State Representative Fran Bradley

October 28, 2004

Negative Attack Campaign Mailings

Friends of Good Government,

I, frankly, did not want to post this letter. But, the time has come to defend myself and my family. Many of you received in the mail over the past few days, as I did, outrageous negative attack mailings on behalf of my opponent. Those of you who know me realize that these mailings are the ultimate in dirty politics. Dirt is dirt, even if it is packaged in an expensive glossy piece of literature.
My opponent, Kim Norton, claims that these independent mailings are beyond her control. How, then, did a DFL candidate in another race stop all party and caucus negative attack ads? This person had the courage and leadership skills to make his/her will known in very strong terms. Apparently, Kim is not as forceful. How would she be successful as a legislator if she cannot better influence her own party or caucus?
With four attack mailings already mailed and, likely, more to come, I will not honor this trash by responding to every distorted point. If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me an email or give me a call (288-3439). Let me take the mailing on health insurance as an example. This one takes the cake! It accuses me of "turning my back" on Minnesotans and siding "with the big insurance companies" because I "could have helped ease health insurance premiums". It also again uses the cookie-cutter ugly phrase, "extreme agenda". Desperation to win at any cost has reached a new low in our local legislative races. I realize that truth is not of interest to those involved in these many distorted campaign mailings. But, I know you are interested in the facts.

1. The Minnesota Medical Association named me Legislator of the Year for my efforts in health care reform and, especially, health care cost containment.
2. The Minnesota Hospital Association also gave me a legislative award for my health care work.
3. Dave Durenberger said, "Fran Bradley is one of only a handful of people in Minnesota who have given meaningful positive leadership in our quest for health care reform. Minnesota needs his continued effective leadership in the state legislature."
4. The Minnesota Physician Publishing Newspaper recently named me one of "100 Influential Health Care Leaders in Minnesota".
5. I carried the Health Care Cost Containment Act of 2004. Much of this act was signed into law and is already creating important actions in health care cost containment.
6. My work in health care and cost containment has received national attention, including membership on key policy committees for the Council on State Governments (CSG) and the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL).
7. I was a member of the Small Business Health Care Task Force, the Bipartisan Legislative Work Group on Health Care Cost & Quality, and the Legislative Commission on Health Care Access (co-chair).
8. I have repeatedly carried legislation to repeal the 2% tax on health care only to be stopped by the DFL Senate Health Care leadership.
I admit opposing a government price-fixing proposal offered by some members of the senate DFL. Without any changes in cost drivers, they would have forced premium increases to be limited to 5%. That would be like the government limiting our wages to minimum because we want to keep the cost of products and services low. We all know that this kind of price fixing would not work. The end result would be no health insurance offered in Minnesota - no company could operate at a loss. Most DFLer's I know recognized the proposal as pure politics, lousy policy.
I have always run positive campaigns based on my community and legislative record. I can understand disagreements on policy and funding priorities based on honest information. But voters deserve a lot better than the type of repulsive campaign methods behind these latest attack pieces and the many directed at Carla Nelson and other candidates in our area.
I hope you express your outrage at the polls - vote for candidates with proven, positive track records who stay with POSITIVE campaigns.

State Representative Fran Bradley

4316 Manor View Dr NW
Rochester, MN 55901
507-288-3439
"franbradley1@charter.net"
www.franbradley.org

 

 

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