Emmer wants new Minnesota Miracle, now open to rail
(Note: This story has been updated with more context )
Republican Tom Emmer is trying out a new campaign line on this week's GOP bus tour. Emmer and the other Republican candidates for statewide office are on a three day bus tour that mostly focuses on rural Minnesota. Emmer relied on his standard campaign theme of "Taking Minnesota back." But he also referenced creating a new "Minnesota miracle."
"It is time for a new government model for the state of Minnesota," Emmer said. "We can no longer keep working off of this seventies version of the Minnesota Miracle. We are looking for a 21st Century model of the Minnesota Miracle."
He said that new "Minnesota Miracle" should focus on businesses expanding in Minnesota instead of other states.
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Emmer also told reporters the campaign will release more detail on his plans to fix the budget in September. He pointed to the legislation he's introduced as a state legislator for examples of how he would govern.
Emmer also didn't enter the debate over rail service in southeastern Minnesota. He said he would let the locals decide when asked where he stands on high speed rail from Chicago and the D,M and E bypass.
"The position I've taken with both groups is I think that it's up to the local authorities, the people in the local jurisdiction to come up with a plan that they want," Emmer said.
"I haven't been a fan of it in the past (rail service) which is no secret. But again, when you're governor, you have to wait until local people do the work and figure out whether it's something the state should be facilitating or not."
Update: Emmer's spokesman Chris Van Guilder says it's a "fair conclusion to draw that he's open to" considering rail projects like high-speed rail if he's elected governor.
Update to Update: Emmer has repeatedly voted against rail projects during his six years as a legislator. In 2008, he voted for an amendment to strip funding for high speed rail and other transit projects, voted against a bill that included funding for high speed rail and other rail lines and a bill that included funding for Central Corridor.
In 2009, he voted against a bill that authorized MnDOT to expend federal stimulus money, some of which was targeted at rail projects, including a pool of $8 billion for high-speed rail.
You can listen to Emmer's speech and other speeches from the Rochester portion of the bus tour here:
(Order of appearance: 1st District Congressional hopeful Randy Demmer, Minnesota House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers, Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, State Auditor candidate Pat Anderson, Secretary of State candidate Dan Severson, Attorney General candidate Chris Barden, Lt. Governor candidate Annette Meeks and Emmer.)
MPR's Liz Baier contributed to this story.
Side note: Emmer is scheduled to talk to MPR's Cathy Wurzer tomorrow on Morning Edition. The interview should run in the 7 o'clock hour.