Minnesota 7th District Congresswoman Fischbach talks inflation, border security in Willmar campaign stop

Sep. 23—WILLMAR

— Inflation, public safety, border security and drug trafficking were the issues highlighted by U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach during a brief campaign rally held at the Republican Party headquarters in Willmar on Friday morning.

Inflation topped her list. "People are catching on," Congresswoman Fischbach told a gathering of local supporters.

She said people are well aware that it's costing more to fill up their tanks or buy school supplies for their children.

"People know the Democrats are the ones who continue the spending and ridiculous policies," she said.

She also promoted the Republican Party platform called the Commitment to America that was introduced on Friday by House minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California.

Fischbach mingled with the local party members before addressing them, part of a tour to other party headquarters on a path that was to take her from Willmar to Moorhead on Friday.

She started by expressing optimism for a Republican wave in the election and her hopes of stopping Democrats who are "pushing things, passing things" in Congress prior to the election.

"The Electoral College. Everything is about Jan. 6 because they want to distract voters from what is really going on," Fischbach said of the Democrats in Congress.

She said Democrats are proposing a change that would require action by one-third of Congress to challenge a state's Electoral College vote, as compared to current law allowing one congressman or senator to do so. She said Democrats maintain it's about preventing armed insurrection.

"The people coming into the Capitol had absolutely nothing to do with how we challenge our Electoral College issues and how we look at our election integrity," said Fischbach.

The proposal passed in the House on Wednesday. In addition to the provision Fischbach highlighted, the House bill reaffirms that the vice president's role in Congress' certification of the newly elected president is ceremonial and that he or she has no power to suspend or overturn the certification, according to Reuters.

Fischbach also accused Democrats of painting Republicans as "extremists on abortion when they are the ones who support abortion up to the day of birth, all nine months and after."

The congresswoman said a recent trip to the border with Mexico in Arizona left her convinced that the Department of Homeland Security needs more resources to stop illegal entry and drug trafficking.

Paul Hoffer, chair for the Republican Party in Kandiyohi County, told the gathering that polling indicates that things are looking good for the party, especially in state races. He said Republican candidates for secretary of state, attorney general and auditor are running neck and neck with the incumbents.