Q&A: 3rd district candidate, Terri Bonoff
MPR News with Tom Weber invited each major party candidate in this year's congressional races to participate in a live debate. DFL candidate for the 3rd District, Terri Bonoff, joined the program for a question and answer session. The incumbent, Republican Erik Paulsen, did not respond to requests to appear on the program.
Bonoff is in her fourth term at the Minnesota state Senate. Paulsen is running for his fifth term in the U.S. House.
Bonoff on Paulsen's withdrawal for Trump
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Paulsen recently told MPR News reporter Peter Cox that he will not be voting for Donald Trump, but Bonoff said that's too little too late.
"I think it represents something the voters ought to be concerned about. A trend where elected leaders seem to be loyal to a party or a special interest before the people," said Bonoff. "I'm not tying their personality together in anyone, what I'm pointing to is his record."
On the Affordable Care Act
"I will call out congress for not having had the courage and the willingness to reform the Affordable Care Act," said Bonoff when Weber pointed out that Paulsen voted to repeal the medical device tax, which would be good for corporations in the district.
"It's failing, and meanwhile [Congress] has voted 60 times to repeal it, rather than taking any action to reform it."
On why she should be elected for Congress
"I'm a third-generation 3rd District resident and business woman," said Bonoff. "I started my career at Tonka toys and ended my career at Navarre Corporation, where I was the first vice president general manager of their largest division. I carried those lessons I learned with me to the Minnesota Senate and earned a reputation of being able to bring people together to tackle these tough issues."