Fischbach, Osberg hold televised debate

CD7 candidates talk agriculture, war and affordability

Candidates for Minnesota's Seventh Congressional district faced off on topics including farm policy, economic issues and war this week, during a televised debate.

Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach and DFL challenger Erik Osberg took part in an hour-long debate Thursday night. The debate was aired by Fargo's Prairie Public Broadcasting, and by Pioneer PBS.

Farm policy concerns were one of the first topics the candidates addressed, with a question about whether they approved of measures like year-round sales of E15 ethanol blends, and country-of-origin labeling on meat products, in the U.S. Senate's version of a new Farm Bill.

Fischbach said she "absolutely" agreed with the Senate's changes.

"I worked very hard in the House to make sure that year-round E15 got off of the floor and was sent over there (to the Senate)," she said.

"The House did pass a Farm Bill, I believe back in April," and sent it to the Senate, Fischbach said. "Our (version) did not include E15, because we sent E15 over separately."

Fischbach said both the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill included part of her legislation investing in rural America.

"So absolutely, it is a priority of mine to make sure that we pass that when we get back," she said.

"I do support year-round E15, and I also support country-of-origin labeling for meat products," Osberg said.

However, Osberg also told Fischbach that when she debated Collin Peterson in 2020, she said it was a "dead end" if the House and Senate were not negotiating to get a Farm Bill passed into law.

"I just want to make sure we're using the same standard that you applied" in 2020, Osberg said.

"Getting it out of the House doesn't necessarily make it federal law," he said.

"We're just going through the process right now," Fischbach said.

The Senate had passed a Farm Bill out of committee, she said.

"We have to pass that, and it is an absolute priority of mine," she said.

When it came to improving farm profitability, Fischbach said the USDA was looking at building more fertilizer plants in the U.S. to try and lower input costs.

"In addition to that, we need to create domestic markets," she said. "That's why year-round E15 was so incredibly important."

Osberg said his top priority to help ag profitability would be "Ending the chaos and uncertainty. Congress needs to restore their control over things like tariffs."

Osberg and Fischbach also responded to questions about how they would address overall affordability issues.

"I believe a lot of our affordability issues are constitutional issues," Osberg said.

Congress, and not the executive branch, has power of the purse, he said. In addition, he said, "If Congress restored their authority over war, that would help at the pump as well."

"There's no simple answer to the affordability issue," Fischbach said.

Factors like over-regulation, taxes and the actions of the Federal Reserve all impact affordability, she said.

"We are also looking at a worker shortage," she said.

"I think what we need to do is be able to grow the economy," Fischbach said.

Osberg said that Fischbach had opportunities to act to end a "war of choice" in Iran, and did not do so, through multiple votes.

"I think these are choices that we're making," he said.

Fischbach said that there have been several war powers resolutions on the floor in Congress, but they called for an immediate withdrawal.

"It's dangerous to our troops, and it's not necessarily going to make gas prices go down," she said.

Candidates also responded to a question about how to keep Social Security and Medicare solvent.

"If we don't do anything, according to the numbers I've seen, by the year 2032 benefits will be cut by as much as 25%," Osberg said.

He said there were a few solutions, including the Social Security Expansion Act, which would remove the $184,000 cap on paying FICA taxes.

Osberg said he would "strongly oppose" privatizing Social Security.

"The first thing that we need to make sure that people understand is, we are not going to cut current recipients. Because that is always the scare tactic," Fischbach said.

Beyond that, Fischbach said, addressing Social Security solvency would probably not have a single solution.

"We need to look at a variety of things, and we already are," from investments to retirement age, she said. "We can't do another tax increase."

Fischbach and Osberg were given a chance to talk about how constituents can speak to them directly.

"We have done over 170 visits with businesses and hospitals and groups around the district in the last 18 months, and we'll continue that," Fischbach said.

She said she had also done six "tele-town halls" from Washington, D.C., that reached more than 50,000 people. Constituents could also meet with Fischbach's staff during mobile office hours, she said.

"It's a balance when we're in D.C. three weeks out of a month," she said.

Osberg said he has done more than 300 events around CD 7, with additional events still coming up. Osberg said he has held 30 fish fry town hall events to meet with constituents, with another eight planned before Election Day.

"All are welcome, regardless of political affiliation, at those events," he said. "I take every question that gets asked of me."

The full debate between Fischbach and Osberg is available to watch online, at Prairie Public's YouTube page.