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Sen. Klobuchar Starts the New Year with "Main Street Tour" Through Minnesota

Focus on Economic Challenges and Opportunities

December 31, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS – As she completes her inaugural year in the U.S. Senate,  Amy Klobuchar announced that she is starting the new year by hitting the road with her 2008 Main Street Tour of local communities throughout Minnesota.

“I visited every one of Minnesota’s 87 counties during 2007, and I look forward to doing it again in 2008,” said Klobuchar

She added:  “All over our state, people are concerned about declining home values and rising energy prices, as well as skyrocketing health care costs.  This Main Street Tour will allow me to listen to Minnesotans’ ideas and bring them to Washington.”

During the first week of January, Klobuchar will visit Duluth, International Falls, Grand Rapids, Cambridge, Milaca, Mora, McGregor, Cloquet, Virginia and Ely

Later in the month, Klobuchar will visit communities ranging from Worthington, Marshall and New Ulm in the south to Bemidji, Crookston and Hallock in the north.

Klobuchar noted that economic challenges and opportunities facing Minnesotans are a particular focus of her Main Street Tour. 

“Rising costs for health care, energy and other essentials are putting a tremendous strain on businesses and families,” said Klobuchar. 

For example, she noted:

- Between 2000 and 2006, health insurance premiums have gone up 87 percent, more than four times the growth in wages.
- Gas prices remain near $3 per gallon, double what they were in 2000, with the U.S. Department of Energy forecasting $3.40 per gallon by the spring.
- The average household is expected to pay 11 percent more for heating this winter compared to last year.  Families who rely on home heating oil are facing record prices 30 percent above last winter.

“Too many hard-working, middle-class families are struggling with economic insecurity, while too many businesses are being squeezed on the bottom line,” said Klobuchar.  “Washington needs to respond to these realities with policies that strengthen the opportunities for economic growth and shared prosperity.”

Klobuchar said her Main Street Tour in January includes business meetings and tours at Boise Cascade in International Falls, Marvin Windows in Warroad, the Blandin paper mill in Grand Rapids and Schwan’s in Marshall.  She will also meet with workers in Duluth and review renewable energy projects at the University of Minnesota in Morris.

In addition, Klobuchar will be the featured speaker on January 15 at the 19th annual “Marketplace for Entrepreneurs” economic development conference in Grand Forks.  It is the largest, longest-running economic development forum focusing on the Great Plains region.

Klobuchar will also speak at a climate change forum on January 4 in Ely with Arctic explorer Will Steger and Governor Tim Pawlenty.

In 2007, Klobuchar visited all 87 Minnesota counties by the end of September. With the Main Street Tour, she plans to visit all of the state’s counties again in 2008.

In the Senate, Klobuchar serves on the Commerce, Agriculture and Environment committees.  She also serves on the Joint Economic Committee, which is responsible for researching current economic conditions in the U.S. and recommending public policy reforms to strengthen economic prosperity.

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