Day kicks off primary effort

Lee Smith — Staff Writer
FAIRMONT — Dick Day says 150 people should not make a decision for 400,000.

Hence his decision to forego the Republican endorsement process in the 1st Congressional District. Day, a state senator from Owatonna, will challenge endorsement winner Brian Davis in the Sept. 9 primary. Both men seek to unseat Tim Walz, a Democrat from Mankato.

For Day, the campaign officially began Wednesday as he toured communities including New Ulm, Worthington and Fairmont. He is focused on several issues that he believes are close to the hearts of voters. At the top of the list: Gas prices.

“There are two ways to look at it and Congress is doing both wrong,” Day said.

He said Congress has failed to develop a national energy strategy that would include more drilling, as in Alaska, and more use of nuclear energy. At the same time, Congress has held regular hearings with oil company executives yet taken no action to demand they conduct more research and development on alternative energy. Nor has it taken other action, such as enacting a windfall tax on massive oil company profits.

“Why keep having (the executives) back (to testify) every 60 days?” Day asks.

A year ago, gas prices were less of a concern for voters, who were focused on illegal immigration, according to the candidate. The concern remains but is tempered. Day believes the United States must secure its borders. Period. He blames the Bush administration for failing in this regard.

His criticism of Bush extends to the federal education program “No Child Left Behind.” Day says the Bush initiative has not worked.

“Everyone wants accountability in education, but I’m not too sure about schools working to pass a test just to look good versus other cities’ (schools),” he said.

Day says he believes in a testing program that would reduce federal mandates, given the small amount of federal money that actually goes to schools.

On another issue — the war in Iraq — Day stands firmly with the president. He said the commander in chief is just that and should be allowed to work with his generals to achieve results. Day said Congress should fund the war.

On the domestic front, Day says he will not accept “earmarks” if elected, and he believes these spending provisions added to legislation should be called what they are — pork. He is especially critical of the recent Farm Bill, which included $400 million for Chesapeake Bay, $250 million for a forest in Montana, a “trail to nowhere” in Vermont and subsidies for racehorse owners in Kentucky.

“The goal of the Farm Bill has long been to keep food prices low,” he said. “Now, food prices are going up and Congress is spending millions on giveaways to special interests.”

Day is seeking to make a transition from state to federal politics after serving 18 years in the state Senate. His stint in St. Paul includes nine years as minority leader. He is a native of Rochester and has served on the Owatonna City Council and Steele County Commission.

He and his wife, Janet, have four children and five grandchildren.