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Please attend your precinct caucus
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To the Editor:
As the Houston County chairs for Minnesota’s two largest political parties, we encourage and invite all residents of Houston County to participate in precinct caucuses on Tuesday Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. There are five locations throughout the county for both the DFL and Republican party caucuses.
Precinct caucuses are the most “grassroots” form of political participation in our state. At caucuses resolutions on issues are discussed and voted on, precinct leadership is determined and delegates are elected to help shape the course and determine candidates for their respective parties.
This year there will also be a straw poll at each caucus to gauge attendees’ preference in the Governor’s race. Election judges are also recruited on caucus night, and serving as an election judge is a great way to participate in our democracy.
If you have never attended a caucus, there is no need for hesitation. Plenty of people are available to help you learn the process.
If you will be eligible to vote in the November election you are eligible to participate and get involved.
Abraham Lincoln said “…that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth.” Isn’t it time be one of those people. Please join us on Feb. 2.
Sue Ames
Houston County DFL Chair
Steve Bissen
Houston County Republican Chair
Caledonia, MN
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County board needs to publish financial statement, be accountable
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To the Editor:
The Jan. 13 issue of the Argus had two items written by Charlie Warner namely, “Rejection of printing financial statement may be illegal” and editorial, “Board’s decision may have negative impact for many county residents”.
Mr. Warner is correct in that this will have a major negative impact. Below are facts that indicate that the printing of financial statements in the four primary Houston County newspapers are a must if the majority of residents are going to have any type of understanding on where their money and taxes are being spent. Suppression of facts to ANY residents is not a government for the people or by the people.
In the spirit of the law, the publishing of financial statements is to insure that ALL residents can review them.
It appears that Mr. Warner’s statistics on computer and Internet usage by Houston County is very conservative. In reality, how many adults and senior citizens even know how to access the Houston County site? How many are able to access it? In addition, are the county commissioners expecting senior citizens to go to the public library to obtain all this critical information? What about parking? What about other forms of assistance, such as bad weather or getting to the library? What about disabled?
The residents of Houston County have a RIGHT and DUTY to check up on the actions of the county commissioners. By not publishing financial statements and/or making financials difficult or impossible for the majority of residents to review, enables the county commissioners to almost function as a tyrant government. The following facts will show how easy it can be for the commissioners to deceive the public: (All facts have been published in the Houston County newspapers)
A. In December of 2007, an item was published, “Houston County sets budget for 2007” and in the article it stated, “The budget for Houston County has increased less than 1 percent in four years……commissioners approved the 2007 operating budget at $21,606,990. Four years ago the 2003 budget was $21,522,000.” (Statement provided by a commissioner). The commissioner failed to include one small word, namely, “PROPOSED BUDGET”. The actual expenditures for 2003 were $16,606,990. One has to ask, why was the 2003 proposed budget almost $5 million over actual, namely, $21,522,000? (In plain words, the actual increase was NOT less than one percent).
B. If the 2007 proposed budget was $21,606,990, why is the 2010 proposed budget $24.5 million? If the actual expenditures in 2006 were $18,141,200 why is the 2010 proposed budget $24.5 million? Just for the record, the actual expenditures for 2004 were $16,230,654 and 2005 was $17,879,528.
Houston County residents need accountability in government. Review the numbers again and REMEMBER that the population of Houston County is less than 20,000 and not less than 20,000,000. Your recent years of increases are in the millions and you want to suppress resident’s knowledge of financials for $1,500! Commissioners should be finding BETTER ways of informing ALL residents and not only the rich!
Larry Salm
Caledonia, Minn.
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Those are enormous numbers!
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To the Editor:
According to the Minnesota Management & Budget Agency, the State of Minnesota’s projected budget deficit for the current 2010-2011 biennium will be $1.203 billion, and it will be $5.426 billion for the 2012-2013 biennium. Those are enormous numbers!
In addition to reduced state revenues, a large portion of these deficits are the result of excessive government spending. Over the past 50 years, spending in our state has increased an average of 10 percent per year, two and a half times more than the rate of inflation during the same time period. That’s a huge problem!
Enough is enough. It’s time our legislature stops excessive spending. It comes down to kitchen table budgeting. Minnesota families control spending and live within their means, and government must do the same. We simply can’t spend more money than comes in -- it’s that simple.
As a citizen, I am deeply concerned our state has been relying on one-time funding resources to solve short-term problems, and has not taken necessary action to solve the long-term crisis.
With the economic challenges we all face today, our government should consider combining services and resources, and working in a collaborative manner with other branches of government sharing similar duties. It’s time for smaller, more efficient government.
My two brothers and I, together with 12 very dedicated employees, work with our father in the family recycling business that dates back to 1910. Like many other businesses, both large and small, we were forced to cut spending and do more with less. This past year was not an easy one for our business, but we prevailed by reducing costs and working more efficiently.
It is never easy to make cuts or reduce spending, but it must be done. We must get back to basics and re-evaluate the role of government in our lives. When our state legislature makes its way back to St. Paul in February, I would encourage them to think creatively, reduce wasteful spending, do more with less, and solve this long-term crisis.
I am curious to hear your thoughts. Send me an email
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or call me at home (507) 474-2562.
Jeremy Miller
Winona, Minn.
MN District 31 State
Senate Candidate
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Spread hope, not anger and fear
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To the Editor:
Some say that the best defense is a good offense. Recent partisan letters have been very offensive. I have been accused of lying when all I did was read the newspapers. Our Senator was quoted, “The Senator also said that the state will be looking at the reserve monies of cities and counties and helping slow the deficit by utilizing some of those funds.” The next week I read that she joined Rep. Pelowski in Winona as he sought city and county reserves. A supporter from Harmony claims our Senator would never do that. What is the truth?
I have never demeaned the Senator’s service record or her support of veterans’ issues. The truth is just the opposite. My son is in the National Guard. I am a Legion member and have the utmost respect for those in military service for our country. Veterans deserve all the support we can provide.
To accuse Paul Ibisch or myself of lying and stirring up fear may be an attempt to cover up our Senator’s own activities. Our Senator when visiting a school board focuses her comments on the negatives and offers no solutions. School leaders are left with fear of the future. The truth is that the only legislative group to suggest cuts to K-12 education was our Senator’s DFL Senate caucus. They pushed for a 5 percent cut “across the board,” so that people would be afraid and support significant tax increases. Our Senator’s support for tax increases and legislative mandates have caused businesses and jobs to leave our state.
Paul Ibisch believes vital programs including K-12 education need to be funded. He believes that unnecessary mandates should be eliminated. He has plans to bring investment and real jobs into our communities. Let’s start spreading the hope, not the anger and fear.
Doug Baker
Lanesboro, Minn.
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It is a new decade, 2010
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To the Editor:
Is it time to reexamine our times and what is going on? For some time now, (I would say maybe 50 years or more) we have been doing things our own way and complaining that things go wrong.
There was a saying (I believe it was a commercial) and it went something like this: “Please mother I would rather do it myself.” Well we have been saying that and it does not seem to be working.
Now with all the talk of the recession being the worst since the big depression we should be able to see that we need to reevaluate what we need to do. Some say the politicians are to blame others say differently, it still boils down to the fact something has to be changed from the way we do things.
Now we have let someone allow the Bible taken away (no prayer in school, no prayer in public what so ever they say only maybe silent prayer so we do not make someone feel uncomfortable).
Maybe if we let God do it instead of we trying it would work. We need to accept the fact that we have a maker and He made us to be self-sufficient.
The Bible says {Psalms 139:14- I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.}. This is what we need to look at. God made us and HE wants us to do things to help Glorify HIM and us.
Our leaders need help not criticism. We can get them the help they need by prayer. Prayer is communicating with GOD. We should talk all things over with GOD in prayer before we do anything.
We need to be sure our heart is right before we do anything. The bible is the place to start when one is looking for answers. All our answers are in the book of instructions.
Our heart should be right before we condemn the other person. The King James Bible mentions the heart 765 times and a number of these times are in Proverbs.
You might say we cannot do anything here we are only a small group; I say we start some place and some time.
OK now I would like to suggest that everyone go to a prayer group and have a time of prayer. After all we have tried to do it ourselves and it did not work.
If you need help finding a group feel free to call me or e-mail me at
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Marion Davis
Caledonia, Minn.
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Supporting Paul Thissen
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To the Editor:
Next month I will be attending precinct caucuses where I will be supporting State Representative Paul Thissen. Being a 19 year-old college student, the two issues that affect me most are health care and education. In Minnesota, 240,000 families with insurance pay more than 25 percent of their income on health care. In recent months some of my family’s health benefits have disappeared while our basic insurance premiums have doubled. I am worried that even with a decent job I will not be able to afford health insurance.
As chairman of the House Health and Human Services committee last legislative session, Paul Thissen authored the Children’s Health Security Act, giving 40,000 children the chance to see a nurse or a doctor. He has worked to shift the focus of doctors and hospitals to preventative treatment, accessibility, and portability. Paul also believes that doctors should be paid to keep people healthy, not just cure sicknesses.
Being a first year college student, I also worry about the enormous amount of debt I will be left with once I graduate. Paul Thissen is dedicated to making college more affordable and accessible for all Minnesotans. He recognizes that tomorrow’s success of this state is determined by the success of young people today.
I am especially impressed by Thissen’s proposed legislation that would give graduates of Minnesota colleges and university a tax credit for their loan payments if they stay and work in Minnesota after college graduation.
I am supporting Paul Thissen for governor because I think he has both the understanding of important issues and leadership skills needed to set Minnesota on a path to a better future.
Thomas Trehus
Spring Grove, Minn.
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