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Promise keepers/promise breakers
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To the Editor:
My father was in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, and my father-in-law served in the infantry under Gen. George Patton. My brother-in-law served in the Navy and Reserves until his retirement. As a pastor I’ve counseled veterans both old and young suffering from issues that resulted from fighting our battles. These are promise keepers in the best sense, and I respect each and every one of them.
One of the primary duties of Rep. Tim Walz and his staff is to address constituent needs. Based on the newspapers accounts, Rep. Walz should be expressing his sincere apologies to the men and women of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division on behalf of the U.S. government, himself and his staff. The 34th’s deployment was extended in 2007 with promise of $200 extra per day. It has been three years and the current administration has $100s of billions in unused stimulus funds to make good on the promised pay.
It appears Rep. Walz approached Sen. Sharon Ropes and other DFL state legislators so they could introduce a bill by which state funds would cover losses to these soldiers. After the headlines, Rep. Walz announced that he had made calls to high ranking officials in the Obama administration, and that the matter was resolved.
I’m glad our soldiers are getting their pay, but wonder about the priorities of these politicians. Our public school districts are desperate because the state did not provide promised funding and “shifted” this responsibility. Instead of spending state dollars to help the federal government keep their promises, why doesn’t our state senator keep promises made to schools and counties? I will work with anyone in our state dedicated to making our district and state great by keeping our promises!
Paul Ibisch
La Crescent, Minn.
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What route will state Republicans take?
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To the Editor:
On Feb. 16, Governor Pawlenty released his proposal to address the State’s $1.2 billion dollar projected deficit. Pawlenty wants to cover this shortfall with cuts in state spending. He pledged again to veto any balanced approach that Democrats put forth that included a combination of cuts and tax increases.
Pawlenty wants to cut $250 million in Local Government Aid (LGA) to cities and counties, including:
- $458,464 in cuts to Houston County
- $389,715 in cuts to Fillmore County
- $127,965 in cuts to Caledonia
- $153,325 in cuts to Chatfield
- $15,142 in cuts to Canton
- $36,911 in cuts to Hokah
- $62,435 in cuts to Houston
- $207,304 in cuts to La Crescent
- $51,035 in cuts to Lanesboro
- $44,895 in cuts to Mabel
- $98,955 in cuts to Preston
- $113,298 in cuts to Rushford
- $72,684 in cuts to Spring Grove
Of course what this actually means is that local services like road repair will not be done or local governments will be forced to raise property taxes to pay for these expenses.
The Governor can pledge “No New Taxes” but the reality is that his reductions in aids to local government have constantly caused property tax increases over the last seven years.
In addition, Pawlenty proposes $347 million in cuts to state health and human services programs - projected to adversely impact 40,000 Minnesotans, $47 million in cuts to higher education, and $181 million in cuts to state agencies.
Then to top it off the Governor, who has constantly bashed the Obama Administration for the federal stimulus spending, is relying on $387 million in additional Medicaid funding in the stimulus bill to balance one third of the state’s projected deficit.
Democrats in the Legislature will be putting forth a balanced proposal of spending cuts and revenue increases that the vast majority of Minnesotans would support.
The real question is will Republican legislators in the House, like Greg Davids, continue to support the Governor’s cuts to schools, healthcare and local government aid? Or will Greg Davids and other Republicans work in a bipartisan manner and join Democrats in overriding the Governor’s vetoes?
Ken Tschumper
Former representative
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The Lenten season and March are for hunger
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To the Editor:
The Christian season of Lent begins on Feb. 17 and the month of March has long been established as “March for Food” for the hungry.
Both are great Christian opportunities to ask, “WWJD (What would Jesus Do)” to end hunger? We in Caledonia and Houston County have been very blessed by God with the gifts of food. It is very hard for us to vision the fact that in the world, a human person dies every five seconds from starvation or the results of starvation. Obviously in our beloved area, we do not see this happening.
None the less, the effects of hunger are very real in our beloved area. The truth is that in Minnesota, including Houston County, there are over one million Minnesotans living in households that are struggling to put food on the table on a daily basis. Hunger in a community affects everyone in that community. For some, the food shelf is the only help available.
Hunger is the physical and mental condition that comes from not eating enough food due to insufficient economic, family or community resources. Hunger is one item that we can end in Houston County by working together and supporting our local Food Shelf. Lent and March are excellent opportunities to really put a major dent in ending hunger by donating food or cash to our local food shelf.
Our local food shelf is located at 138 East Main Street, Caledonia, phone 725-3677. If you wish, there are food collection carts in many churches in the area. If we all do our share of helping our neighbors by donating food or cash each week during Lent (which includes March), we will be doing WWJD?
It is well known that many of you have and continue to contribute to Haiti and/or similar very needy causes. This is really great and you are doing WWJD their also.
We should all remember that God blessed us with our many gifts so that we can take these opportunities to share our blessing with all of our neighbors. God bless all that hunger for food and help us all to share our many blessings.
Larry Salm
Caledonia, Minn.
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To all the citizens of this great country, republicans, democrats and independents
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To the Editor:
We need to clean house on Capitol Hill
All the senators spend money and send us the bill
Wall Street is at the top of their lists
They don’t even know that Main Street exists.
The Congress is crooked from head to toe
As they pad their pockets with lobbyist dough.
Banks and Big Business took all the T.A.R.P. money
But “we the people” don’t think that it’s funny.
We all just want to be treated the same
The middle class people are tired of your game.
It’s time for a march on Washington, D.C.
We’ll come from all over; by land, air and sea.
For senators to keep their jobs from the start
They can’t think with their wallets, just vote with their heart.
If people would go back to the simpler ways
Their hectic lives would have happier days.
I don’t think that this poem will do any good
But I hope it does and I think that you should.
G.P Conway
Caledonia, Minn.
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State govenment needs to spend less not more
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To the Editor:
As a constituent in Senator Ropes district, I think it is time for our representatives to start respecting the people’s values and stop spending OUR money.
The State Senate passed a $1.2 billion bonding bill earlier this week. It did not matter that our state’s debt service topped the general fund budget by three percent they (including Senator Ropes) simply increased the state’s debt limit.
Some of the “crucial” projects that our senators thought needed to be funded by the bonding bill were: a new volleyball court in Rochester for $5 million, new ice rinks in Big Lake, Cokato, Fergus Falls, and New Hope for $2 million. The list goes on and on! With the economy the way it is, isn’t it time to spend less not more?
Linda Johnson
La Crescent, Minn.
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Writer supports Paul Ibisch in State Senate race
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To the Editor:
I am writing in support of Paul Ibisch, a candidate for Minnesota State Senate District 31 (the legislative seat currently held by Sharon Ropes).
In my opinion, he has risen to the top of the candidates because he is steadfast, solid, trustworthy, and intelligent.
He writes frequent editorials in local newspapers, so we can see clearly what he and the Republican Party stand for. Some people reacted negatively to his pro-life or conservative views, but truth was missing in their radical replies.
He attended events and parades in many communities, including bone-chilling winter parades in Caledonia and La Crescent. He is driven by his principles to do good for us, our communities, our district, and our state.
Paul Ibisch stepped down as a pastor because some parishioners were uncomfortable with his political ambitions. He is now teaching at a university - a tribute to his leadership, intellect, moral strength, and resilience. He gave up a lot to run for office, but I believe he will be ultimately successful.
He and his family are dedicated to his future as a Minnesota Senator, as are his many supporters. The GOP will soon have a chance to endorse him as their candidate. I hope you join me in supporting Paul Ibisch as he seeks commonsense conservative solutions to our state’s problems.
Mary Knutson
Caledonia, Minn.
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