Econ 101: Klobuchar watched while misery doubled

Since Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) took office, the National Debt doubled, unemployment doubled, and gas prices doubled.

Economics teacher and Republican Senate candidate Kurt Bills has set up a little visual aid at the Minnesota State Fair this week, to illustrate the federal spending binge. Jars of corn kernels show how the federal debt doubled on Klobuchar's watch, to over $15 trillion and counting.

national debt

Obviously to anyone but President Obama and the Democrats in the U.S. Senate, which hasn't passed a budget since April 2009, this level of debt is irresponsible and unsustainable. We must send fiscal conservatives like Bills to Washington, D.C. to stop the bleeding and quite literally save our country.

Kurt Bills and Klobuchar will debate this Thursday, August 30, 12:00 noon, at the Minnesota Public Radio booth at the Minnesota State Fair.

Primary election day

Today is Primary Election Day in Minnesota. Go to the polls today and support the candidate of your choice. To find your polling place and a sample ballot, visit mnvotes.org.

My precinct's primary ballot in SD44 has little drama. The party endorsees should win on the front page of the ballot. The back page is a little more interesting.

There are ten primary candidates for Hennepin County Commissioner in District 2, which includes Golden Valley and Medicine Lake; portions of Crystal, New Hope, and Plymouth; Northeast and North Minneapolis; and Saint Anthony. The district's former commissioner, Mark Stenglein, resigned to head the Mineapolis Downtown Council.

Rolf Erickson is the only unapologetic fiscal conservative on the county commissioner ballot. On his campaign Facebook page, Erickson says, "My work history as a former union member, a former Hennepin County employee and now as a contract property tax assessor, supervising employees, and working with local and county governments, gives me a unique insight into the internal workings of government that most career politicians do not have.

"I understand how government employees view the law makers and policy creators who define their jobs. I have struggled to administer the same types of laws that require employees to spend much of their time on busywork while the important part of the job has to be hurried along.

"I will work to simplify government and make it more efficient. I pledge to listen to county employees and I will do this with a monthly meeting where county employees will have a chance to bring forth ideas on how to improve delivery of services.

"When elected my top priorities will be:

• Public safety
• Cut the County Commissioner salary by 10% the first year.
• Maintain existing infrastructure of roads and bridges.
• Put together a joint task force to overhaul Minnesota’s property tax system.
• Use zero-based budgeting on the county budget."

Former Hennepin County Commissioner Penny Steele is one of three candidates vying to challenge the incumbent for Three Rivers Park District Commissioner in District 1. Steele proved her dedication to good government and fiscal responsibility over four terms as county commissioner.

Vote for Erickson and Steele, or similar candidates in your "down ticket" races in today's primary election to ensure that voters have clear, commonsense conservative choices in November.

Kurt Bills ready to give Klobuchar her econ grade

Campaign staff from Kurt Bills will be in SD44 on Wednesday to help with a lit drop and provide support to our local candidates. Please visit his website and YouTube channel, and make a generous donation to help Kurt Bills in his quest to replace "Klobanomics" with Econ 101 in Washington, D.C.

Bills, the Republican-endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate, says that the incumbent Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has only agreed to two debates — both before Labor Day. He is suggesting a dozen or so town hall-style meetings, including several in October.

Klobuchar is sinking in her seat like a struggling student in an economics class at Rosemount High School, where Bills teaches. The voters deserve to have their Senator stand and deliver at the front of the room on the U.S. Senate's and President Obama's performance on employment, federal regulations, the national debt, and the federal budget.