Senate candidate McFadden offers some specifics on issues

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden has added a section to his campaign website outlining where he stands on most of the major issues. McFadden, a businessman who’s never run for elective office,  has been under fire from Democrats and some Republicans for skipping GOP candidate forums and refusing to offer specifics about what he will do if he wins election to the  U.S. Senate.

Like most Republicans,  McFadden says he would repeal the Affordable Care Act and encourage market competition to bring down the cost of health care.  McFadden says those with preexisting conditions should have affordable health care options. However he does not say who would pay for the coverage.

McFadden says the nation needs to cut spending to live within its means and that no additional tax revenue is needed to end deficit spending. But he does not say what programs he would trim or eliminate to reduce spending.

On Medicare and Social Security, McFadden says he would not break promises to people at or near retirement age, but that actions need to be taken to preserve the programs for future generations.  McFadden however offered no specifics.

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McFadden says he opposes universal background checks for gun purchasers and that the country has an illegal guns problem not a legal firearms problem.

On civil liberties, McFadden says the National Security Agency “crossed a line” by spying on innocent Americans. As for immigration reform, McFadden says he is “firmly against  amnesty,” and that the U.S. needs to secure its borders before revamping immigration policy.

McFadden campaign spokesman Tom Erickson says the issues section was added to McFadden's campaign website Monday, February 17.

McFadden and several Republicans including  State Senator Julianne Ortman, State Representative Jim Abeler and  St. Louis County Commissioner Chris Dahlberg  are vying for the chance to run against DFL Sen. Al Franken this fall.

Ortman and Dahlberg have agreed to abide by the Republican Party endorsement, McFadden says he will run in a primary campaign if he fails to win the endorsement.  Abeler is also talking about a possible primary campaign. Ortman  won a straw poll of Republican caucus goers in early February.