First District U.S. Congressional challengers Greg Mikkelson and Leigh Pomeroy are both on the right track with their ideas on health care &045; Mikkelson believes lower costs begin with a healthier lifestyle and Pomeroy believes

current health care bills must be simplified. However, we believe incumbent Gil Gutknecht has the connections to make long-lasting changes to the variety of issues surrounding this debate and others.

The author of the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act, Gutknecht believes people should be allowed to purchase imported prescription drugs from FDA-approved nations and we agree. As costs for drugs and other health care services skyrocket, new ways of doing business must be explored.

The Republican candidate has worked his way to appointments on the Agriculture subcommittee on operations oversight, nutrition and foresty, is vice chairman of the science committee and is a senior member of the budget committee, which gives him an inside track on discussions important to residents of southern Minnesota.

Though we support term limits, Gutknecht should be given more time to build relationships within the U.S. Congress, allowing for more effective government for the people of Minnesota, as well as the nation.