Three vying for Ramstad's seat in Third each claim to know the district's pulse

In the first debate in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, the Republican candidate favored continuing scheduled tax cuts, the Democrat said he's a former Republican, and the Independence Party (IP) hopeful blamed partisan politics for a stalemate in Washington.

Veteran state Rep. Erik Paulsen, the Republican, Democrat Ashwin Madia and IP endoresee David Dillon sought Thursday to convince voters that each is best suited to represent the west suburban Third District. It's a longtime moderate Republican stronghold now considered up for grabs.

Paulsen stressed that he favored extending the tax cuts initiated by President Bush, saying to do otherwise would be "a tremendous mistake, especially on small business."

Madia, the former Republican, said he'd continue the tax cuts for "98 percent" of earners and small businesses, and told the audience, "I'm a moderate, pro-business Democrat." He explained after the debate that he would curtail the breaks for people earning more than $250,000 a year.

Dillon said Congress has failed to make progress on energy policy, transportation and education because of a "locked battle" between Democrats and Republicans.

Free trade, energy, health care and transportation were among key issues discussed in the debate, sponsored by TwinWest Chamber of Commerce and held before about 150 people in Golden Valley.

Although all three candidates claimed to share Ramstad's ideological heritage, he has endorsed Paulsen. Ramstad is retiring after nine terms in office.

On slowing down rising health-care costs, Madia stressed increasing preventive care, electronic billing, in-home hospice care and government-negotiated drug prices. Paulsen proposed pooling health-care plans of small businesses, tax incentives, increasing competition among insurance companies and expanded Health Savings Accounts. Dillon favored better access to cheaper drugs from outside the United States and curbs on lawsuits against the medical industry.

On energy, Paulsen said Congress must "look at opening the Outer Continental Shelf" to drilling and encouraging more nuclear power. Madia supports incentives for business investment and research and "responsible drilling." Dillon endorsed oilman T. Boone Pickens' plan to rely more on wind power and natural gas.

Paulsen is a seven-term member of the Minnesota House and onetime GOP majority leader. Dillon is a printing company executive. Madia is a lawyer and Iraq war veteran.

In explaining his status as a Democratic convert, Madia said he left the GOP because its "fiscally irresponsible policies... just didn't work."

Paulsen chided Madia for supporting a bill in Congress that makes it easier for unions to organize by allowing them the option of gathering signatures of a majority of workers rather than holding a secret ballot election. Paulsen noted that former Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern, a liberal icon from the 1970s, has joined businesses in opposing the change, and labeled Madia as "left of George McGovern."