×

Hagedorn touts trade pact at town hall

BLUE EARTH — About 75 people turned out at Hamilton Hall in Blue Earth this week to attend a town hall meeting hosted by Congressman Jim Hagedorn.

While Hagedorn discussed issues such as health care and health insurance, among others, his main message had to do with agriculture.

“When I was first elected, my prime interest was to get on the House Ag Committee,” he said. “And, I was able to do that.”

The congressman talked about the recent signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.

“This was an important agreement,” he said. “About 48 percent of all our ag trade is with Canada or Mexico. I am working towards expanding trade where we can.”

He called the USMCA an excellent first step and said it will create more momentum for trade deals with Japan and China, for instance.

“I don’t think removing more tariffs at this time is a smart move,” he said. “We have completed phase 1 of agreements [with China], but we need to complete phase 2 before we end more tariffs.”

Hagedorn told the crowd that when he was a candidate he promised to be a conservative voice in Congress, and he feels he has done just that.

“I believe in things like pro-life, work for welfare, energy independence and protecting life and religious freedom,” he said. “And I voted against impeachment of the president, as I thought the Democrats were doing it to try and change the election result. And I will vote no if they try and bring another weak case forward.”

Hagedorn answered several questions from the audience, including some having to do with assistance for caregivers, not enough IRS audits conducted on the rich, changes in the tax law system, Second Amendment sanctuary counties, ending tariffs and others.

One question had to do with lowering the prices of prescription drugs, specifically the price of insulin.

“The parties are far apart on this issue,” Hagedorn said. “The Republicans have tried a compromise but it does not get the support it needs. If there is a compromise bill, and it makes sense, I will support it.”

Hagedorn also said he supports the idea that if there is a shortage of a drug people need to stay alive, the companies should be made to produce more of it but still keep it at reasonable prices.

The congressman said he does not support Medicare for all, saying it will hurt local, rural hospitals.

“A public option would bankrupt rural hospitals and destroy the local economy,” he said. “I also think Obamacare was a big lie. It did not let people keep their own health insurance, or their doctor, or lower rates.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.65/week.

Subscribe Today