Jim Abeler in 2014 MN Senate debate

On Abortion: Human life begins at conception

Abeler: Strongly Agree

Question topic: Should abortion be allowed under extenuating circumstances? If so, what circumstances?

Abeler: To protect the life of the mother.

On Budget & Economy: Borrowing places our sovereignity at risk

Abeler: Strongly Agree

Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.

Abeler: Debt & deficit: we must live within our means, and cannot rely on borrowing. That places our sovereignity at risk.

On Civil Rights: Government shouldn't redefine marriage

Abeler: Strongly Agree

On Education: Oppose nationwide Common Core standards

Abeler: Strongly Disagree

On Energy & Oil: No subsidies for wind and solar

Abeler: Strongly Disagree

On Government Reform: Photo ID for voting

Abeler: Strongly Disagree

On Gun Control: Opposes more gun restrictions

Abeler: Strongly Disagree

On Health Care: ObamaCare risks access to care, ironically

Abeler: Strongly Disagree

Question topic: The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) should be repealed by Congress.

Abeler: Strongly Agree

Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.

Abeler: Healthcare: ACA/ObamaCare has adversely affected cost and quality of our care, and ironically even risks access to care.

On Homeland Security: Our friends don't trust us; our enemies don't fear us

Abeler: Strongly Agree

Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.

Abeler: Foreign policy: our friends don't trust us and our enemies don't fear us. This places our security in peril.

On Immigration: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry

Abeler: Strongly Agree

On Principles & Values: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework

Abeler: Strongly Disagree

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Abeler: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Abeler: Christian. My faith is the foundation for my life and values.

On Principles & Values: Former investment banker; outsider with no voting record

Held at the National Republican Senatorial Committee's Capitol Hill headquarters, the private fundraiser may be the clearest indication yet that McFadden, a former investment banker, has piqued the interest of the GOP establishment in D.C.

"Republicans are impressed with his fundraising and the fact that he is the only candidate to put together a campaign worthy of a statewide race," said an analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. "It also doesn't hurt that McFadden is an outsider with no voting record."

With Franken rated as one of the Congress' most liberal lawmakers, his seat has long been a target for Republicans angling to recapture control of the Senate.

On Education: Oppose Common Core's centralized federal oversight

"The current nationwide trend is to centralize federal oversight of education programs. Lured by the bribe of 'free' money, states are willing to implement Common Core's mediocre standards, give up state and local decisionmaking, and surrender private student information to national data banks. So far, Minnesota is still in charge of its education destiny. But for how long? Looking around, we see that many other states have submitted to an untested, experimental, one-size-fits-all model. Already we are hearing stories of buyers' remorse.

"To preserve the integrity of our K-12 system I have prepared legislation that would create a firewall between Minnesota state government and the federal government. I believe Minnesotans need to be allowed to run their own state."

On Crime: Major overhaul needed for sex offender laws

Of the 698 people now enrolled [as juveniles], 52 have never been convicted of an adult crime. "No person should be civilly committed based solely on behavior that occurred while that person was a juvenile," the report said. If the Legislature fails to fix the program it risk having it dismantled by a federal judge. Gov. Mark Dayton has halted the provisional release of offenders until the Legislature has a chance to act.

Rep. Jim Abeler, a Republican who also served on the task force, said those who believe changes are necessary--he counted himself in that group--might have to push forward even if it's divisive. "If we can't reach a truce, that doesn't mean the problem then goes away," Abeler said.

On Budget & Economy: Led $3.8B in human services cuts to close MN budget gap

Abeler said the $17 trillion national deficit, and massive debt to foreign countries, are issues that national legislators will need to contend with. "If we don't get that under control, it will consume us," he said.

Abeler said his past legislative experiences would help in trying to find a solution. When Minnesota was faced with a $6 billion state deficit in 2011, Abeler led the committee that found a way to cut $3.8 billion in human services spending through permanent reductions. Cuts were made carefully to avoid harming the people who receive state services, he said. As a measure of the bill's success, he noted that Gov. Mark Dayton has kept the reductions in place.

On Health Care: Big companies benefit from ObamaCare but not regular people

On Health Care: Preventative care; coordinated treatment; low-income clinics

"We need to import Minnesota ideas into the health system. It's pricing in a way that looks at the total cost of care. It's medical homes that coordinate treatment. It's caring for low-income people through community clinics. It's covering preventative care. We take that as normal--but it's not the norm around the country.

"ObamaCare went wrong when it focused entirely on access, and not on cost and quality. Now we have to address cost and quality, or the access won't be there, either. In Minnesota, we know how to do that. I've been part of making that happen."