Former Minority Leader Marty Seifert stops in Albert Lea

Published 4:00 pm Saturday, February 27, 2010

Don’t spend more money than you have.

It’s a simple lesson his parents taught him but also what former Minority Leader Marty Seifert said he thinks is the first step to turning around the state’s budget crisis.

During a stop in Albert Lea Friday morning, Seifert, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, shared a few ways he thinks the state could reduce its budget deficit and boost the economy.

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Speaking to a group of about 20 local Republicans, Seifert said he thinks the state needs to stop excessive spending, downsize some state agencies, better utilize the private sector and reduce grants coming from the state.

He said state leaders also need to look at delivering government services regionally instead of always on a county-by-county basis.

Describing himself as “a change agent for the 21st Century,” he criticized some of the projects included in the proposed bonding bill and said the state shouldn’t be spending money on some of the projects, even if the state wasn’t in a deficit.

“I think it’s about time we have someone who stands up for these values,” he said.

During his visit, he also talked about welfare, education and health care reform and his top emphasis — jobs.

The visit to Albert Lea was one of two or three meet-and-greet events Seifert has had around the state each day since he announced his intention to run for governor. After the Albert Lea event Friday, he said he was headed up to the Legislature in St. Paul and then to Rochester later in the evening.

“Don’t want to ignore any part of the state,” Seifert said.

Seifert said he wants to create an economic atmosphere where people can unleash their entrepreunership without unnecessary restrictions. Currently the largest employer is the state of Minnesota; after that is the University of Minnesota and the federal government.

He said the number of cabinet agencies within the state government needs to be downsized, and there are many tasks done by the state government that could be done through the private sector in a cheaper, faster and better way.

When there is more competition, prices go down and quality goes up.

Regarding educational reform, Seifert talked about how children across the state should receive equal state funding for their education.

“The children of Freeborn County get thousands of dollars less than the children in the cities,” he said.

He also talked about setting a standard for the length of schooldays.

“We have the shortest schoolday in Minnesota that we’ve had in 40 years,” he said, and that is at a time when there’s more than ever to learn.

He encouraged local residents to get involved in the political process.

If the Republicans lose control of the governor seat and don’t gain control of either the House or the Senate, there will be big trouble, he said.

He pointed out the importance of getting the votes of conservative Democrats.

He said if he is not elected governor, he will not be seeking re-election to the Legislature.

First elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1996, Seifert grew up on a farm near Springfield. He is a former high school civics teacher and is a small business owner.

He and his wife and two children live in Marshall.