Joe Biden in St. Cloud

Friday, July 30, 2010

The Vice President Visits St. Cloud

Vice President Joe Biden was in St. Cloud for a town hall forum at bus maker New Flyer of America in St. Cloud on Thursday March 19, 2009.

You will find complete coverage of the event including, timeline, photos, and audio.

ST. CLOUD VISIT TIMELINE

Here's a minute-by-minute account of Vice President Biden's visit.
by Megan Rinerson, WJON.com

10:00 a.m. The wait for Vice President Joe Biden at New Flyer (Photo by WJON.com's Megan Rinerson)

10:25 a.m. Motorcade is ready and Air Force II should land shortly at the St. Cloud Regional Airport

10:31 a.m. Airforce II has landed and VP Biden is getting ready to go on his way to New Flyer in St. Cloud

10:48 a.m. The VP's motorcade has officially left the Airport

10:54 a.m. I-94 near Opportunity Drive in St. Cloud is shut down while Biden is en route to New Flyer

11:20 a.m. State Senator Tarryl Clark, St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis, Secretary of State Mark Ritche, and formor Vice President Walter Mondale have arrived. (Photo by WJON.com's Megan Rinerson)

11:44 a.m. The U.S Education Commissioner Arne Duncun is now on the stage and more set-up is underway

11:48 a.m. U. S Senator Amy Klobuchar and Vice President Joe Biden have arrived on stage

12:04 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden begins his speech

Biden is joined by Amy Klobuchar, Secretary of Agriculture, Education Commissioner, Transportation Commissioner, and Secretary of Department of Housing and Urban Development (Photos by WJON.com's Megan Rinerson)

12:33 p.m. The townhall forum has started. The first question has been asked.

1:15 p.m. Biden starts to wrap up the meeting with another speech

1:25 p.m. Biden shakes hands with Mayor Dave Kleis and MN Senator Tarryl Clark on his way out the door. (Photo by WJON.com's Megan Rinerson)

AUDIO FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT'S TOWNHALL MEETING
(click play to hear the full forum)

Here are some of the questions asked during the townhall meeting

1. How can immigrants in St. Cloud get help from the U.S for housing and education? The panel answered by saying this is something they would like to see happen with the recovery package.

2. St. Cloud Tech College wants to know how the U.S can help higher education be more affordable for students? Biden says it is difficult for small colleges during this recession because students are dropping out because they can't afford to pay. He says the education funding in the recovery package will help those who maybe thought they couldn't afford college.

3. Seniors can't pay healthcare - how do we retain costs inside the plan? Biden says right now they are beginning negotiations with congress to reform the healthcare system. He says they need to figure out how to drive down costs in this recovery package. He wants to provide for those near retirement and give everyone else a 65% tax credit.

4. How are women going to benefit from the recovery package? Biden says many women are now heads of the household. So this is an important issue. In every way he wants fair treatment and equal pay for women. Obama has put together a task force focusing on women.

5. What do you and the Obama administration have in store for veterans? Biden says the administration needs to vastly increase money for the VA. And, they are implementing the G.I. bill for veterans.

6. Where can we get funding for the Northstar commuter rail? Biden says he can't dictate where the money goes on a local level. He hopes St. Cloud will get the rail, but the first decision needs to be make by the locals.

Vice President Biden listens to a question from the audience. (PHOTO: Megan Rinerson, WJON.com)

What would you ask the VP?

We asked WJON.com visitors to weigh-in on what they would ask VP Biden. Here are some of their responses.

How soon will the Iraq war be over? I have a cousin in Iraq and I want him home soon.
-- Patrick of Kimball

Why do you have to be late on your house payments in order to qualify for the remodification program?
-- Jacob of Sauk Rapids

Will you support extending Northstar Commuter Rail Service to St. Cloud? It's current northwest terminus will be Big Lake, MN and without federal help this important transportation link for Central MN will not happen. Economic development in our area will be greatly enhanced as a result of this infrastructure improvement.
-- Stearns County Commissioner Mark Sakry of Waite Park

I can appreciate the idea of the stimulus money going to banks/businesses to try and create jobs and get the economy going...but, if people still cannot get loans because lending is tight, if people are not comfortable spending money because their debts are high, what negative impact does this still have on the recovery efforts...won't it take time for people to get rid of some of their existing debt so they feel they have discretionary money to spend before we start to see the economy improve?
-- Jim of St. Joseph

SLIDESHOW of the arrival of the Vice President and his entourage.