| Franken makes campaign stop at VFW in Owatonna |
By: WENDY REUER
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Posted: Saturday, October 18, 2008 10:33 pm
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OWATONNA — The VFW room was filled with working class men, women and families who stopped out Saturday afternoon to hear what U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Al Franken had to say.
The visit, just days after Thursday’s debate in Duluth with Republican opponent Norm Coleman was a stop on Franken’s “Rebuilding the Middle Class Economy” tour.
Oscar Sletten said he came Saturday specifically because of labor issues. As a union member, Sletten said he is concerned with how things are going in the economy and why he and the middle class and labor set are struggling, when corporation heads can drive a company into the ground and still walk away millionaires.
Before leaving, the crowd asked Franken to address the Employee Free Choice Act. Franken said he does support the bill although he said it has been misunderstood.
“It gives the right to choose to the employees, not the employer,” Franken said.
Franken said currently, there are two methods of voting for a union in the workplace, one anonymous, one recorded. Only 30 percent of employees in favor of a union is needed from the ballot for approval. However, currently, the employer chooses the method of voting and can then use that to bully-employees into preventing unions.
“(Franken) makes me have hope in the future of the economy,” said attendee Amanda Stockwell. Stockwell said Franken gives her hope that she and her children will thrive in the future economically and through education.
Franken said he supports a $5,000 tax credit for college students. He also spoke of his plan to increase child care tax credits, small business loans and prevent privatization of social security.
“I will not risk your social security in the stock market,” Franken said. “Can you imagine if we had done that? Can you imagine? We’re not going to change things overnight but we need to change the direction.”
Franken said a plan to build bridges and roads could create hundreds of thousands of jobs for the middle class while improving infrastructure.
Franken said he did not support the passed bailout plan, saying it did not address the major problems with the economy: The de-regulation of Wall Street and the Housing Crisis.
“It reminded me of the rush to war. It did not protect the taxpayers, and that is the first priority for me,” Franken said. “Whether for or against it, I think everyone agrees it’s not going to fix the problem.”
Franken urged those attending to get out and speak to friends and family about the upcoming election, promoting not only his campaign but touting his support for Barrack Obama as the next president.
“The day George Bush leaves Washington is the day we replace the worst president in modern history,” Franken said.
The Franken campaign planned to stop in Dodge Center also on Saturday.
Representatives from Coleman’s campaign said they would also be visiting Owatonna in the upcoming weeks, as a part of Coleman’s “Hope Express Tour” in his plan to turn the economy around.
Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.
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