The first joint appearance of the 6th District Congressional candidates occurred in Stillwater Wednesday (Oct. 1) night when Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (left), R-Stillwater, Democratic challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg of Blaine and Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson of Woodbury met at Stillwater City Hall for a 90-minute debate. Bachmann, who voted against the financial intervention bill on Monday in the U.S. House, indicated she would again voted against the bill if it was basically the same bill as before. Anderson also indicated he opposed a "bail out," but Tinklenberg said he would vote for the bill. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, indicated Wednesday night (Oct. 1) that she intends not to vote for the financial intervention bill expected to hit the U.S. House floor this week.

Speaking at a 6th Congressional District debate at Stillwater City Hall, Bachmann styled the bill before the U.S. Senate as basically the same legislation she voted against on Monday.

"It just has different wrapping paper on it,” said Bachmann. "There's a lot of spending in there as well as the $700 billion,” she said. "I will be a ‘No' vote on that bill,” said Bachmann.

The congresswoman called the past three weeks the most intense in her life.

Bachmann's distaste for the intervention bill was echoed by 6th District Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson of Woodbury, but Democratic challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg of Blaine said that he would vote for the bill.

Sixth District U.S. House challenger El Tinklenberg, DFL and Independence Party endorsed candidate, outlines his points on the country's financial situation.

"We cannot afford to have another false step, another misstep, another sense of chaos and uncertainly in Washington,” said Tinklenberg, speaking to reporters after the close of the 90-minute debate.

Signal to Wall Street

A signal needs to be sent to Wall Street and the financial market, he argued.

"We have to have clear leadership and Congress needs to come together with the (Bush) Administration,” Tinklenberg said.

The three candidates addressed a series of questions — some posed from one candidate to the other — toughing on energy, the Iraq War, the national debt, and other issues.

While both Anderson and Bachmann in addressing the national debt spoke of cutting government spending, Tinklenberg also spoke of making the tax code fair — making the upper one percent pay a greater share, he explained.

Additionally Tinklenberg lamented that billions and billions of dollars a year are going overseas for foreign oil.

On energy, Bachmann argued that the Unites States contains more oil deposits than Saudi Arabia — if fully exploited the deposits  could make the country oil independent, she said.

But Tinklenberg criticized Bachmann's approach, calling it "a bad strategy” because it emphasized oil over alternative energy.

Tinklenberg, in a question to Bachmann, asked the congresswoman to defend her policy on congressional earmarks.

Bachmann calls earmarks corrupt

Bachmann called earmarks — inserting specific language spending into bills — probably the most corrupt system in Washington.

It lacks oversight — no one knows where earmarks come from, Bachmann argued.

But Tinklenberg, former Ventura Administration Transportation Commissioner, wryly commented during debate on the Stillwater lift bridge that some of the federal funding to renovate it came in a form of an earmark.

A total of three 6th District debates are scheduled.

Bob Anderson, Independence Party candidate without party endorsement, was part of the debate in Stillwater Wednesday night.

Bachmann, who quickly left city hall after the debate, said she believed three debates were enough — the presidential race has three, she poined out.

Tinklenberg expressed disappointment. "This is really unfortunate,” he said.

Six debates wanted

While thanking Bachmann and Anderson for attending, Tinklenberg said his campaign originally wanted six debates.

They should have started a lot earlier, said Tinklenberg.

"Now we're coming down to the wire and there isn't much time,” said Tinklenberg.

According to media stories Bachmann will attend a debate hosted by Minnesota Public Radio and one sponsored by the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce.

Wednesday night's debate was sponsored by the Stillwater Gazette and other area publications.

(Photos by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)