Editorial Board Opinions - August 1999 through August 2004
Speed Kills -- Posted Online 8/4/04
Trends in drug abuse come and go. Remember crack in the 1980s and GHB, the date rape drug in the 1990s? Some trends hold constant, such as tobacco-related mortality (400,000 lives lost annually), and alcohol abuse (over 100,000 annually).
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Will expansion of gambling solve big budget problems? -- Posted Online 5/5/04
State political leaders are poised to embrace an expansion of gambling. House Republicans have already endorsed racino, and Gov. Pawlenty and Senate DFL leaders have begun the slow migration towards expansion ó though avoiding the word. Go To Editorial
Education Commissioner Yecke provides record of accomplishments; deserves confirmation -- Posted Online 3/23/04
Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke ought to be confirmed by the Senate. Go To Editorial
Pawlenty has good mix for transportation fix -- Posted Online 2/9/04
For anyone who commutes to work in the Twin Cities each day, the growing needs for transportation improvements are ever apparent. Go To Editorial
Upcoming legislative session promises to be politically charged -- Posted Online 2/9/04
Hardly a traditional bonding session, lawmakers will be grappling with a projected $185 million budget deficit, the thorny stadium issue, sex offender policy, a proposed constitutional amendment on gay marriage, gambling issues and other policy questions that make passage of a bonding bill seem almost mundane.
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Anoka County can become true sports destination with Vikings complex -- Posted Online 9/26/03
Even as the issue of stadiums for Minnesota sports teams picked up steam again this month with the announcement of a private donation of $35 million for the University of Minnesotaís proposed new football stadium on campus, Anoka County continues to work quietly away on its Minnesota Vikings stadium project. Go To Editorial
Communities must work together to save costs -- Posted Online 8/21/03
Even before Governor Tim Pawlenty was elected, communities had begun to combine services with one another and with their respective counties to save money. Go To Editorial
It's up to the community to save citizen programs -- Posted Online 6/26/03
Community Education programs in Minnesota will have to withstand some serious cuts in state aid particularly in 2005. Go To Editorial
Please remember the real people and show compassion to those who are less fortunate -- Posted Online 5/9/03
When percentages of funding are slashed from human services and specialized education programs they don't just reduce the state's budget but the quality of life for people who have precious little of it. Go To Editorial
Gov. Pawlenty makes a case for these times -- Posted Online 2/24/03
Smooth-talking Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty in his budget message makes it sound like a spoonful of fiscal medicine will go down easily to cure a $4.2 billion fiscal budgetary headache.
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More debate on cutting government spending is needed -- Posted Online 2/13/03
The lexicon of the late 1990s did not contain the word "scarcity." Yet the 2003 legislative session will be a monument to the word.
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Local Government Aid should not be vehicle to solve budget crisis -- Posted Online 1/21/03
Guest Column
In the run-up to the Legislature's deliberations on how to best fix a $4.56 billion projected budget deficit, Local Government Aid has been vilified as a black hole, a worthless program that exists only to suck wealth from state government. Go To Editorial
Ramstad choice in 3rd District -- Posted Online 10/30/02
Court-ordered redistricting earlier this year carved Anoka County into three Congressional districts. Before redistricting all of the county had been in the 6th District. Now, the 3rd, 5th and 6th congressional districts all encompass parts of Anoka County. Go To Editorial
Sen. Wellstone's spirit will live on -- Posted Online 10/29/02
This space was to be dedicated editorially this week to an endorsement of Sen. Paul Wellstone to a third term in the U.S. Senate.
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Roger Moe should be next governor -- Posted Online 10/23/02
The next governor of Minnesota will face major challenges, because the state is projected to have a $3 billion deficit next year.
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Kennedy would best serve 6th District -- Posted Online 10/23/02
Like it or not, redistricting has created a vast different political world for the readers of many ECM Publishers, Inc. newspapers. This year when voters in the Elk River, Anoka, Blaine and Forest Lake areas go to the polls, familiar names like Jim Oberstar and Bill Luther won't be found.
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Luther should return to Congress -- Posted Online 10/23/02
In Minnesota's bitterly fought 2nd Congressional District race, we support the re-election of Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Luther.
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Upcoming elections deserve public attention -- Posted Online 8/26/02
The upcoming general elections deserve the attention and involvement of all citizens.
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Minnesota's high school dropout rate is still too high -- Posted Online 7/2/02
The high school graduation rate is one measure of a school system's effectiveness. Go To Editorial
Light a sparkler to mark close of 2002 state legislative session -- Posted Online 5/31/02
Lighting a sparkler may be a fitting gesture in marking the close of the 2002 legislative session. Certainly there were accomplishments, but the real celebratory fireworks must be kept for another day.
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It's time for the Legislature to increase the gas tax -- Posted Online 5/7/02
Forget the staggering sums transportation experts are citing about unmet state transportation needs ÷ the billions and billions. Forget the $200 million a year MnDot states as the bare minimum it needs simply to maintain the transportation status quo.
Public officials must keep meetings open to public -- Posted Online 4/2/02
Lately public officials have been closing meetings that should be open to the public. Go To Editorial
One place to save money on education is at table -- Posted Online 2/28/02
Financing public education in Minnesota is at the crossroads. School districts are cutting operating fund budgets for next year, because the Legislature provided minimum funding and voters last fall rejected extra levy referendums. Meanwhile salary costs and other costs, particularly health care, continue to climb.
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Legislators need to pack wallop in tackling deficit -- Posted Online 1/28/02
Minnesota is facing a two-fisted state budget deficit and both fists pack a wallop. The lead punch is a $1.9 billion projected budget deficit for 2002-03.
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Homeless families benefit from church outreach program -- Posted Online 12/27/01
On any given night, 8,600 Minnesota adults, teens and children are either homeless or without stable shelter. Of these, 41 percent have jobs. Children comprise 25 percent of the homeless population nationally.
Levy results deliver disquieting messages -- Posted Online 12/18/01
The results of the Nov. 6 school levy referendums throughout Minnesota sent confounding and disquieting messages.
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It takes delicate balancing act to protect our liberties -- Posted Online 10/23/01
Protecting basic American liberties while keeping America safe is a delicate balancing act.
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Legislative sessions had success, disappointments -- Posted Online 9/4/01
Now that a couple of months have passed, and the dust has somewhat settled, since the conclusion of the extended 2001 Legislative Session, we think it is an appropriate time to assess the successes and failures of the past session.
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Legislature leaves commuter rail project out in the cold -- Posted Online 7/30/01
Commuter rail got left out in the cold in the Minnesota LegislatureÅs rush to complete its special session business before a shutdown of state government last month. Go To Editorial
Senate budget approach preferred -- Posted Online 5/14/01
The Minnesota Senate offers more funds for higher education and K-12 education, and suggests caution over major tax cutting, based on surplus projections that may not materialize in the next two years.
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Legislature needs to approve stadium concept -- Posted Online 4/27/01
The decisions on preserving Major League baseball are well into the final innings.
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Changing blood alcohol standards may be wrong -- Posted Online 4/3/01
The Minnesota Legislature is likely to amend the State's DWI Laws by reducing the "per se" driving while intoxicated level from .10 to .08.
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Commuter rail is viable alternative -- Posted Online 3/20/01
As Twin Cities-area highways become more and more congested - today 65 percent of trips in the metro area are made under congested conditions and traffic is growing at 4 percent a year, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) - it becomes clear that alternatives are needed to building more highways. Go To Editorial
Global warming should be of concern to all of us -- Posted Online 1/29/01
Do we really understand global warming? Why should it concern us?
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It's critical that voting process be maintained -- Posted Online 11/16/00
The heart of the democratic process is the vote.
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Minnesota voters want leaders to stay the course -- Posted Online 11/16/00
An unprecedented and close election in a nation evenly divided is sending a puzzling message to decision makers. Go To Editorial
James Gibson is best choice in U.S. Senate -- Posted Online 10/23/00
Two years ago, Jesse Ventura, the candidate of the Reform Party, defeated well -known contenders, Republican St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman and Democrat Hubert Humphrey for Governor of Minnesota.
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Bill Luther deserves another term in Congress' 6th District
-- Posted Online 10/16/00
Two years ago incumbent DFLer Bill Luther won the 6th District Congressional election over Republican political newcomer John Kline in what was a very close race.
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Mike Ciresi holds greatest promise of success -- Posted Online 8/28/00
On Sept. 12 Minnesotans will go to the polls and find a strong slate DFL senatorial candidates on the primary ballot. Go To Editorial
Endorsing judges would be wrong -- Posted Online 6/15/00
If the Republican Party of Minnesota is indeed serious about controlling policy-making, its top priority in the elections ahead should be to elect legislators who can control state government and pass laws meeting their wishes. It should not be through a policy of endorsing judges. Go To Editorial
Mixed government brings mixed bag of results -- Posted Online 5/00
House Speaker Steven Sviggum in recent days has been fond of saying, "With mixed government you get mixed results." This seems the case with the recent budget settlement at the Capitol. Go To Editorial
Don't throw out profiles -- Posted Online 4/00
Having students graduate with practical knowledge based on standards in all schools throughout the state is at the heart of the Profiles of Learning. This measure is caught up in philosophical and political controversy in the conference committee of the state legislature. Go To Editorial
Balanced transportation plan must be adopted -- Posted Online 3/00
We live in a mobile society where it is essential in our minds that we get from Point A to Point B in the fastest and safest way. It is imperative then that we have one of the most reliable and predictable transportation systems. The Minnesota Legislature must put transportation on its front burners and consider Governor Jesse Ventura's current transportation proposals. Go To Editorial
Teacher shortage needs to be addressed -- Posted Online 2/00
School districts nationwide are experiencing a teacher shortage and Minnesota is no exception to this dilemma. Go To Editorial
Should state gas tax be increased? -- Posted Online 12/99
The issue of raising the state's gas tax is an almost annual debate at the Minnesota Legislature. The 2000 session is likely to be no different. But, whether the outcome will be any different than it has been for more than a decade is very much open to question. The state gas tax has remained at 20 cents a gallon since 1988. Go To Editorial
Single-House Legislature would be an improvement -- Posted Online 11/99
When prominent lawmakers of both major political parties are in accord with Governor Ventura and political science academicians on legislative reform, citizens of Minnesota should take note. Go To Editorial
Unfair education funding must be changed soon -- Posted Online 9/27/99
Equal funding for all students attending public schools in Kindergarten through grade 12 is the constitutional duty of the Minnesota Legislature. State legislation, however, provides for some school districts to have more money than other districts to educate students through approval of special tax levies. Go To Editorial
When is Jesse governor? -- Posted Online 8/99
Should a kindergartner ask their teacher who the governor is, the teacher may have to first glance at their watch.Unlike previous governors, Gov. Ventura has brought a timecard approach to governance. That is, he apparently draws distinctions between what he does as governor and what he does off hours. Go To Editorial
Overcrowded schools need help near and afar Posted Online 8/2/99
Two local school districts are considering placing referendums before voters this fall to address the problem of overcrowding. Go To Editorial
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