I agree with recent editorial that it was good to see Rep Fischbach at the Todd Wadena Electric Co-op candidate forum.
As for her support of rural Minnesotans, I have several questions.
How has the current war with Iran- or as our administration has referred to it by other names,” conflict, military operation, little excursion, skirmish” , continued without Congressional authorization? This action, now over 6 months old, has cost lives, including many Iranian civilians, among them young students. Our supply of weapons is being depleted. The closing of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil prices to rise across the world. Still, there is no end in sight. Military personnel and reporters who disagree with administration’s handling have been fired. Please explain that.
How does your support of the “Big Beautiful Bill” that cuts Medicaid AFTER the midterm election thus cutting needed funding to our rural healthcare systems help us here? Same question for your support of cuts to SNAP and US Aid, which provided a market for our farmers and served our most vulnerable.
And then the tariffs. It’s hard enough for small businesses and farmers to plan for success, but now random retaliatory tariffs are thrown into the mix. Again, our elected reps were to have a voice in tariffs, but current Congress has let executive office have sole say. Tariffs are paid by us, the consumer. How can not that be obvious?
You were elected to be the voice of our area, yet Speaker Johnson has sent House Reps home for weeks at a time when major issues have been left on the table- Release of the Epstein Files, for example. Please comment on that.
And, why as a person who has the privilege of being at the site of our US Capitol, are you not speaking up against the spending of our tax dollars to desecrate this historic site? Spending my tax money to gold gild the White House into a palace, not standing up when rules are being broken to build an Arch? Why not speaking up when contracts for the Big Ball room and new Reflective Pool are given without the bidding process to companies who have “an In’ with the president? Why are our tax dollars being spent to rename buildings and geographical sites at the whim of the president? And why are our elected officials looking the other way when the executive office is clearly being used to enrich the president, his family, and other supporters? Bitcoins, gold coins, stock market dealings…..
I have many questions about the current handling of our immigration system, but will save those for another day.
In the meantime, I would appreciate answers to my above haunting questions.
Sincerely,
A concerned rural citizen,
Diane Schiller Anderson
Wadena, Minnesota
