On Monday, Rep. Michele Bachmann responded to constituents regarding a petition targeting her on anti-LGBT bullying incidents and suicides that have occurred in the Anoka-Hennepin School District which lie in her congressional district. Tammy Aaberg, the mother of a student who took his own life in 2010, presented Bachmann with the petition two weeks ago.

The petition was created through Credo Action, part of Working Assets which is a for-profit phone and credit company that donates to progressive causes, and garnered more than 140,000 signatures.

The blog Dump Bachmann published Bachmann’s response:

Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns about anti-gay bullying and harassment via the CREDO Action petition. As your Representative for the 6th district of Minnesota, your views are very important to me and I appreciate hearing from you.

Unquestionably, bullying is wrong. I agree that no student should feel belittled or threatened by peers at school. All human lives have undeniable value, and I urge parents, teachers, and students alike to champion this fact in our community and to address instances of bullying promptly and firmly when they occur.

As one of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Anoka-Hennepin School District, I am very aware and concerned about the cases of bullying and suicides that have occurred there. In response, my office has been in communication with both school officials and with individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide.

We all desire to see bullying brought to an end and the best interests of students served in our schools. Again, thank you for your commitment on this matter. I assure you I will continue to be a listening ear for any constituent wishing to express his or her view on this or any other issue.

Sincerely,

Michele Bachmann
Member of Congress

Bachmann has been questioned during her presidential campaign about the bullying in her district, shrugging off the question by saying it is not a “federal issue.”