Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Jim Newberger responded to a Minnesota Newspaper Association questionnaire asking about their view on issues. Their answers are given here. They have been slightly edited for length. To see a document with their complete answers go to www.nujournal.com

Top priority: If elected, what is your top priority for the 2019 Congress? Why are you running for office?

My top priority would be to work with our president and to put an end to Obamacare. We must have a health insurance market that offers multiple choices, lower costs and higher quality. Senator Klobuchar does NOT support this. I do. I also support having a safety net, such as MNCare for our most vulnerable citizens and for those who cannot afford insurance. We must also make sure that pre-existing conditions are covered. Senator Klobuchar wants to take away everyone’s health insurance and force us all into a big, single payer, government program that will cost 32 trillion dollars.

I am running for office to give every Minnesotan a voice in the U.S. Senate. Senator Klobuchar has a 90% rubber stamp voting record with the Far Left. People in the moderate middle to the conservative right have had no voice with Amy in the U.S. Senate. I will bring balance and give everyone a voice.

I am also deeply disturbed that Senator Klobuchar continues to support Al Franken and Keith Ellison. Her behavior during the Kavanaugh hearings was unprofessional and unbecoming of a U.S. Senator.

Foreign affairs: How do you grade President Trump’s foreign policy record? Which of his initiatives do you support, and which do you oppose? Be specific.

I give President Trump a B+ because there is always room to improve. I support his work to end the expansion of nuclear weapons in North Korea and for recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Health care: What role should the federal government play in combating the opioid epidemic?

I have worked for 30 years as a fulltime paramedic. I have a deep understanding of this issue. The federal government must work with the state and local governments to stop this crisis. I would be an effective leader on this issue.

Education: What role should the federal government play in ensuring that U.S. graduates can compete in the global economy? Are there specific measures that you advocate?

We must promote the trades and expand technical education. That is the future for our work force. I also support cutting the cost of education and will work to do so. Our young folks are drowning in debt. This must stop.

Energy: Is the United States doing enough to reduce carbon emissions? What can the federal government do to promote homegrown energy?

Continue to promote energy made in the U.S.A. I support and All-of-the-above energy policy.

Debt: Federal entitlements are the main drivers of rising U.S. debt. What specific steps can be taken to keep programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid solvent and still serve those individuals in need?

We need to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Reduce government administration costs and continue to keep our promises to the American people. I will protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Period.

Transportation: What role should the federal government play in funding state and local transportation infrastructure? Be specific.

We need to continue to fund roads and bridges. The federal government has an obligation to ensure safe and effective travel between the states. Roads and bridges are the best way to do so.

Economy: Assess the impact of the 2017 federal tax reform on the nation’s economy. What additional steps do you support to stimulate job growth?

The tax bill moved our economy forward by giant leaps and bounds. We are seeing the explosion of growth due to the tax cuts. Unemployment is at a historic low. We are prospering! Senator Klobuchar voted against this growth and is promoting going back to the old days of Obama slow growth, stagnation and over-regulation. We must make the tax cuts permanent.

Immigration: Congress remains deadlocked on federal immigration reform. What should be the tenets of any immigration reform legislation? Do you support DACA?

Offer the DACA kids permanent resident alien status and allow them to follow the legal process to become a citizen like everyone else. Build the wall. Secure the borders. I support legal immigration. We need to work with undocumented aliens to provide a way to EARN their permanent resident alien status cards OR citizenship. We cannot simply pass out citizenship certificates like coupons at a grocery store. There is value in being an American Citizen. Amy Klobuchar supports open borders, which would turn Minnesota into a sanctuary state. I also support shutting down the Refugee Resettlement Program and fixing it. We must make sure that the people being brought to the U.S. are safe and will agree to live under American Law. We must also make sure our local communities have a say in the matter and not be forced to take refugees. The cost of the refugee program, per refugee is too high. It must be reduced. Senator Klobuchar has rolled out the red carpet for nearly unrestricted refugee resettlement in Minnesota.