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A recent writer painted our Republican legislators as obstructionists because the Democrats didn't get all they asked for this year. I shudder to think what our taxes would be in this state if no one opposed the Democrats from time to time. What happened was a compromise and that's how politics are supposed to work. There were a lot of school referendums defeated in special elections just last week and it wasn't that they weren't needed. It was just the fact that people have had their fill of more taxes.
That was the question Flensburg City Council faced, at their meeting on April 15, 2019. Margurite Cofell was kept on as clerk, despite pleading guilty to fraud by embezzling in excess of $2.5 million from St. Francis Credit Union, leading to its collapse in 2014. Unbelievable, considering they know she's a crook. The State Auditor's 2016/2017 report includes countless violations of Minnesota Statutes.
I want to say "Paul, Paul, Paul" to Senate Majority Leader Mr. Gazelka for his lack of creativity. His leadership is just like that of the national Republican Party under such notables as his namesake Paul Ryan and going back to that fine, stubborn manipulator Newt Gingrich, the grand poobah of the do-nothing modern Republicans. They have practically defined dysfunctional government.
Recently Crow Wing Power's president argued that he and other board members and staff "deserved" nearly half a million dollars in payment for their work. To quote a Clint Eastwood movie line, "Deserves got nothing to do with it." Crow Wing Power is a nonprofit, member owned utility. CWP by laws are clear—board members have a fiduciary duty to manage the co-op for the benefit of its members. Money not needed for operational needs must be returned to members in the form of capital credits.
As the end of our legislative session approaches, it seems that our do-nothing Senate has let us down once again. Across our country, lawmakers are recognizing that cannabis prohibition is just too expensive. Nanny State Republicans have decided that this is not the year for Minnesota. This is a decision that will hit all of us in the pocketbook.
My old man bought my brother and I our first shared car. A 1950 Plymouth Business Coupe with a flathead six and three on the tree for $100. I know what you're thinking, boy were we spoiled to get such a great "free" car. Dad quickly set up a repayment plan and insurance premium schedule for us to meet—$26 every six months for insurance and $20 a month car payment. We took care of that car like it was a brand new Mercedes Benz. There are always strings attached and nothing in this world is free with the exception of the air you breathe and the sun shining on your face.
On the heels of Rep. Ilhan Omar's anti-Semitic smears, another freshman congresswoman from the Midwest continued the bad habit. Less than a week after Holocaust Remembrance Day, Rep. Rashida Tlaib commented that the Holocaust gives her a "calming feeling." After this poor choice of words, Tlaib discussed her Palestinian ancestors, who she claims were impacted by the Holocaust, all while defending the "one-state solution"— a radical view supported by Hamas terrorists, which effectively means the eradication of Israel.
When I was young and rebelling I did not realize at that time how much I would miss dignity and respect in the U.S. The gutter is not where I want our country to be. I listen to the news for 15 minutes and Trump comes on and I feel a great need to jump in the shower and wash the slime off. I like Mueller, he has dignity. Obama has dignity and even though they might be opposites in their political platforms at least they know what honor and respect is. I know we are all imperfect and capable of making horrible mistakes, which means we can also decide to learn from such mistakes.
Across the US, more than 3.5 million seniors rely on Medicare home health to remain in their homes and receive necessary skilled health care services, including nursing and therapy services. However, a new Medicare payment model is threatening to risk access to care for our most vulnerable seniors. This new payment model would cut Medicare home health by 6.42%—equaling more than $1 billion in 2020—based purely on assumptions about changes in provider behaviors under the new system.
In regard to the Wednesday, May 8, "US vs. Venezuela" letter to the editor, I find it and others similar to it (gun control) somewhat ironic. I realize that 1,053 reasons (killings) is a terrible thing but what about the thousands upon thousands of babies killed each year through abortion? Any killing for the most part is a terrible thing but I see and hear more people screaming about gun control than anything. I have read many (not all) letter to the editor articles about the gun issue but I never see any of those people cry foul when it comes to abortion. Why is that?