Election 2018: House of Representatives District 16A
Chris Swedzinski
Christopher “Chris” Swedzinski (born May 10, 1978) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represents District 16A, which includes Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Yellow Medicine counties in southwestern Minnesota. Basically, “I have a ton of hobbies and interests: farming, welding, auctions, garage saling, deal finding and most recently, raising a few sheep and goats.” “I like good, clean fun — with some politics sometimes mixed in.”
“Things that I’m grateful for: my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ taking the punishment for my sins, my dog Kimber, wife Jess and kids. Also check out swedesteelworks.com for your home décor needs.”
“As a lifelong resident of Greater Minnesota, I understand the issues that are important to people in our area and continue going to bat to deliver a healthy economy, safe roads and bridges, and health care we can afford,” Swedzinski says.
Issues include:
Historic tax cut: It had been nearly two decades since Minnesotans received meaningful tax relief. “We changed that this biennium by delivering $650 million in tax relief to Minnesota families in 2018-2019 and $790 million in 2020-2021. Practically everyone is benefiting, from middle-class families to students, seniors, farmers, veterans and beyond. I am especially proud of the fact that through our work, nearly 284,000 senior citizen tax filers received tax reductions; 72,000 of those no longer pay state income tax on their social security benefits.”
Advocating for Greater Minnesota and the ag. industry: “Numerous House Republican efforts to support Greater Minnesota also paid dividends, such as legislation I personally led to enactment extending the moratorium on changes to ditch-mowing regulations. We also continue working on behalf of people in Greater Minnesota by enacting buffer strip grace periods. We reduced the tax burden on school referendums and provided beginning farmer tax credits to help establish the next generation of farmers. Another new law in our state allows organizations with member owners — such as farm cooperatives — to provide health insurance to their members, giving farmers the opportunity to secure health insurance with stable costs, but also allowing them access to the local doctors.”
Largest investment in roads and bridges: “We all agree our roads and bridges need improvement and House Republicans delivered over the past two years.” He said, “The Legislature invested a historic level of existing funds into our transportation infrastructure without increasing the gas tax. This includes a package enacted last year with more than $300 million in funding for roads over two years, with an additional $16 million for small cities’ road projects. We provided another $57 million in funding for roads and bridges this year, with a majority of that dedicated to small cities assistance, township road aid, and local bridge replacement.” “On top of all that, this year’s Capital Investment package provided more than $540 million for long-term transportation needs.”
Supporting education: The 2017 K-12 Education Budget combined more than $1.3 billion of increased funding, including my provision to include a two percent yearly increase to the per-pupil formula that was requested by our school districts, with proven reforms. “School districts in our area are seeing millions more in new per-pupil funding which means more dollars in the classroom for our students and teachers. The House put student safety first this session by passing $25 million in funding to improve student safety.” The package gave school districts the resources and flexibility necessary to meet their school safety needs. “Getting a grip on health care costs: From 2014-2017, average rates increased by double digits every year, including nearly 60 percent for 2017. Thanks to reforms enacted in 2017, individual market rates for 2018 remained flat or were reduced for most Minnesotans on the individual market. Swedzinski added, “The Minnesota Department of Commerce confirmed last year that without Republican reforms, rates would have risen by 20 percent or more. House Republicans worked quickly to lower costs and increase options for Minnesotans.”
“The emergency premium aid and access reforms we made provided a 25-percent rebate and ensured continued access to doctors for people receiving life-saving treatment.” The Premium Security Plan we implemented is a nationally recognized program which put a stop to double-digit premium increases, reducing premiums by 20 percent on average. “I’m proud of the work House Republicans have done to help our state get back on track.” From double-digit increases to, in some cases, double-digit decreases, is an amazing turnaround. “It just goes to show the approach we are taking in the Legislature is producing results for the people of our district and beyond.”
Tom Wyatt-Yerka
“I was extremely proud to receive the endorsement of the Minnesota House District 16A, Democratic-Famer-Labor,” said Tom Wyatt-Yerka. He said, “It’s an honor to be chosen to represent the values of our party — fairness, integrity, and above all, hope. The record setting crowd was a testament to the DFL energy in Southwestern Minnesota.” He said his reasons for running included, “Because I believe in the future of our home. Sixteen years ago, my family came to Southwest Minnesota, like so many others do — in search of a better life. We found it in Marshall. We found it as small business owners. Most of all, we found it in the great schools, the wonderful people, and in the seemingly endless opportunities available to everyone who called our community home. We may not have been rich, but we had hope in our future — and that was enough.”
He added, “Today, however, the same institutions which have made Southwest Minnesota great are being torn down and worn away. Today, our ‘Right to Be Rural’ is under attack. Today, we work longer and harder than ever before, while the rich get richer and we struggle to get by. Today, we face challenges greater than we have ever faced in the past, and our leaders remain silent.” “I know that it’s difficult to be inspired when our leaders seek division rather than unity, and regression rather than progress — but, looking across Southwest Minnesota, I can’t help but be filled with hope.”
“Hope that in such historic times, we can leave our mark. Hope that we will be able to overcome the forces of negativity present in our politics today, and, hope that all of us, united behind common values and a common goal, will make life better for everyone who calls Minnesota home, protecting the ‘Right to Be Rural’ for generations to come.”
Wyatt-Yerka added, “This goal of a brighter future will not, however, come without your help.” That’s because, “Nothing worth doing is ever accomplished alone and if I’m to win election against my opponent, who has held office for eight long years, it will take your support. Since beginning this campaign I have been proud of the fact that it’s a grassroots movement powered by folks just like you — not the elite, special interests, or big business, and I intend to keep it that way.”
Among the key issues Wyatt-Yerka addressed were:
Health Care: Affordable and accessible for all. He said, “Everybody in Minnesota deserves quality, affordable and accessible healthcare that won’t break the bank. Far too many hardworking folks go bankrupt because they get sick — it’s unacceptable in America and it’s immoral that politicians continue to play politics with our lives. We’ll make healthcare more affordable and accessible by strengthening investments in telemedicine, creating a new rebate system to offset the travel costs of seeking healthcare, training and recruiting the next generation of medical professionals right here in Southwest Minnesota, and by creating a public option allowing anyone to buy in to MinnesotaCare.
Economic Development: Putting Southwest Minnesota to work. “From education and infrastructure, to high-speed internet and agriculture, nearly every issue which Southwest Minnesota faces has an economic effect.”
“When our leaders fail to address school buildings that can no longer hold all their students, jobs leaving the region with workers following, and while they continue to use family farmers as political footballs, we all suffer.” Wyatt-Yerka further said, “We’re going to strengthen our local economy by preparing the next generation of our workforce for needed jobs here in Southwest Minnesota through education funding which assures everyone in Minnesota is paying their fair share — no more, no less. By giving local communities the tools to create ‘Rural Opportunity Zones’ in order to attract a talented workforce; by making real investments in high-speed internet; and by prioritizing the needs of family owned farms and business. We’re also going to make long-needed improvements to local infrastructure, including widening local highways and increasing weight limits on roads which have not been touched in decades.”
Government Reform: A government worthy of our trust. “We are deserving of a government which lives up to our values, works to improve the lives of all Minnesotans, and which represents all of us regardless of party or background,” he said. “In recent years, however, government has served as a cautionary tale rather than an example of how to live our values. Rather than compromise, we have seen gridlock; rather than progress, we have seen partisan political fights; and, rather than hard work and humility, we have seen legislators use their seats to further their own political careers,” said Wyatt-Yerka. “We deserve a government worthy of our trust, and we’re going to build it by reforming campaign finance — outlawing legal bribery from lobbyists, lowering the spending limit for campaigns, and making more expenses public knowledge.”
Finally, he said, “We will require all bills be introduced with time for legislators to actually read them, as well as for the public to voice their opinions, and we will introduce term-limits in Minnesota because politics is about serving the people, not yourself.”