Reduction of the federal debt is Steven Wilson’s message as he campaigns for Congress across southern Minnesota.

Wilson is running for the 1st District seat now held by DFLer Tim Walz of Mankato. Wilson, a former diplomat to Iraq who resides in Rochester, is a the sole candidate running for the nomination from the Independence Party, one of three major parties in Minnesota.

“A few more Republicans taking seats will not change the dynamics of Washington, D.C.,” Wilson said.

He said Capitol Hill needs more fiscally conservative third-party moderates, whether from parties like the Independence Party or like the now-forming Tea Party. By his calculation, if at least 10 percent of Congress comes from other parties, it would break gridlock and force Republicans and Democrats to get down to brass tacks on the subject of deficit spending.

Greater federal debt hurts the value of the U.S. dollar, and interest payments cut into budget obligations. Many worry they are a risk to national security, too, because much of the public debt is now owned by foreign investors.

Wilson said he likes that President Obama has formed an executive committee to address deficit spending but said he would have preferred that the committee be created by the Senate. However, he was disappointed that the Senate in January could not even agree on creating a committee to address the issue.

“That is sad,” he said.

On Feb. 1, Obama released a 10-year budget forecast for the United States. Wilson said it will need an adjustment — which could come as cuts, increases in revenue (such as economic grown or taxes) or both — of about $4 trillion or $5 trillion to turn the debt problem around.

By the comparison, the IRS brings in about $1 trillion in income taxes a year, he said.

He said the U.S. needs to get its debt held by the public (a key subset of the total debt) down to the level of 60 percent of gross domestic product. The Obama budget forecast calls for 77.2 percent.

Wilson called on voters to be wary going into this election.

“If politicians make big promises, they had better scrutinize that,” he said.

He said his campaign is about telling truth.

“I’m not sure if a candidate can get elected telling the truth, but we’re going to find out,” Wilson said.

An example of a compromise solution to federal deficit spending that Wilson gave is on Social Security.

He said there are three players when it comes to Social Security: people paying, people getting ready to retire and people receiving benefits.

He said much of federal debate focuses on trying to make one group or another suffer so that the program stays funded. However, if they all gave up a little, everyone would benefit.

People pay taxes for Social Security on only the first $107,000 of annual earnings. He said up the cap to $200,000. He said the retirement age could increase gradually. And he said — noting this is the most delicate issue of all — that cost-of-living adjustments could be reconsidered. He said 35 percent of seniors get 90 percent of their income from Social Security.

Wilson said there has never been a more important time for voters to make candidates tell the truth, because the U.S. faces serious economic consequences.

“This is it, folks,” he said. “We will lay the groundwork as to whether we will walk into financial crisis or avert financial crisis.”

Wilson said he views on health care and energy policy all stem back to how the federal government will address the main issue of deficit spending.

Wilson grew up on a farm in Houston County. He worked for 15 years for Land O’Lakes helping dairies increase profitability before he and his wife started the nonprofit Bridge Builders for Kids, which serves the Twin Cities and Rochester. He completed a one-year tour as a diplomat to Iraq eight months ago. He also has served as a civilian consultant to the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.