Mower’s GOP goes grassroots
Published 11:24 am Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Mower County GOP Chairman Dennis Schminke introduces Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem at the annual Lincoln-Reagan Picnic Tuesday evening in Austin. -- Kevin Coss/kevin.coss@austindailyherald.com
Speakers at the Mower County GOP’s annual Lincoln-Reagan Picnic Tuesday evening all pushed the same message: with about 70 days until election day, supporting candidates is more critical than ever.
Minnesota House District 27B candidate Nathan Neitzell addresses the crowd at Tuesday evening at the annual Lincoln-Reagan Picnic in Austin.
About 60 Republicans from across the county gathered at the Veteran’s Pavilion at Community Park for the annual event. Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, and speakers from the state’s District 27 asked the crowd to stay active.
Senjem called the upcoming election the most important in modern history.
“If you’re a Republican and you can’t get upset about this, you don’t have a pulse,” he said.
Mower GOP Chairman Dennis Schminke said a major obstacle for Minnesota GOP supporters is putting aside discontent.
“One of the things I get from people is how upset they are with the Republican Party,” he said.
Schminke added Republicans need to unite, especially behind 1st U.S. Congressional District candidate Allen Quist, who beat Mike Parry in the primary.
“If you want to see President Romney do well in office, you have to get behind Allen Quist,” Schminke said.
The candidates asked for monetary donations, and welcomed help canvassing as well.
State Rep. Rich Murray, R-Albert Lea, said people across the county want to focus on two things: economy and jobs. While he supports programs that help people financially in need, he said those programs need to help them gradually transition out of the program and become independent.
Rep. Rich Murray discusses his campaign for reelection Tuesday evening at the annual Lincoln-Reagan Picnic in Austin.
“I believe everyone works hard for their money, and you have to hold onto some of that,” Murray said. “We might have an opportunity to fix some of this.”
Minnesota House candidate Nathan Neitzell agreed, saying he ran for office in response to seeing his money used for the wrong reasons.
Creating jobs would be a better alternative to raising taxes, Senate District 27 candidate Linden Anderson of Waltham said. He added that friends who were starting small business were being “eaten alive” by regulations, and farmers were faring no better. Anderson called for the state and federal government to stay out of peoples’ way and let them succeed.
Senjem echoed his sentiment, saying high taxes placed on businesses as dissuading companies from setting up in Minnesota. That, he said, results in fewer jobs for Minnesotans.
“We’re not going to tax our way to prosperity,” he said.