Westrom Calls for Improved Energy Infrastructure at FarmBureau Forum

Press Release

This weekend, at a candidate forum sponsored by the Minnesota Farm Bureau, Seventh Congressional District nominee Torrey Westrom emphasized the need to improve America's transportation infrastructure and implement smarter energy policies to help Western Minnesota's farmers.

At a candidate forum held Saturday at the Todd County Fair, Westrom answered questions about the issues that are weighing the most on farmers and agricultural leaders in rural Minnesota -- chief among them is the continued delays on the Keystone XL Pipeline. Westrom said the most recent delay, issued this spring, is making the railcar shortage worse and farmers who rely on railcars to ship grain are paying the price."

"Farmers are feeling the pinch," Westrom said. "You're paying a premium for having to transport your grain now because of this failed leadership in Washington. We shouldn't have projects like this waiting year after year to be built, having EPA bureaucrats and this Administration standing in the way of energy infrastructure."

Longtime Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson was invited to attend today's forum, but declined the opportunity to provide answers to Minnesota's rural voters. Westrom said Peterson's absence represents the problem with politicians who stay in Washington too long.

"I wish [Peterson] were here today," Westrom said, but "that's what happens after 24 years [in Washington]: you don't have to show up to the voters you represent."

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