on numerous power plants while America built none. I will work as your representative to ensure that Minnesota has access to energy to run our businesses and homes.
Science is actively pursing methods of promising power generating technologies - such as wind, biomass, and solar power. However all of these "clean" technologies are inadequate to supply our growing need for energy. The wholesale embrace of ethanol for fuel has left us with higher food prices and devastating effects on soil and air quality. In Little Falls the ethanol plant made the air so horrendously foul that local residents were required to shutter their windows on beautiful sunny days. The state of the art in power generation is nuclear energy: we should not be afraid to embrace it! I will work to ensure that Minnesota power companies are first in line for critical components for nuclear reactors and lift moratoriums on nuclear power plants.