Walz speaks with Golden K club

By Ed Shannon | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Friday, April 17, 2009

First District Congressman Tim Walz mentioned the possibility of high-speed rail for the Rochester and Winona or possibly for the I-90 corridor.

Walz, DFL-Mankato, was the main speaker at the meeting of Albert Lea’s Golden K-1 Kiwanis Club on Thursday morning at the Elks Club.

In his speech to this group the congressman covered a wide range of topics. He commented on the nation’s present economic conditions. Walz said there was little oversight of banking practices and the wrong approach was made for the present situation. He said he “didn’t support the Bush or Obama plans” and too many bad homeowner loans have been made.

One of the stimulus projects he mentioned was the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Project which would cost about $56 million and is designed to bring water from the Missouri River to South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota communities, including Adrian and Worthington in his district.

Other topics in his fast-moving speech were based on diversifying energy sources, supporting the war against waste, supporting American-made products, and media problems. The congressman said America needs competing opinions, but not polarizing or spinning commentaries from television networks.

“We are at a crossroads and face many challenges,” Walz said.

Amanda Frie, field representative from Walz’s Mankato office, said no decision has yet been made between Albert Lea or Owatonna as the location for a proposed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic for south-central Minnesota.

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