ST. PAUL – As Al Franken attempts to erase his past history of belittling rural Minnesota needs today, the Coleman for Senate campaign highlighted Senator Coleman’s many accomplishments on behalf of Minnesota’s agriculture and rural communities. Coleman, who has been endorsed by the 30,000-member Minnesota Farm Bureau, serves on the Senate Agriculture committee, where he has worked hard to increase the use of renewable fuels, open new markets for Minnesota farmers and protect the critical farm safety net.  Additionally, Coleman has been a leader in fighting to strengthen rural health care, rural infrastructure and economic opportunities for rural Minnesotans.

 

“As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Norm Coleman has been steadfast in his support of Minnesota’s agriculture and rural communities,” said Cullen Sheehan, campaign manager. “He’s visited every Minnesota county on numerous occasions, meeting directly with local residents on the issues most important to them.  Norm understands that Minnesota farmers and those who work in agriculture and support rural communities are important to the entire Minnesota economy.  That’s why he’s been a champion of made-in-Minnesota renewable fuels, broke the partisan logjam on the latest Farm Bill and has been working to open new markets for Minnesota’s farmers. Additionally, he’s led the fight to strengthen rural health care and rural infrastructure in Minnesota throughout his time in the Senate.  Norm Coleman has been a champion for rural Minnesota and his record clearly reflects that.” 

Coleman Helped Break Partisan Logjam On The Farm Bill. “Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, who broke with fellow Republicans last month in an effort to move the farm bill forward, said Friday he had encouraged fellow Republicans to drop their objections after the Democratic leadership agreed to allow a limited number of amendments. The ‘principled stand’ his colleagues were taking to stall the bill if they couldn't offer amendments was no longer relevant, he said. ‘Folks understood that, agreed, and the thought was, “Let's go to our leader, and let's get this deal done,”’ he said. ‘And that happened.’ ‘We have a path forward.’ Erin Hamm, a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Committee's top Republican, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, confirmed that Coleman urged the members to accept a deal, adding that he ‘was instrumental in helping the farm bill process get to this point.’”   (“Coleman was 'instrumental' in advancing farm bill deal,” Star Tribune, December 8, 2007)

 

Endorsed By Minnesota Farm Bureau. “The Minnesota Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (MFB PAC) announced today the endorsement of Senator Norm Coleman.  ‘As a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Senator Coleman has demonstrated strong support and commitment to Minnesota agriculture,’ said Larry Larson, MFB PAC chairman. ‘Farm Bureau members across Minnesota and the nation develop our policy beginning at the grassroots level. The Senator’s alignment with that policy was the primary factor in the MFB PAC’s endorsement, but his experience and past support of agriculture has also played a role in the endorsement.’”   (Minnesota Farm Bureau press release, July 16, 2008)

 

 

2007 Farm Bill:   When partisan gridlock threatened passage of the critically-needed Farm Bill, it was Norm Coleman who convinced his Republican colleagues to drop their objections to the bill, ensuring its passage. When the President vetoed the bill, Norm Coleman broke with his party to deliver an updated farm policy to Minnesota. The final bill was a major victory for Minnesota, and included:

Creating New Markets For Farmers With Renewable Fuels:  Norm played a lead role in passing the first-ever Renewable Fuels Standard as part of the 2005 Energy Bill, spurring a boom in ethanol and biodiesel production and bringing millions of dollars in economic development to communities in Greater Minnesota.  He has supported tax incentives to spur development of wind energy, has also led the effort to ensure local ownership of ethanol plants and, most recently, helped paved the way for a drastic increase in renewable fuel requirements over the next twenty years with the new energy bill recently signed into law.

 

Disaster Relief For Minnesota Farmers:  Norm Coleman has fought tirelessly to deliver needed emergency disaster assistance to farmers affected by flooding and droughts during the recent Minnesota growing seasons.  Partnering with Midwest legislators from both sides of the political aisle, Norm successfully brought agriculture disaster assistance across the finish line as part of the 2007 Supplemental Appropriations bill, and he successfully worked to include a permanent disaster assistance program in the new Farm Bill.  

 

A Strong Future For Our Sugar Growers: Norm has fought consistently to protect the safety net for Minnesota sugar growers and has worked to increase the sugar loan rate.  Additionally, he has been the leading voice in Congress for the creation of a sugar ethanol program, successfully including the new program in the new Farm Bill.   

Saving the Farm Safety Net: Norm has successfully led a bipartisan group of senators in fighting off billions of dollars in proposed budget cuts to the farm safety net throughout his years in office. The safety net has helped ensure success and stability for our farmers, food supply and renewable energy efforts. 

 

Rural Health Care: Norm Coleman believes the quality of your health care should not depend on your ZIP code, and he has been a leading Senate voice for strengthening rural health care.  Norm introduced a comprehensive rural health care package based on the rural health care needs he’s heard around the state that would invest in Minnesota’s Critical Access Hospitals, provide greater access to the latest technologies like remote monitoring and address the shortage of rural health care personnel. 

 

Supporting Rural Communities and Rural Infrastructure: Norm voted for passage of bipartisan bills to increase Minnesota highway funding by 46% and overrode a Presidential veto to pass bill to improve locks and dams on the Mississippi that are critical in shipping  Minnesota’s agricultural goods.  His Rural Renaissance bill would provide grants and loans to help rural towns maintain and improve infrastructure to help promote economic growth. 

 

A New Critical Access Hospital for Walker:  Responding to a request he received firsthand during a 2006 visit to Walker, Norm successfully led efforts to bring a Critical Access Hospital to Cass County to help improve the quality and access to health care.  For years, Cass County had been prevented from constructing the new hospital, forcing its residents to drive 45 minutes to the nearest hospital. After months of appeals and negotiations led by Norm Coleman, the federal government eased their restrictions, paving the way for the needed hospital. 

 

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