SARTELL, Minn. - Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota, returned to her 6th district for the first time since accusing U.S. officials of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and terrorism. Among those Bachmann accused was fellow Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison of Minneapolis, the only Muslim member of Congress. She spoke to reporters after meeting with City and County leaders at Sartell City Hall.
"As a member of Congress, who sits on the Intelligence Committee, my main concern is safety and security and sovereignty of the American people and that's my concern. My concern is about terrorism. I am not concerned about anyone's religion. It has absolutely nothing to do with that. That is completely misunderstood. My concern is about terrorism," said Bachmann.
She rushed off to another stop before reporters could clarify her position on Representative Ellison. Earlier in the day, after a visit to the Thrift White Pharmacy in Cold Spring, Bachmann side-stepped an opportunity to endorse her old Presidential rival Governor Tim Pawlenty for the Vice Presidential slot on the GOP's Mitt Romney ticket.
"He certainly is in consideration," said Bachmann. "A lot of Minnesotans are very hopeful that he will be the one that will be chosen, but again, I really trust Governor Romney's judgement on this."
In the pharmacy CEO Bob Narveson showed Bachmann his company's new system for medication management. It relies on "Medication synchronization" to have a weekly or monthly supply of medications purchased at once, instead of having patients make multiple trips. It also includes individual packets of pills for breakfast, lunch and dinner, clearly marked by date to avoid confusion and over-medications.
At Sartell City Hall, Bachmann said her congressional duties prevented her from appearing earlier with other officials to confront the loss of the fire-damaged Verso Paper Mill.
"We already have a site that is conducive for industry," said Joe Perske, Sartell Mayor. "So, question is: what are we going to do with that site?"
In the short term as far as the city is concerned obviously, the number one issue would be let us get someone else there," Bachmann said. "We want to get the jobs back. That is why the most important thing is to find another buyer."
Bachmann said turning control of the Sartell Hydropower dam to the Army Corps of Engineers is under consideration as part of a project for the Verso site.
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