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By Jon Tatting
jon.tatting@ecm-inc.com
During her 2006 U.S. Senate campaign, Amy Klobuchar visited all 87 counties in Minnesota. And she’s fulfilling a pledge to visit every county at least once every year she holds office.
 Such was the case on Thursday, Feb. 22 when she met with local residents and officials on current Senate issues at Isanti City Hall.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar talks with local Pat Sundberg at Isanti City Hall. The woman on the previous page let her views known on the war overseas during Klobuchar’s visit Feb. 22. Photos by Jon Tatting
During her brief visit, she touched on ongoing work relating to energy, agriculture and the environment, transportation, ethics laws, minimum wage, health care and the war in Iraq.
In light of the war, Klobuchar remains firm that she never supported it from the beginning. A change in course is needed through attention to Iraqi governance, while more troops need to be brought home, she said.
A number of people who originally backed the war are now starting to change their minds, she added.
Klobuchar also noted the Senate, which is mainly bipartisan, is now debating solutions for environmental concerns. Aside from corn, switchgrass is becoming a hot topic in renewable energy talks as some view it as reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and strengthening America’s farm economy.
Isanti Mayor George Wimmer, speaking before the senator, commended political efforts toward funding various environmental issues through more of a proactive approach.
Addressing possible changes in health care plans, Klobuchar projected “nothing new will happen until there’s a new president.”
However, she noted attention is being given to the Mental Health Parity Act and federal health care plans aimed toward helping small businesses. “And I’m working on negotiations with prescription drug companies,” she added.
Klobuchar last week also visited North Branch, Hinckley and Mora, as well as counties in southern and central Minnesota. The tour was made possible due to U.S. Senate recess.
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