Recently, there was a letter to the editor complaining that Dan Feehan, who is running for Congress in our district, is never in the district, as he has never met him. That is ridiculous. Jim Hagedorn has run for this seat in Congress four times (2010, 2014, 2016 and now 2018), and I have never met him. 

On the other hand, I have met Dan Feehan several times.  The first time I met Dan Feehan, he was part of the Save Our Hospital demonstration in Rochester. What I remember is that he listened to those who came to Save Our Hospital, and he was supportive of our efforts. The next time I met him was at a coffee event here in Albert Lea, where he listened to local small business people explain the problems they had running a small business. On both occasions, he was thoughtful, listened and sought solutions. This is one reason I support Dan Feehan for Congress. 

Another is this. A few days ago, on Oct. 16, Sen. Mitch McConnell was interviewed on Bloomberg news. He was asked about what he had to say about the news that the deficit has ballooned by 17 percent, or $719 billion, in the past year. Economists will tell you that this is a result of the tax cut that the Republican Congress passed months ago. And what did McConnell say? He said that he thinks that that the ballooning deficit is the result of entitlements like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. He indicated he wants to reduce benefits or raise the retirement age. So, Republicans want to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to pay for tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Americans? McConnell added that what stands in the way are those pesky Democrats who won’t go along with that plan. (You can look it up).

What will happen if Hagedorn is elected and Congress remains in Republican hands?  They will go ahead with those cuts. I don’t think it is right or fair for seniors to pay for the tax cuts to billionaires. 

I think we need Dan Feehan in Congress to stand up for us, to be a brick in that wall of Democrats, who will protect what we have worked hard to earn.   

Please vote for Dan Feehan for Congress. He will stand up for us.

Mary Hinnenkamp

Albert Lea