Karin Housley in 2017-18 Special Election for U.S. Senate in Minnesota
On Crime:
Rehabilitative programs in prisons cut down on recidivism
Currently, the U.S. prison system incarcerates 2.2 million people, the largest prison population in the world and one populated by mostly nonviolent offenders, according to reports by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics.Citing her experience as a
state legislator with a high concentration of prisons in her district, Housley said much of the issue of incarceration comes down to broken individuals--people who come from dysfunctional backgrounds and lack the education to make positive changes in
their own lives.
By incorporating rehabilitative programs in these prisons, Housley said, more incarcerated individuals can return to being productive members of society, which in turn cuts down on recidivism.
"I really am in support of those programs. I know a lot of people aren't, but I am because if they're remorseful and they want to lead a productive life--besides, our workforce needs them," Housley said. "That's where we should focus our resources."
Source: Brainerd Dispatch: 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election
Jul 31, 2018
On Drugs:
Focus opioid resources on prevention, treatment, & education
The number of Minnesotans who succumbed to drug overdoses rose from 129 to 637 between 2000 and 2016. In 2016 alone, 395 deaths and more than 2,000 hospitalizations were directly tied to opiate abuse.
"What we really need to focus our resources on is prevention, treatment and education," Housley said. "I think that would go a long way toward stopping the epidemic across the country."
Citing personal experience with a family member, as well as speaking with constituents across Minnesota, she said it requires a wholesale effort from the state to Congress, educating kids in second grade on the issue all the
way up to maintaining the kind of treatment facilities people who are addicted need.
She noted Adult & Teen Challenge as a particularly effective program she would like to see emulated in other areas.
Source: Brainerd Dispatch: 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election
Jul 31, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Diverse portfolio of energy: wind, solar, fossil fuels
Housley said she is in favor of renewable sources of energy. But, she said, she does not favor a homogeneous set of energy sources, instead electing for a diverse and balanced portfolio--whether that's wind power or solar, or oil and
other forms of fossil fuel."Nobody disagrees that clean energy is good energy, but it's not the only source of energy," Housley said. "You really have to work with everybody and not be all in on one form of energy."
Source: Brainerd Dispatch: 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election
Jul 31, 2018
On Government Reform:
Supports Citizens United: let corporations participate
On big money in politics: "I'd rather be out talking with communities," Housley said. "I wish campaigns didn't have to cost so much, but they do. I'm in support of a free market when it comes to campaigns."She noted while sometimes it's necessary
to spend large sums to campaign in population-thin areas like greater Minnesota, the high influx of donor and political action committee dollars complicates races.
Often, Housley said, a candidate is endorsed by a group or message they don't support
themselves and this also plays out with how outside money--or money funding political campaigns or candidates by groups outside the constituency--is handled in national elections.
Housley said she is in support of the
2010 Supreme Court ruling granting corporations personhood, or similar rights and privileges as human beings--Citizens United v. FEC. "I would be in support of the way it is right now," she said.
Source: Brainerd Dispatch: 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election
Jul 31, 2018
On Gun Control:
No background checks nor buyers' waiting periods
Housley said, " I'm pro-Second Amendment. I think our gun laws are extremely important, especially greater Minnesota, where it's sportsmen-land. It's the rights of everybody in the United States, the right to bear arms."Housley said she is not in
favor of any moderate gun-control measures--namely, background checks, buyers' waiting periods or inter-state records transparency. There's already a solid law framework in place, she said, it's just a matter of applying it.
"We need to enforce the
gun laws that we have," Housley said. "I don't think there is a need for more gun laws in any of the incidences we have across the country. Things have fallen through the cracks and the gun laws on the books were not enforced."
Housley characterized
the high rates of gun violence as a mental health issue, one that can be addressed with increased emphasis and funding on mental health services. "That's absolutely where I want to spearhead this issue," she said. "That's where resources are needed."
Source: Brainerd Dispatch: 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election
Jul 31, 2018
On Health Care:
Buy health insurance like we do our car insurance
Calling it "one of the greatest failures of the Obama administration," Housley criticized ObamaCare: "One-size-fits-all from Washington, D.C., didn't work," Housley said. "We have to create a better health care system that doesn't increase
costs and it needs to be done right away."Housley said the system in place in Minnesota prior to ObamaCare was imperfect, but far superior to its successor. "It needed some tweaks," said Housley. "But to turn it all on its head and
all the bureaucracy--then another layer of bureaucracy, when Dayton and Smith created MnSure, that $90 million failure on top of it, it dug into people's pocket books."
Instead, Housley said, the state of
Minnesota and the nation as a whole should look at moving back toward a free-market system--"Where you buy health insurance like we do our car insurance," she said--or implementing a employer-based health saving plans.
Source: Brainerd Dispatch: 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election
Jul 31, 2018
On War & Peace:
Supports Trump's prioritizing of American interests abroad
Currently, the United States has $696 billion for the 2018 military budget--similar numbers to World War II levels--and it's estimated the U.S. spent trillions of dollars on its various conflicts across the globe the prior decade.
Housley said she is in favor of maintaining a strong pipeline of funding for military initiatives. "Making sure that those who fight for our freedom have the tools to fight for our freedom, I think military spending is extremely important,"
Housley said. "I know Tina Smith would want to decrease our military spending."
In terms of foreign military policy, Housley praised Trump and said she supports his policies emphasizing national defense and prioritizing of
American interests abroad--especially in comparison to former President Barack Obama, but also former President George W. Bush.
Source: Brainerd Dispatch: 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election
Jul 31, 2018
On Environment:
Unequivocal support for PolyMet copper-nickel mine
Sen. Tina Smith and Sen. Amy Klobuchar introduced an amendment to the annual federal defense spending bill to expedite an exchange of Minnesota land between the federal government and the mining company PolyMet.
The land exchange is a prerequisite for PolyMet to build a copper-nickel mine--the first mine of its kind in Minnesota--near Hoyt Lakes, on northeastern Minnesota's Iron Range.
Smith's would-be general election opponent, GOP state Sen.
Karin Housley, says Smith doesn't truly have miners' interests at heart.
In a statement, Housley accused Smith of pandering and claimed that she has come around to PolyMet now that she is running
statewide and needs to secure votes on the Iron Range.
"From the beginning, I have unequivocally supported the PolyMet proposal--and the hundreds of jobs that would come with it," Housley said.
Source: Minneapolis Post on 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election
Jun 13, 2018
On Education:
Work together to improve the public school system
"Minnesota is home to some of the brightest students in the nation, taught by passionate, driven educators whose days are spent in the classroom doing incredibly important work--and doing it well. My mom and dad were both public school teachers;
my four kids are the products of public schools. I know firsthand the enormous impact a good education can have--and there's nothing I love more than a passionate, substantive conversation on how we can work together to improve public education.
Source: 2017-8 Minnesota special election site HousleyForSenate.com
May 3, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Pitched for gay rights but no specifics
Housley is a legislator married to current NHL head coach and worked in TV, radio and real estate. She was elected to the state Senate in 2012. I decided to put this post up to give you access to one of her first interviews.
She broke with Trump on a couple of things--she is an enthusiast for net neutrality, she's for a path to legal status for the "dreamers";˙ she made a strong pitch gay rights, without specifics.
Source: Minneapolis Post on 2017-8 Minnesota Senate special election
Apr 27, 2018
On Families & Children:
If women are empowered and independent they don't need laws
"I think sometimes when we legislate to help women, we actually aren't helping them," Housley said. "I think it's more what I like to do with women, is just really empower them to be strong and independent and not do it through laws." She said that
education is also key,˙given that Minnesota has "a lot of different cultures.""And just being a strong independent woman is much more important than legislating anything to help women out," she said.
Source: Huffington Post on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Apr 27, 2018
On Immigration:
Supports path to legal status for DREAMers
Housley is a legislator married to current NHL head coach and worked in TV, radio and real estate. She was elected to the state Senate in 2012. I decided to put this post up to give you access to one of her first interviews.
She broke with Trump on a couple of things--she is an enthusiast for net neutrality, she's for a path to legal status for the "dreamers";˙ she made a strong pitch gay rights, without specifics.
Source: Minneapolis Post on 2017-8 Minnesota Senate special election
Apr 27, 2018
On Corporations:
De-regulation could be new stimulus to help small business
Regulations are the new tax, so I think what we can do to help our nursing homes and our assisted living is crafting legislation that works for them but still protects our seniors.
Regulations in our small businesses, regulations alone, we have too many of them across the board. I think helping our businesses with less regulations, helping them grow, helping them create jobs. Helping our businesses is really important to me.
Source: Hutchinson Leader on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Feb 18, 2018
On Government Reform:
Switch from partisan way of governing back to compromise
What's the place of bipartisanship today in national politics? "It's missing. I think it's missing and that's why a lot of people are frustrated with our politicians. Because they dig their heels in and somewhere along the way compromise got to be a
bad word. I'm still going to stick to my core principals and values, but it doesn't mean I'm not going to work with the other side to listen to theirs and find something in the middle. I think the public is very frustrated with their politicians."
Source: Hutchinson Leader on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Feb 18, 2018
On Homeland Security:
Put veteran programs in place for active and retired
My dad was a veteran, so that one is really big. And especially working with Rep. Urdahl and Sen. Bruce Anderson at the state level was really a big help for me sitting on the veterans committee.
I want to make sure those veterans programs are there so when those who are serving in the military come back, they'll still be able to get benefits from them."
Source: Hutchinson Leader on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Feb 18, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Traditional homespun values keep her honest and guilt free
My dad would every day, tell us 3 girls: 'Work hard, play fair and do the right thing.' Every day I keep that with me. But my mom would say, 'And you make sure to put God first.' So that's my core values, it's really always doing the right
thing and putting everything in perspective. And even at the State Capitol, I'm not going to lose sleep over the way I voted. I want to make sure I did the right thing for my district and at the end of the day that's all you can do.
Source: Hutchinson Leader on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Feb 18, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Supporter of Trump tax reform bill; jobs are being created
I agree with the president on most of his policies that he has put out. I think getting this tax reform bill passed was a huge win for him and for the people of this country. And that's what I'm hearing when I travel around Minnesota is more jobs
[are] being created, companies like Apple bringing $350 billion they had off shore back into the United States creating 20,000 jobs, that's just Apple alone. People are happy with that. You can't argue with that.
Source: Hutchinson Leader on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Feb 18, 2018
On Immigration:
Backs pathway to citizenship for DREAMers
Housley said she is sympathetic with the "Dreamers"--those stuck in the immigration debate over allowing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought over by their parents as children. "I don't think it's
right to tell them go back to their country because this is the only country they have ever known," Housley said. "We really need to make sure there is a path for them to remain here. I'm really hoping that will be settled by March."
Source: Marshall Independent on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Jan 31, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Economy will boom with more tax reform and deregulations
State Sen. Karin Housley, R-St. Mary's Point, wants south-central Minnesota to know she cares about one major priority: Jobs, jobs, jobs, here in Minnesota. Better paying jobs. Higher paying jobs. Jobs for college graduates.
And continued tax reform and deregulation from Congress to allow economic development to boom in southern Minnesota. "It's just making sure that the economy continues to grow, and that we have jobs for our kids and for us," Housley said Tuesday.
Source: Mankato Free Press on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Jan 30, 2018
On Health Care:
Examine and revamp failed health investigations
Sen. Housley is a strong advocate for seniors. During the hearing, she said "How long did the DOH know this was going on and cover it up? I have to say it's been disappointing to learn what's been happening for the last I don't know how many years."
The acting commissioner replied "We openly acknowledge that in recent years the Office of Health Facility Complaints really has not met the reasonable and appropriate expectations when it comes to investigating maltreatment complaints."
Source: LetFreedomRingBlog.com on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Jan 28, 2018
On Corporations:
Small business needs lower taxes, less government to survive
In a statement to potential supporters and in interviews Tuesday, Housley pitched herself less as a conservative ideologue than a can-do champion of Minnesota ideals with a conservative approach.
Her statements focused on her family, her work to protect seniors living in assisted-living centers, and her beliefs that small businesses need lower taxes and fewer government obstacles to succeed.
Source: Twin Cities Pioneer PressL 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Jan 25, 2018
On Abortion:
Pro-choice advocates don't represent state's everyday values
After 2 weeks as a U.S. senator, Tina Smith already has some vocal opponents as she begins her campaign for the November election. So far, state Rep. Karin Housley is the only confirmed GOP challenger for Smith's Senate seat. She issued a statement
saying that the new senator's career as a longtime Democratic operative "and role as a leader in pushing for abortions as a Planned Parenthood executive gives reason to be concerned as to whether she will stand up for everyday Minnesota values."
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune: 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Jan 20, 2018
On Crime:
Fight to end criminal elderly abuse in senior care homes
Sen. Karin Housley, chairwoman of the Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Policy committee, said the state must act swiftly to address what she termed "an emergency situation" involving criminal abuse in senior care homes that goes uninvestigated and
unpunished. "This must stop," Housley said in an interview. "When you hear these horrific stories of abuse, and hear reports of families waiting years for some resolution to an investigation, you realize that we need more resources in this area."
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune: 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Nov 16, 2017
On Energy & Oil:
Increase Minnesota's Renewable Energy Standard to 50%
Lawmakers from both parties were chief authors of a bill to increase Minnesota's Renewable Energy Standard to 50% by 2030. The legislation would update existing Renewable Energy Standard, which has lowered energy costs, grown clean energy jobs, and
increased tax payments to communities. This outstanding leadership by Rep. Joe Schomacker, Rep. Erin Maye Quade, Sen. Karin Housley, and Sen. Nick Frentz helps build on Minnesota's tradition of bipartisan support for market driven clean energy policy.
Source: Fresh-Energy.org on 2017-8 Minnesota special election
Feb 27, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 10, 2018