Fourth Congressional District DFL Candidate Responses to a Short Questionnaire on Transportation, Environment & Related Issues Candidates were asked to respond to seven questions on transportation, energy, environment, housing, and wilderness/park issues. The questions were developed by delegates not affiliated with any campaign or candidate. Rafael Ortega Questionnaire Responses: 4. A significant transportation issue in the heart of the 4th District is Ayd Mill Road. What is the best long-term solution for the Ayd Mill Corridor and why? The opportunity before us with regard to any stretch of highway, railroad or other corridor is to ask how does it fit into a broader plan for the Metropolitan area and for Minnesota? I believe that this is a central question before us with regard to the Ayd Mill Corridor. The best long-term solution is one in which we are planning holistically for the seven county area and one in which we better integrate all modes of transportation. 1. Is transportation a significant environmental issue? Explain why or why not. Transportation is a significant environmental issue and therefore we need to make certain that we safeguard the environment while attending to the transportation needs of our citizenry. Congress also sees transportation as an environmental issue. When Congress passed the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21) in June of 1998, this landmark legislation included an important acknowledgement that transportation does have important environmental ramifications. TEA-21 establishes private sector mitigation banks in support of wetlands. In addition, TEA-21 also increases annual funding for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program and for transportation enhancements. The bill also extends the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. The bill also calls for more research programs that will ultimately mean safeguarding the environment, while continuing to address the transportation needs of the nation. In all of our transportation planning efforts in Minnesota, we must place a high priority on ensuring that our environment is safe and protected. 2. How would you propose balancing the transportation funding needs of urban, suburban, and rural constituents? We can balance the funding needs of urban, suburban and rural constituents by reframing our understanding, cooperation, support, and planning for a regionally efficient and integrated, intermodal transportation system. Our plan must be geographically broader in scope so that it encompasses and provides for all of Minnesota. We need to see each part, urban, suburban and rural as interdependent and components of the same plan in which all of Minnesota benefits. In addition, right now, transportation is as complex and as layered as government can get. We really need to reframe our entire view of the issue. First, we must step back and think about what transportation means to us as Americans? Transportation allows us mobility, and the freedom to travel across our great land. Second, we also need to streamline the different roles between the federal government, the State of Minnesota, the Metropolitan Council and local units of government and how they interact in planning, funding, building and maintaining our transportation system. Does this multi-layered approach to our transportation system lend itself to greater efficiencies? Or are we possibly diffusing our efforts and potentially sub-optimizing our transportation system, putting us at risk falling behind the rest of the country. As your Congressman I will fight for this new vision of weaving a better way for solving our transportation needs. 3. What is your opinion of TEA-21, the federal transportation funding law? Does Minnesota receive its fair share of federal transportation funding? Does the 4th District receive its fair share? The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century is far reaching and a landmark legislation that ensures that we are providing for our transportation system for America well into the future. TEA-21 sets forth a new framework for how we better integrate our transportation modalities and it also provides for research into newer technologies that can increase safety and efficiency for nation's transportation system. Both Minnesota and the 4th Congressional District do not receive our fair share of federal transportation funding. How can we increase our ability to receive a fair share? First, we need to take a new approach to solve our transportation needs in Minnesota. Our plan must be broader in scope so that it encompasses all of Minnesota. Second, in this broader lexicon, we also need to provide for integration of a whole array of transportation modalities. Third, our plan must be environmentally safe. Fourth, we need to think globally and act locally. Throughout the world, there are newer and more efficient modes of transportation that are smartly being integrated into existing transportation systems, such as the Japanese high speed rail system, the Shinkansen. In Europe, there are numerous examples of new rail systems such as the German ICE, or Spanish Thalys. In this regard, TEA-21 sets forth the vision for America not to fall behind the rest of the world in integration of newer modalities of transportation. Minnesota ought to be a leader as well. Fifth, we need to streamline and simplify the highly complex and confusing government mechanisms by which we research, plan, build and maintain our entire transportation system in Minnesota. To recap, we can receive our fair share of federal transportation dollars by building greater cooperation among us in Minnesota. The key for us is to develop a better way of creating a broader transportation plan and one that clearly integrates all modes of transportation. Also, we have to streamline the complexity of government in how we manage transportation. 5. Do you have any specific proposals for improved energy conservation or energy self-sufficiency for Minnesota? Yes, however I believe our DFL platform really sets forth a terrific vision for what we need to do for Minnesota regarding energy conservation and energy self-sufficiency. Our platform calls for such action as requiring Minnesota power companies to commit a designated percentage of their revenue to research leading to alternative energy sources. It also asks for promoting the use of coal, with environmental safeguards and developing a multiple-use concept for public buildings and facilities so they can be used as much as possible. 6. What is your position on motors in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park? I agree with the DFL platform position on this matter. I support the US Forest Service implementation of the 1978 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act, and oppose opening additional wilderness areas within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park to motorized use, or to mineral exploration and mining. 7. What steps would you propose to address the severe lack of affordable housing for low-income individuals and low-income working families? In this booming economy, affordable housing has become more and more difficult to obtain for too many of our neighbors. Currently, the vacancy rate of rental properties in the Metro area is less than 2%. The economic law of supply and demand has allowed the marketplace to raise rents to the point that too many families (especially those making less money) are being forced to spend a larger amount of their limited resources on housing. This means that these families then have less money for other necessities. It also makes it more difficult for them to ever scrape together enough money to purchase a home of their own. This is an issue that affects us all because the development of affordable housing has not kept pace with demand. Therefore, there is a shortage of all types of housing, such as those targeted to service the elderly or individuals with disabilities. The federal government must provide additional direct resources (Section 8, etc.) to those looking for affordable housing. Tax structures that hinder the development of affordable rental properties must be re-examined and changed to encourage additional building. As a Member of Congress, I would support proposals to ensure that the federal government shoulders its fair share of the costs and responsibility associated with affordable housing assistance.