by John Wagner The Washington Post The Washington Post's John Wagner was the print pool reporter at campaign events in Hibbing, Minnesota, Friday. Here is the complete, unedited report.
Pool report from Hibbing, MN
John Wagner
The Washington Post
[email protected]
Prior to his event this morning at Hibbing High School, Bernie Sanders held back-to-back meetings in the school library with two groups: Native Americans from the Chippewa tribe and members of United Steelworkers locals.
Sanders entered the school library at 9:21 a.m. accompanied by his wife, Jane, and carrying a cup of coffee and some folded papers.
“Good morning. My wife, Jane,” he said as he greeted the group of about a dozen people seated around a conference table and began shaking hands.
“We don’t have a lot of time, so let’s get to work,” Sanders said, asking the participants to share issues impacting the Native American community. “What’s good, what’s not so good?”
He was told there were participants from five different nations present, including elected council members. (A list provided by the campaign is below.)
In response to a concern about federal funding flowing to tribes, Sanders said: “Sequestration is a very stupid way to do budgeting.”
A representative of the Chippewa Tribal Council relayed that poverty is a big issue.
Sanders ticked off several of his proposals to fight poverty: a $1 trillion federal jobs program aimed at rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, a $15 minimum wage, pay equity for women and free tuition at public colleges and universities.
Sanders was asked about the quality of healthcare and was told the Indian Health Service provides worse funding than what federal prisoners receive. He said in the grand scheme of things it would not have a major impact on the federal budget to provide better funding.
Sanders asked about drug and alcohol abuse: “Is this something that kids are gravitating toward?”
He was told of too-frequent overdoses from heroin, meth and painkillers.
The discussion next moved to youth suicide. Other topics include the quality of education, access to broadband and the impact of climate change on growing wild rice.
In response to the latter issue, Sanders talked briefly about his plans for addressing climate change, saying: “We have got to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel.”
As the meeting started to wrap up, Sanders said that “throughout my entire life, I have stood with the oppressed.”
“I’m not going to make any promises, but check my record out,” he said.
He praised Native Americans, saying: “You have had a huge impact on the best aspects of American life.”
Sanders apologized for not having more time, saying that was a constant frustration of the campaign.
He concluded at 9:47 a.m.
“We’re rooting for you,” one participant said as Sanders got up. “You’re going to take Minnesota.”
By 9:49, Sanders and his entourage had moved to an adjoining room in the library, where about two dozen steelworkers were waiting in a corner with computers. (A list is pasted below.) They rose as Sanders entered.
“Please, please, sit down,” Sanders said. “My wife, Jane.”
“I apologize, we don’t have a lot of time,” Sanders said.
Sanders was presented with a jacket from United Steelworkers 1938, which he wore at the rally in the high school that followed.
After Sanders asked the workers to talk about their issues, he heard about recent layoffs attributed to trade deals and “dumping” of steel from China and elsewhere.
Sanders relayed his long opposition to trade deals, starting with NAFTA, shortly after he entered Congress.
“You all know what these trade agreements are about,” he said. “I never believed in this from day one.”
Sanders also heard about cheap imports of paper and raw pulp from Brazil and elsewhere. (The union represents paper workers as well.)
This prompted Sanders to talk about his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which he said includes Vietnam and Malaysia.
In Vietnam, he said, the minimum wage is 56 cents an hour. Malaysia, he said, has “indentured servants.”
Sanders also heard about challenges faced by union members who work in nursing homes. He was told wages are not sufficient and there are too many patients compared to staff.
Sanders was told that some nursing home workers write into their bargaining agreements provisions to ensure residents get adequate snacks because otherwise they wouldn’t be provided. Sanders shook his head in disbelief.
“Alright, what else should I know?” Sanders asked.
“What is the quality of China’s steel?” he inquired.
He was told it’s not very good.
Sanders relayed that he had visited Flint, Michigan, on Thursday.
“It’s like not a Third World country,” Sanders said. “It’s like a Fourth World Country.”
Sanders then talked about his plans for infrastructure spending.
Sanders wrapped up by talking about his pro-labor record and his consistent support for unions.
“I don’t go to Wall Street in the morning and talk to the unions in the afternoons,” he said.
He promised he would be “the strongest pro-labor president in the modern history of America.”
He departed at 10:08 a.m.
Participants in the first meeting (as provided by the campaign):
Leech Lake Tribal Council Member LeRoy Fairbanks
Bois Forte Net Lake Elder John Iversen
Bois Forte Tribal Government Council Member KarleneChosa
Bois Forte Elder Donald Chosa
White Earth Acting Tribal Chairman Steven Clark
White Earth Secretary-Treasurer Tara Mason
White Earth Tribal Attorney Leonard Fineday
White Earth Strategic Affairs Coordinator Leonard Roy
Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe Lenore King