RESPONSE - Wynia

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QUESTION #2:  People are saying Congress is broken; our government isn't
working.  Do you agree?  In general terms, explain why or why not.

RESPONSE #2: Like many people today, I am frustrated that Congress is not
responsive to the needs of American families throughout Minnesota and the
nation.  Working men and women work harder and longer and get less.  I think
Congress and the government can do better.

That is why I am running for the U.S. Senate.

Over the past several years, Congress has been held hostage to special
interests and obstructionists.  Because of petty partisan bickering,
Congress was unable to bring forward any meaningful health care reform
proposals.  A proposal to ban lobbyist paid meals, gifts and travel was
killed by the filibuster.  This type of delay and gridlock is feeding into
the frustration of the American people.

My opponent, Rod Grams, has been the leader of the pack when it comes to
saying no.  

No  -- to the Family and Medical Leave Act, which provides 44 million
working men and women across the U.S. job protection in order to leave for
the birth of a child or care for a sick family member.  This law now covers
approximately 844,645 workers in Minnesota.

No -- to the Lobbying Disclosure Act, which would have prohibited lobbyists
from providing free meals, gifts, and travel for Congressmen.

No -- to the Crime Bill, so that we can feel safe in our homes and in our
neighborhoods.

I am not one of those people who would take a hammer and start breaking the
government down out of frustration.  I believe we have to look at the
programs being funded today and ask, "Are we getting the most for our
money?" " Is there a better way to achieve the same goals more efficiently,
and at a better cost?"

As a member of the Citizen's League in Minnesota, I studied how to make the
Minnesota state government work more efficiently and more cost-effectively
and reported to the legislature our findings.  While serving as a Regent at
the University of Minnesota, I took on the fight to privatize the food
service operations saving the University a million dollars.  While serving
as Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, I developed
the Minnesota Family Investment Plan, supported by Democrats and Republicans
alike,  that is a model for welfare reform nationwide.  It says people are
better off working than not working.

This is the kind of experience I bring to this U.S. Senate race.  Experience
in making government work better for less.

I ask for your vote on November 8th.


Ann Wynia
DFL U.S. Senate Candidate

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