I Don’t Hate America!

The three remaining Republican candidates wishing to vie for the seat in Congress currently held by freshman DFL Rep. Tim Walz debated for the first time last night in Rochester.

First time? I guess if we’re playing under the “if no one was allowed to see it, it didn’t happen” rules, maybe

The Post Bulletin has coverage of the debate featuring Mayo physician Brian Davis, state Sen. Dick Day and state Rep. Randy Demmer, who collectively form “Team-3D.”

All three were fighting for the anti-immigration vote:

Day said a framework could be put in place that would alert potential employers to the immigration status of job-seekers.

“If we don’t protect our borders, we don’t have a country,” Day said.

State Rep. Randy Demmer of Hayfield and Mayo Clinic physician Brian Davis also said they’re strong believers in adopting a get-tough stance against illegal immigration.

Wow, great original insight, Dick.

The candidates also agreed on the importance of fostering greater energy independence by increasing the domestic oil supply, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and in making sure that DFL Rep. Tim Walz of Mankato is not re-elected to a second term in November.

I thought the cookie-cutter talking point on domestic oil was about “individual liberty and choices,” not energy independence. Oh, you mean this isn’t the Jason Lewis show? Sorry, my bad.

The candidates also seemed to touch on issues such as education, national security and health care.

The PB article did not mention if Iraq or transportation issues were discussed, though apparently Day’s greatest qualification is his old age and newest conquest is apparently earmarks.

“I’m too old to be influenced by power or prestige,” he said.

Day, an 18-year state senator, also said fiscal discipline would be a top priority and that he would shun earmarks.

“I’m a guy that says, ‘no earmarks. We should cut out the earmarks,’” he said.

I wish we could get real and stop with this demagoguery about earmarks. Good luck getting funding for a project, say, I don’t know, Highway 14, to go through the United States Congress in a stand alone bill. People complain about how nothing gets done in Washington as it is; can you imagine how bad it would be if every single line item to be appropriated had to have its own bill? Ollie has her views here.

Will we see Day on a mission to stop omnibus bills in the state legislature, too? Somehow I doubt it.

Tomorrow, Brian Davis will appear on NARN’s “the FINAL word” at 3:00 p.m. on 1280 AM. Glad to see Davis has caught on that it’s easier to reach his prospective voters on a conservative station as opposed to say, this lefty-blog.

If you’re in the First District, or even three miles away from the interchange of Cliff Road and 35E, and thus out of the 5,000 watt station’s reach, they offer convenient web streaming. How sweet of them!

Looks like Canadian Pacific, soon-to-be the new owners (pending Surface Transportation Board [STB] approval) of the Dakota, Minnesota, & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) had a good meeting with the Mayo Clinic and allies.  Press release below:

Canadian Pacific and Mayo Clinic Build Understanding and Commit to Ongoing Dialogue

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic and Canadian Pacific (CP) conducted their first face-to-face meeting yesterday in Calgary and made a commitment to ongoing dialogue among their two organizations and the community of Rochester as CP progresses through its transition planning and the implementation of a safety integration plan for the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern (DM&E) Railroad.

Both CP and Mayo Clinic officials are optimistic about the common ground that was established and the increased understanding each party gained of the other’s business and expectations.

“We had a very open and constructive dialogue and we left with a mutual understanding of each others needs and concerns,” said Glenn Forbes, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Rochester. “We both expressed a strong and firm commitment to work collaboratively, both together and with the community of Rochester, to ensure the highest degree of safety moving forward.”

CP recently acquired the DM&E. The transaction must be approved by the Surface Transportation Board before CP can influence any operational decisions or practices.

Mayo Clinic, on behalf of the community of Rochester, and CP outlined their respective priorities and expectations for rail operations in the Rochester area, should the STB approve the transaction.

During the meeting, and separate from aspects relating to the existing railway and customer base, CP again emphasized that it has made no decisions about its potential to access new coal haulage business in the Powder River Basin area.

“CP has a best-in-class process for relationship development and issues resolution with neighbors and communities in the areas through which we operate,” said Fred Green, President and CEO of Canadian Pacific. “Our solid community reputation is fundamentally based on CP’s commitment to operational safety and environmental stewardship. We were pleased to share this with the Mayo Clinic representatives.”

Officials from both sides consider the meeting a success. “This meeting was the beginning of a long-term constructive relationship based on open dialogue, mutual understanding and compromise,” said Dr. Forbes. “We look forward to hosting CP officials here in Rochester during the first quarter of 2008 to build on the progress made in this first meeting, and the opportunity for CP officials to meet with other members of the Rochester Coalition and other key stakeholders on this critically important issue.”

Now that DJ and I have moved on from Winona State, we hope the DM&E fight does not have to be reignited at our alma mater. DJ covered the DM&E sale to Canadian Pacific in a post a short little while ago. Recently, Congressman Walz and Oberstar met with Rochester leaders to discuss the future of the DM&E project. I wonder what the “Three D’s” (Dick Day, Brian Davis, and Randy Demmer) have to say about DM&E as Rochester represents a large part of district 1.

Here is the press release on the discussions:

U.S. REPS. OBERSTAR AND WALZ DISCUSS DM&E RAILROAD EXPANSION WITH ROCHESTER, MINN., LEADERS

ROCHESTER, Minn. (Sept. 21, 2007) – U.S. Reps. James Oberstar and Tim Walz met with Rochester Coalition and Mayo Clinic leadership today to discuss the sale of the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern (DM&E) railroad to Canadian Pacific and its affect on the proposed Powder River Basin expansion project. As proposed, the expansion of the DM&E line through downtown Rochester remains a major concern for local residents, businesses and Rochester’s Mayo Clinic, which is Minnesota’s largest private employer and a leading worldwide destination for health care.

“We support responsible investment in transportation infrastructure, including rail,” said Glenn Forbes, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic Rochester. “Our goal is simply to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and community. We appreciate the support of Representatives Oberstar and Walz as they begin discussions with Canadian Pacific about the future of this project.”

It remains to be seen if Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of DM&E is a positive development for Rochester and other communities along the line. Canadian Pacific’s willingness to have meaningful discussions about how to mitigate the project’s negative impacts and protect communities along the line is the Coalition’s primary concern.

“This sale represents an opportunity to meet directly with a new set of owners to ensure that the safety needs of our community are addressed in a meaningful way,” said Olmsted County Commissioner Ken Brown. “We see this acquisition as potentially positive and believe the Canadian Pacific will be interested in finding common ground.”

“We have actively reached out to Canadian Pacific and asked for early meetings,” said Rochester City Council President Denny Hanson. “We are optimistic they will work with our community to allow for a safer railroad through southern Minnesota.”

Hat tip to Bluestem Prairie.

The Dakota Minnesota and Eastern (DM&E) has been sold to the Canadian Pacific company for $1.48 billion. Additional payments of $350 million up to $1.1 billion can become due if the much controversial expansion into the Wyoming Powder River Basin occurs. DM&E had been on the auction block since May after the $2.3 billion federal loan they had requested was denied in February. The Winona Daily News has the story from the AP:

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) _ Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. said late Tuesday that it will buy the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp. and its subsidiaries for $1.48 billion cash, gaining access to the coal-rich Powder River Basin in Wyoming.

Canadian Pacific said in a news release that it will pay $1.48 billion in cash at closing and make future contingent payments of up to $1 billion depending on progress on a long-planned expansion project by the Sioux Falls-based DM&E to carry coal from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.

CP said the deal will expand its current network by approximately 2,500 miles and increases its access to Midwest markets for agricultural products, coal and ethanol.

“The DM&E is an excellent fit for Canadian Pacific making this a strategic end-to-end addition to our network,” Fred Green, president and CEO of CP, said in the statement. “The DM&E is a high-quality, growing regional railroad that complements our existing franchise.”

CP said it intends to spend an additional $300 million on further upgrades of the regional railroad over the next several years.

“Canadian Pacific is our natural partner and we are very pleased with this deal. The logic of this acquisition is compelling,” Kevin Schieffer, president and CEO of the DM&E, said in the statement. “I’m proud of the DM&E and the organization we’ve built. … CP is not only a natural operating fit; we also share a commitment to our employees, our customers and the communities we serve as well as a vision for the potential of the Powder River Basin.”

It wasn’t immediately clear precisely how the sale would affect the DM&E’s $6 billion Powder River Basin project, which involves rebuilding 600 miles of track across South Dakota and Minnesota and adding 260 miles of track around the southern end of the Black Hills to the Wyoming coal fields. The rebuilt railroad would haul low-sulfur coal east to power plants.

The project has aroused strong opposition in some communities along the route, especially in Rochester, Minn., where the DM&E’s tracks pass close to the Mayo Clinic.

The sale is expected to close in the next 30 to 60 days and is subject to review and approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

More as it comes in. I am headed to Winona today for a hearing facilitated by the Surface Transportation Board discussing historical preservation procedures for the increased rail traffic that would come with the proposed expansion.

[Update]  The Rochester Post Bulletin has put together a neat little summary of the details of the DM&E’s sale to the Canadian Pacific Railroad.

• Price: $1.48 billion, due at closing within next 30 to 60 days.

• The purchase includes DM&E and a sister railroad, the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern. That system includes 2,500 miles of track, 7,200 rail cars and 150 locomotives. The acquired railroads have about 1,000 employees.

• The deal includes future contingent payments of $350 million if Powder River Basin expansion project construction starts before Dec. 31, 2025, and $700 million based on coal movement over the line by that same date.

• Canadian Pacific announced it intends to invest $300 million upgrading DM&E’s line over the next several years.

• The sale is expected to close in the next 30 to 60 days and is subject to review and approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

Things that make you go “hmmm”:I find it interesting that the Canadian Pacific plans to invest only $300 million into upgrades when the DM&E had previously requested about eight times that from the federal government.

This article we missed from the UK Financial Times published Aug. 13 shows the writing on the wall for the sale: DM&E: Second round bids imminent; unclear if financing commitment still in place.

Time for this blogger to head to Winona. [/Update]