Being blocked from his legislative duties in the Capitol due to the Anthrax threat, Rep.

Saturday, October 20, 2001

Being blocked from his legislative duties in the Capitol due to the Anthrax threat, Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Minnesota, said Friday in a telephone briefing for southern Minnesota newspapers, &uot;I have really almost no concerns that this (Anthrax) is going to be a major problem.&uot;

The House decided to shutdown the floor Wednesday after an anthrax-spiked letter was opened in the Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle’s office earlier in the week. At least 31 Senate employees have tested positive for Anthrax exposure.

The bipartisan decision impressed Gutknecht.

&uot;Significant pieces of legislation passed by almost unanimous consent in the House. That demonstrates when Washington wants to get something done, the partisanship evaporates.&uot;

Describing the act as &uot;pathetic,&uot; Gutknecht sees Americans being defiant rather than being intimidated. &uot;I do not think the story is nearly as serious as what happed on Sept. 11.&uot;

&uot;Now that our medical community understands what is happening, I think the likelihood of additional fatality is very few almost regardless as to what the next phase of this encounter will be.&uot;

As for ground troop operations in Afghanistan, Gutknecht said, &uot;I am incredibly proud of our military right now. They are demonstrating that the technology and training we have invested in over the last number of years are paying off.&uot;

&uot;The message being sent to the Taliban, terrorists and those harboring the terrorists all over the world is that if you attack innocent civilians, there will be a heavy price to pay,&uot; he added.

Gutknecht said that he had no objections against the administration’s information disclosure regarding the military operation.

&uot;White House, Pentagon, Attorney General, FBI – all of them have done a very good job in keeping us informed about where they are and what is happening,&uot; he said.

Referring to the anti-terrorism bill that aims to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, Gutknecht emphasized the law is to protect freedom rather than to restrict. Gutknecht believes that the five-year sunset attached to the bill will play a safeguard for individual rights and freedom.

&uot;It is a pretty well balanced bill,&uot; he said. &uot;One of the reasons we are involved in this military encounter is to defend those democratic principles. So we’ve got to find a very careful balance between making certain that we are giving enough tools to them, but at the same time we’ve got protect those rights which we are fighting for.&uot;