Press Release, December 1&2, 2011
Quist to Oppose Walz for First District Congress
Former State Representative Allen Quist has announced that he will challenge Tim Walz for the First District Congressional Seat. Quist also said he will seek the endorsement of the First District Republicans for the office.
Quist said he has made this decision for two reasons: “The first is that Washington is broken.” Quist said, “Congressman Tim Walz is part of the problem; I intend to be part of the solution.” Quist also said, “Our national debt has doubled in the last 7 years and is now more than $15 trillion—greater than our annual Gross Domestic Product. “Obviously, this cannot continue,” Quist explained, “but the Washington political establishment appears unable to effectively deal with the problem.”
Quist said that because of this huge debt, our economy is struggling to grow and create jobs. Interest on the debt is now the 5th largest federal expense, standing at $454 billion for 2011, he stated.
“The second reason is our nation desperately needs the strong leadership I can provide,” Quist said. He emphasized that he was the person who uncovered and made an issue of the up to $10,000 annual marriage penalty hidden in the health care bill. Quist noted that his ground-breaking analysis of the health care bill has been verified by the Heritage Foundation, by Americans for Tax Reform, and by the research analysis of the Republican Conference in the House Ways and Means Committee.* “The Democrats have not denied my analysis,” Quist said.
Quist additionally takes credit for revealing the income transfer system in the same bill, for taking the lead against the failed Profile of Learning in the Minnesota education system and for being the Minnesotan who exposed the $5,000 per year marriage penalty in the federal and Minnesota income tax codes. This penalty will be reinstated if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire, he said.
“I will take issue with Congressman Walz’s vote in favor of the health care marriage penalty and the entire health care law,” Quist said. “I don’t see how he can defend discrimination against married people—especially when I called it to his attention before he voted for it,” he stated.
Quist clarified that his decision to run is the result of strong encouragement he has received from grass roots Minnesotans. “My allegiance will be to the citizens of the First District and to our Constitution, which I will swear to defend, and nothing else,” he said.
Quist’s top legislative priorities will be to balance the budget without raising taxes, to help create jobs by major reform of the nation’s business climate and to repeal Obama Care while replacing it with real health care reform.
“With the right leadership, our best days can be ahead of us,” he said.
*Web Memo of Heritage Foundation 1-20-10; statement from Americans for Tax Reform 12-7-09; House Ways and Means Republican Conference Report 12-17-09 [See also http://www.quistforcongress.com/]
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