U.S. Senate candidates agree, disagree at Farmfest
Event concludes Thursday at Gilfillan Estate
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GILFILLAN ESTATE -- U.S. Senate candidates agreed with each other at times, but often disagreed at Farmfest Wednesday.
Democrat Angie Craig talked about her view of the federal government.
"The across the board, tariffs the president and administration put in place and the war in Iran that has driven up many costs for so many people in the country and can't get year around E15 (gasoline) across the finish line," she said. "If this administration's policies aren't corrected, we're going to have lots of difficulty in farm country."
Democrat Peggy Flanagan said she's heard frustration about many obstacles including tariffs and an illegal war with Iraq."
"Farmers deserve a farm bill that puts them first," she said.
Republican Michele Tafoya said she and her husband love Minnesota so they settled here.
"I see Minnesota in a little bit of pain now. We all need agriculture," she said. "We need a farm bill and trade deals to help everyone do better. California wants to tell the rest of the country how to produce pork with Proposition 12. It puts up barriers. We need nationwide regulations on how to do it," Tafoya said.
Royce White described his viewpoint.
"We've had a complete departure of common sense in the U.S. Senate," he said. "The protected elites call the this time a managed decline, but they managed it. We need to get rid of theater on how to produce pork."
White got a positive response from many people when he stood up and asked everyone who "stands up for the sanctity of life to stand up."
Craig accused Republicans of cutting billions of dollars out the farm bill that created unfunded mandates for counties.
"You'll understand when you see your next county property tax bill. Republicans cut $187 million from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps)," she said. "The federal government created unfunded mandates we can't afford."
Flanagan said the SNAP cuts were cost shifts creating tax cuts for the ultra wealthy.
"SNAP put food on my family's table when I was young," she said. "I'm eager to serve on the agriculture committee."
Craig admitted some tariffs are appropriate but the federal government declining to renew USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada) trade deals was a mistake.
"Forty percent of U.S. farm workers are undocumented. If they obey laws, they should have a path to citizenship," she said, drawing applause.
Tafoya said it's time to help farmers pass on the farm to future generations.
"It's time to get rid of the death tax," she said.
"Farmers need workers and we need secure borders," said Tafoya. "It's not against the law to take advantage of U.S. citizenship. We need to allow farmers to innovate. We all need biofuel, renewable fuels and sustainable aviation fuel."
White said legal immigrants need a pathway to amnesty, but illegal immigrants should be mass deported to secure our borders.
He called for getting rid of excessive government regulations.
Craig said E15 passage hasn't happened because the Trump administration is in the back pocket of big oil.
Tafoya called for public-private partnerships for make it easier for people to prosper.
Craig said technology companies should pay for all added costs created by new data centers.
She called for the return of animal health programs that were cut by Republicans in Washington.
"Midwest farm bankruptcies are up 70%. This is golden age of agriculture. We all know that," said Craig. "You didn't vote for illegal tariffs and a war in Iran. We're in a spiral of ad hoc agriculture assistance. What we need is good farm policies. I'll definitely serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee."
"Diseases are coming back after prevention programs were cut," said Flanagan.
The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Farmfest concludes at 3 p.m. today. The Women in Agriculture Event and Female Farmer of the Year Award program begins at 10:45 a.m. in the Forum building.