Rod Grams: Defender of Minnesota's Families
July, 1997
by Kent Kaiser
Despite his highly public 23-year career as a radio broadcaster and television news anchorman, U.S. Senator Rod Grams of Minnesota is a modest person. Unlike many politicians - and much to the chagrin of his own staff - Grams shys away from self-promotion. As a result, his accomplishments rarely garner media attention.
Even in instances where Grams has been a definitive leader, he seems unwilling to take personal credit for his accomplishments. He speaks of "our" accomplishments, and of things "we" did. Grams plugs along quietly, scoring one win after another for his constituents, without much notice.
United Nations
His work at the United Nations is a perfect example of this. As U.S. Congressional Delegate to the U.N., Grams personally brokered a deal which allows the U.S. to pay less exorbitant dues and which also included important U.N. reforms. Although the deal received little exposure in the media, U.N. observers recognize the deal Grams struck as a phenomenally shrewd breakthrough.
Grams does not take personal credit for this major success: "I think we've made some good strides to make reforms at the U.N.," he acknowledges. "What we've had is a U.N. that's lost its way-it's tried to expand. It's like the federal government. The federal government has had `mission creep'-it's lost its way, it's too big, it doesn't do a good job. Same thing with the U.N. If people only knew how their tax dollars were being wasted! Our reform package is just trying to bring more accountability into it. It can be a very useful body. The U.S. will pay the portion of our [past dues] necessary for reforms to take place regarding the U.N.'s budget, personnel, and activities. If implemented in the next three-year cycle, we will have improved the U.N. I think we're on the right track."
$500 Per Child Tax Credit
Similarly, Grams does not mention that he is the one who originated the idea of giving a $500-per-child tax credit to families. He proposed the tax credit legislation back in 1993, and now it has been embraced by many lawmakers and has been incorporated into the current federal budget deal.
Grams explains, "On the $500 per child tax credit, we started back in 1993, and we still have work to do... Even the $500 per child tax credit is bare bones." He says this current budget deal is better than 1993's $265 billion tax increase. But he adds, "Although we're going in the right direction, it's still not enough." There are strings attached and stipulations involved with the current $500-per-child tax credit proposal that Grams does not like and which will prevent some parents from using it. In addition, there will be tax shifting: "A hardworking couple with children who is lucky enough to get the tax credit is going to pay higher automobile taxes, higher airplane ticket taxes, higher fees to visit our national parks."
Grams changed the terms of the tax and budget debate with his $500-per-child tax credit idea, yet he does not tout this fact. He just focuses on making further strides for families.
Flextime Legislation
For example, Grams has recently begun advocating "flextime" legislation. He explains, "Something like 75 or 80 percent of moms today are working - and more in Minnesota than in most states - and have children in school. That means mom and dad are at work more, and that's because they have to support the federal government - we pay more in taxes than we do for food, shelter, clothing, and recreation combined. Both mom and dad are being forced into the workplace, leaving the kids without the supervision and guidance they need."
He continues, "Flextime goes hand-in-hand with tax relief. Flextime allows flexibility for if there's an important football game on Friday, a dance recital on Tuesday afternoon, a doctor's appointment they have to go to. Right now, if you're going to be responsible to your employer, you can't just take off. What you need to do is to work with your employer, and with the labor laws of 1935, you can't do it. Flextime would change some of that. It would change the 40-hour workweek so you could voluntarily look at a two-week period. Work 35 hours one week, 45 the next to total 80 hours in two weeks. Flextime gives employees the control they need. We're saying, `give people some tax relief and flextime, give them opportunities for the modern workplace, to work around their families' schedules.'"
Political Roots
Grams says that his conservative political philosophy has its roots in his family background. "I guess you'd have to go back and look at my parents and grandparents," he explains. "You know, we were farmers, and we always had the philosophy - I know my dad said it many times - that you always had to make sure you had enough seed for next year. You always had to have enough in reserve that if the crops were bad or whatever happened, you would have enough to come back and plant again next year. When you grow up on a farm, one of nine kids, I think that's where the conservatism comes in. We never had a lot of money, but we ate like kings - I always say that. We never knew we were poor then because the government wasn't there to tell us we were poor. The government is there now to let people know that, even though they're eating well, somehow they're poor - the government does a great job of that!"
Grams also credits his family with instilling his sense of civic responsibility and patriotism. "I can remember coming home from the first grade in school, and when it was Election Day, the flags would be out at the local stores, and my parents and grandparents were always involved, being election judges," he recalls. "It used to be a big deal - they'd serve sandwiches. All the farmers would come into town, and then of course they'd stick around. So it was a real community event. The people in my family were just good grassroots organizers and would talk to their friends and would support other people they thought should be elected. I'll always remember them being involved in politics -always workers, never candidates. It was never the headline type of activity."
Entry Into Politics
Grams entry into politics came more by accident than by design. He explains, "I started my own business back in 1984 [Sun Ridge Builders, a construction and residential development company]. During times like the recession in the housing industry in 1990-91 when it was really tough, it was just glaring how the government really was more in your way and not there to help you do a good job. I'd never planned to be a candidate - it was never a goal of mine to run for public office. But just sitting in my office one day, and going through my books, and looking back over the last year or so, and finding out where my biggest problem was - it wasn't the economy, it wasn't the market, but it was government. I wanted to make the government more responsive. I remember I just picked up the telephone out of the blue, called the Republican party and asked, `If I would decide to run, what kind of support could I expect?' So, it was from that phone call in June of 1991. By November I had decided to be a candidate and gave my notice at work for 60 days. I knew I couldn't work in TV at the same time I was being a candidate. And I also knew if I was going to unseat a 10-year incumbent, I had to make the commitment to run full-time, and that's what I did."
Grams remains highly critical of the type of politicians who created the problems for his business and inspired him to run for office. "A lot of times I look at these politicians, and they'll move from one election to another. They're not really-I don't believe-carrying a message with them. They just want to be elected to something, sometime. They just want the position, and whatever it takes to get there, they'll do; whatever rhetoric is popular at the time, they'll say it."
But there is one political figure Grams credits with influencing the modern political environment in very positive, fundamental ways. "Ronald Reagan has to be head and shoulders above everybody else, when you talk about modern day conservatism," says Grams. "He really put into motion the things that are happening today. I think the vast majority of people reflect that we have to have more of our hard work, respect, accountability, and personal responsibility - the four things I ran on in my campaigns. I attribute that to the foresight and the work of Ronald Reagan."
Religious Faith
When asked to name the most important thing in his life, Grams replies, "Faith - that's got to be first and foremost." Grams, a Missouri Synod Lutheran, says religion is simply an integral part of who he is. About the influence of his faith on what he believes and how he votes, he says, "I think everything you do has to go back to where your roots are. Religion played a big part in my life. When you're in government, I think you begin to realize more and more that you need a lot of help from a lot of other places. You recognize you can't do everything yourself. We attend a number of prayer groups, and I think you'd be surprised how many members of Congress - on both sides of the aisle -attend such groups... Ambassadors from African and European countries have come, and formed prayer groups when they've gone back."
The Future
Certain aspects of the federal government are discouraging, admits Grams. "The government tries to convince the American people that if we only give up a little more of our tax money, if we only give up a little more of our freedom, we'll have security. But I always go back to what Benjamin Franklin said, `He who gives up his freedom for a little bit of security loses both and deserves neither.' This country was based on individual personal responsibility and freedoms, but over the last 40 years of government control, we have given up a little at a time, these freedoms we have, with the idea that it's going to make us secure."
Grams continues, "That's over the past 40 years, but I think people will only see laws put in place or their freedoms taken away for so long before they'll actually have to revolt at the ballot box. I like to use this analogy: I think a lot of people are like Tarzan. They don't want to let go of their vine until they have a secure hold on the next one. They're not willing to throw everything out yet, but they're moving in that direction. We're going more toward the conservative side. Whether it's a Republican or a Democrat, it's going to be the candidates of tomorrow who talk about reinstituting personal responsibility, devolving Washington back more to the state and local levels. So, I'm very optimistic in that. I think we see the signs. And it's going to be the grassroots across the country that are really going to make the difference."
Ultimately, Grams puts a lot of faith in young people and is optimistic about where the nation is headed. "When I was running for Senate, the young people were a big part of our campaign. They are the young leaders of tomorrow; they are the people who are going to make a difference, whether they're on the school board, or a mayor, or just good citizens and parents and want to get involved and make a difference."
Family
In addition to young people, Grams believes that America approaches the future with another key asset. "I think our greatest strength is our families. The government isn't going to be the answer. I think it's going to be the individual and the families themselves that are going to be the answer."
Grams has four children and five grandchildren. About his own family, Grams says, "I think my kids and family are just average like everybody else. You have always the highest hopes and dreams for them, but you also have the same types of setbacks and problems. At the same time, you never desert each other, and if you don't have your family, you don't have much of anything. I've been very honored to be able to hold this seat, and to be able to speak for the people of Minnesota. But it's not something I do on my own. It's the people behind me. My kids are just good kids, average kids, trying to do a good job. They've been good supporters."
Grams concludes, "I just hope it's what we stand for that takes us to the next generation - that's more important than who's carrying the message. I'd rather see the conservative philosophy carried to the next election."
Back to the PFN Front Page