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Torrey Westrom
RTo be claimed
Former Member, Division on Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture, Minnesota State Senate
Former Member, Division on Transportation and Public Safety, Minnesota State Senate
Former Member, Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, Minnesota State Senate
Chair, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance
Member, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy
Member, Finance
Member, Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
Member, State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
1. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer
2. Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer
3. Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer
4. Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X
5. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer
6. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
- No Answer
7. Should Minnesota government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?
- No Answer
1. The Minnesota government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sectors.
- X
2. The Minnesota government should provide no affirmative action programs.
- No Answer
3. Do you believe that the Minnesota government should recognize same-sex marriages?
- No
1. Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- No Answer
2. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- X
3. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- X
1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- X
2. Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
- X
3. Support "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their full sentences with no chance of parole.
- X
4. Institute the death penalty in Minnesota.
- X
5. Oppose the death penalty.
- No Answer
6. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X
7. Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
- X
8. Support the current law which requires that communities be informed when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- X
9. Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- No Answer
10. Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
- No Answer
11. Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
- No Answer
12. Implement chain gangs in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
- X
13. Support laws requiring restitution to crime victims at the personal expense of the criminal.
- X
14. Implement restrictions on living conditions of state prison inmates (e.g. no weight rooms, no smoking, no frivolous lawsuits).
- X
15. Require inmates to help pay for their health care services.
- X
1. Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
- X
2. Provide state funding for military-style "boot-camps" for juvenile first-time felons.
- X
3. Increase state funding for local community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- No Answer
4. Support state government funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
- No Answer
5. Increase state funding for mentor programs that pair troubled juveniles with qualified college and graduate students.
- No Answer
1. Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways and airports.
- No Answer
2. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up, or relocating businesses.
- No Answer
3. Expand legalized gambling (either state lottery, slot machines or video gambling).
- No Answer
4. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
- X
5. Remove state government controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production and interest rates.
- X
6. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- X
7. Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
- No Answer
1. Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
- No Answer
2. Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
- X
3. Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
- X
4. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
- No Answer
5. Support continuation of charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer
6. Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
- X
7. Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
- X
8. Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- X
9. Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
- No Answer
10. Provide state funding for programs which increase Minnesota students' access to the Internet and other telecommunications networks.
- No Answer
11. Require periodic competency testing for private and public school teachers.
- X
12. Increase state funds for higher education.
- No Answer
1. Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout Minnesota.
- No Answer
2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for polluting industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- X
3. Require a cost/benefit analysis be completed on the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- X
4. Require the state to reimburse citizens when state-sponsored environmental regulations limit the use of privately owned land.
- X
5. Continue to provide funding for recycling programs in Minnesota.
- No Answer
6. Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- X
7. Suspend Minnesota's participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
- X
8. Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
- No Answer
9. Support recent modifications to the Wetlands Conservation Act which provide greater flexibility in fulfilling former requirements for wetlands replacement.
- X
1. State Senators
- Yes
2. State Representatives
- Yes
3. Governor
- Yes
4. Do you support amending the US Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?
- Yes
5. Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes
6. Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes
7. Do you support the current ban on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes
8. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes
9. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- Yes
10. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- Undecided
1. Support expanding the nationwide federal ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- No Answer
2. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer
3. Maintain all state registration procedures and state restrictions on possessing firearms.
- No Answer
4. Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of firearms.
- X
5. Repeal all state bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
- X
6. Allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms.
- X
1. Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
- No Answer
2. Provide tax incentives to assist small businesses in providing health care to their employees.
- X
3. Ensure that Minnesota citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- No Answer
4. Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer
5. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- X
6. Provide tax credits or state-funded vouchers to assist the working poor in receiving health insurance.
- X
7. Support legislation requiring health insurance providers to cover certain medical services (e.g. 48 hr. hospital stay for mothers after childbirth).
- No Answer
1. Abortion
- Eliminate
2. Affirmative Action
- Greatly Decrease
3. Agriculture
- Maintain Status
4. AIDS Programs
- Maintain Status
5. Education
- Greatly Increase
6. Environment
- Maintain Status
7. Health care
- Slightly Increase
8. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase
9. Welfare
- Greatly Decrease
1. Alcohol Taxes
- Maintain Status
2. Business Taxes
- Slightly Decrease
3. Capital gains taxes
- Slightly Decrease
4. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status
5. Income Taxes (incomes less than $75,000)
- Maintain Status
6. Income Taxes (incomes greater than $75,000)
- Maintain Status
7. Property taxes
- Greatly Decrease
8. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status
9. State Fees
- Slightly Decrease
10. Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
- Undecided
1. Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
- X
2. Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
- X
3. Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
- X
4. Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive welfare benefits.
- X
5. Limit the welfare benefits given to recipients if they have additional children.
- X
6. Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
- No Answer
7. Eliminate government-funded welfare and advocate privately-funded assistance to people in need.
- No Answer
8. Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
- X
Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the Minnesota State Legislature. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.
- My top legislative priorities are to enhance rural economic development and to trim government waste.
By Dan Gunderson In their first debate before the Nov. 4 election, Democratic U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson and his Republican challenger, state Sen. Torrey Westrom, repeatedly clashed over health care. But not unlike other Republican candidates across the nation, Westrom, of Elbow Lake, repeatedly tried to link his opponent to President Barack Obama, whom he attacked during the 30-minute debate. "On Congressman Peterson's watch we have seen our national debt skyrocket, Obamacare passed by Democrat leadership, the Keystone pipeline still not built because of President Obama's administration," Westrom said. Throughout the debate in Fargo, Peterson emphasized his independence. He said he voted against the Affordable Care Act and supports the Keystone pipeline project. Peterson also said he has worked with Republicans in Congress. He touted his work on the farm bill, bringing federal aid to rural hospitals and funding outpatient veterans' facilities in the 7th District. The full debate will air at 8 p.m. Friday on Prairie Public Television. First elected to the U.S. House in 1990, Peterson claimed to be one of the most independent members of Congress. "I'm the third most likely guy to vote against his party in either party in the whole United States Congress," Peterson said. "So, I don't know how you can do any better than that." But Peterson is in his most competitive race in years against Westrom, who has served in the state legislature since 1996 and is making his first run for Congress. The candidates agreed on some things. Both support the farm bill, a critical piece of legislation for the western Minnesota district where the economy depends heavily on agriculture. Peterson and Westrom both decried negative advertising by national groups who are pouring millions of dollars into the race. National Republican Congressional Committee ads criticize Peterson for travel reimbursement he gets for flying his airplane around the district. "I don't like the fact that you've got outside people coming in here bringing in money that nobody knows where it comes from," Peterson said. "It just feels like the outside has almost taken over this race in this district. You know, what's being done to me, I'm being attacked for doing my job." Westrom claimed ads paid for by national Democratic groups are distorting his legislative record. "I am no fan of these negative ads either," he said. "The way they are distorting my record and background -- I don't support that either. It's troubling to see this kind of outside money trying to attack and negatively portray candidates." Perhaps the sharpest exchange of the debate came when the candidates discussed health care. Westrom said the Affordable Care Act raises the cost of health care for individuals and small businesses in the 7th District. He criticized Peterson for not voting to repeal the legislation. "You mentioned you voted against it, that was four years ago," Westrom said. "You multiple times voted to keep it the law of the land." Peterson said the constant and repetitive attempts by Republicans to repeal the health care law were "a 100 percent repeal." He asked Westrom what he would do about the law's popular provisions, such as one that ensures that people with pre-existing conditions cannot lose their insurance. "You'd work bipartisanly, work on pre-existing conditions, students that are up to 26," Westrom said. "Then why don't you work bipartisanly to fix the problems and leave the good parts in place?" Peterson asked. Westrom said that could be done. The two candidates meet again Thursday for a debate at Pioneer Public Television in Appleton, Minnesota.
By Jess Bengtson University of Minnesota Crookston Professor Lyle Westrom stood with his nephew, Torrey, the Republican candidate for Minnesota's 7th Congressional District, at RBJ's Restaurant Monday afternoon and introduced him as a "man who has rose over the top of many difficult situations." Despite being legally blind, Westrom worked his way around to thank all of his supporters and mentioned that he gives "extra kudos" to any farmers who took the time out of their day to be there. "It's a good day for harvest," said Westrom. "My five-year-old son Carter and I were just riding in a combine yesterday. Just the week before, my wife gave Carter permission to 'farm' in our living room and I came home to corn all over the floor and Carter combining the corn with his toys. The mess stayed there for a while, but that's OK. You do what you can for your kids." Westrom, who has three children including twin eight-year-old girls dubbed the "Minnesota twins," grew up on a dairy farm near Elbow Lake and proceeded to get a law degree, start his own business and become a representative of District 12 in the Minnesota Senate. As he stood at the front of the room, Westrom, who believes that President Barack Obama has been "spending us into debt," said, "Something needs to change for the future of our kids and grandkids. Since (incument 7th District Democrat Collin) Peterson has been elected, our national debt has gone from $4 trillion to $18 trillion. This has to stop." Westrom also discussed Obamacare and told the audience about a few of the "horror" stories he has heard. "In one instance, a family who was already struggling with their health insurance will now see their cost double beginning in January," he explained. "We need to replace Obamacare with something that will put decision-making back in the hands of its patients." Westrom added, "I like to call the 'Affordable Care Act' the "Unaffordable Care Act."
By Abby Simmons In the late summer of 1987, a teenage Torrey Westrom was still expecting the lights to go back on. Weeks earlier, the future congressional candidate rolled the family pickup on a country road. He avoided significant brain damage, but the accident destroyed Westrom's optic nerve, leaving the 14-year-old permanently blind. But it was baling season, and the family was a man short on the farm. "I remember my dad needing somebody to either drive the baler tractor or work the hay rack, and it wasn't going to work for me to drive," Westrom said. That would be the first of many summers Westrom would spend sightlessly throwing bales of hay. Said Westrom: "When others have an expectation of you, you can have it of yourself a lot easier. You're willing to find a way to make it happen or get it done." Now the Republican state senator and married father of three from Elbow Lake has taken on another challenge -- attempting to unseat veteran Rep. Collin Peterson in the Seventh Congressional District, which spans a large swath of western Minnesota from the Canadian border nearly to Iowa. Peterson is among the most formidable of the state's congressional delegation. For a dozen terms he has won handily in an otherwise Republican-leaning district. He is a Democrat who occasionally votes with the other side, particularly on fiscal issues. He is a zealous advocate for rural issues and the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, giving his sparsely populated district an outsized influence in an organization that runs on seniority. In 2012, Peterson won with more than 60 percent of the vote. Westrom, who has served 18 years in the Legislature, said of Peterson, "I am David, he's Goliath, we all know that. But I always like the outcome of that story." Westrom is the first known blind member of the Minnesota Legislature and the first blind speaker pro tem in the nation. He jumped from the House to Senate in 2013 and hadn't completed his first term when he announced he would take on Peterson. He's received solid backing from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), who promoted him and Eighth District challenger Stewart Mills to the top of its Young Guns program -- an indication that they are expected to pose a significant threat to incumbents. Westrom raised $466,538 through the end of July, while the NRCC has reserved more than $2.8 million in television advertising in the Seventh District, with the first ad expected to debut this week. It's a big investment in a race against an incumbent who hasn't faced a significant challenge in nearly two decades.
