Devastating impact

To the Editor:

Lawmakers have a challenge. That was reinforced when I attended the legislative town hall meeting on the governor’s proposed budget cuts.

As a practicing dentist in our community, I know that the proposed budget cuts in dental services will have a devastating impact on those whose oral health is most fragile.

If dental care for needy adults is eliminated as proposed, many people in our community will be forced into emergency rooms. This is an expensive and inefficient use of hospital ERs.

The governor has also mistakenly suggested eliminating a highly successful critical access dental program that currently treats 225,000 public program patients annually.

Ironically, the funds to provide this care exist, even in this tight economy. Dentists pay about $35 million each year in health care taxes to provide dental services to needy populations.

But the governor wants to shift the tax dollars collected for health care to the general fund.

I hope our lawmakers will wisely retain funding for these dental programs. It only makes sense to help those who need care most. And to act before it becomes more painful and more expensive to all of us to repair.

Clayton R Shepard, D.D.S.
Coon Rapids

Killing must end now

To the Editor:

In January we celebrated, the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King and we remembered his desire and commitment to change a “law of the land” that he knew in his heart was immoral, unjust and certainly offensive to our very moral conscience as a nation. Because of his actions racial injustice and discrimination is for the most part a thing of the past.

Dr. King stated that when the “law of the land conflicts with the law of God” we are honor bound to disobey that law which is offensive and contrary to God’s law and to commit ourselves to say “no” no more.

Of course, I speak of abortion which has been the law of the land since 1963 when the Supreme Court by a 5-4 decision gave legal status to destroy human life for basically any reason. I realize this is one of those hot button issues that divide us as a nation and shall continue to do so until Jesus comes.

Are we so blind, have we become so callous and hard hearted that we allow those few to continue to practice infanticide on a scale so massive that our national conscience seems to have been seared with the hot iron or injustice.

With the technology we have today we can now look inside the womb and see fingers, toe movement and even hear a heartbeat and wonder of it all if it is a boy or girl.

When Dr. King started the boycott of the Birmingham public transportation system he knew it was a daunting task he was undertaking and he would face jail, public ridicule, physical beatings and scorn from those who were living in the past of racial hatred and wanted their lifestyle to continue.

Dr. King became the champion of those who had endured the shame of being a second class and indeed sub-human citizen and because he never wavered in his conviction change came to our nation.

The unborn do not have a champion, one who is willing to suffer the indignities of jail, physical beatings or harassments from those who look at this child of God as a piece of tissue or as “the law of the land.”

How long will we endure the injustice of a crime being committed in the name of choice? When does choice become murder, where is the outrage when bodies of aborted babies are found in dumpsters at the abortion mills, where is the outrage when partial birth abortion is sanctioned for the health of the mother, “one dies and one lives,” where is the outrage when abortion is used as an acceptable method of birth control.

For the most part the church is no longer the moral conscience of the community but is an impotent shell of a once mighty voice for justice and righteousness in the community. We are not a Christian nation, we are a collection of people who meet on Sunday for that feel good meeting and live in the world until the next Sunday.

I hear so many say, I personally am against abortion but you know it is the law of the land but remember feeding Christians to the lions in ancient Rome was the law of the land as well.

I would urge all who believe life is precious to take a stand as Dr. King did when he stood for justice and say enough is enough, the killing must end now, we can no longer stand idle while the carnage on our national conscience continues with reckless abandon.

Chaplain George Plew
Coon Rapids


Insulted by officials

To the Editor:

I attended the latest meeting of local citizens regarding the handling of the proposed Blaine airport expansion by Anoka County. And I have to say that I couldn’t have been more insulted by public officials than I have been at this meeting.

Our public officials don’t seem to have received the message that citizens are asking for their voice to be heard equally to those who are attempting to grow business prospects in the area. 

During the meeting’s question and answer period, Mayor Tom Ryan of Blaine stated bluntly, “I don’t know why people are wasting our time on this issue.”

Mr. Ryan, your statement is a direct reflection of the mindset of elected public servants of both the city of Blaine and Anoka County: The opinions and concerns of the local citizen are of no value in the process of the execution of your jobs.

Prove me wrong Mr. Ryan, Mr. LeDoux, Ms. West, Mr. Erhart. 

Sit down with the citizens and listen to their concerns as the law states that you must when considering changes to law and airport status. Anything different simply erodes your credibility.

My professionalism prevents me from insulting you in this public forum.  Are you ready to return the favor?  Or will it continue to be politics as usual?

Jim Meyers
Blaine

Considered seriously

To the Editor:

Last month during a snowstorm nearly 200 people attended a state budget hearing at Coon Rapids City Hall to offer input on Minnesota’s current budget deficit.

Sixty-seven people testified, sharing personal stories and advice for a bipartisan committee of state lawmakers.

I want you to know your testimony will be considered seriously at the Capitol in the weeks and months to come. Your continued input will be critical in helping us find a solution.

This week, the scope of Minnesota’s economic problems widened. State Economist Tom Stinson released a revised budget forecast showing state revenues have slipped another $1.1 billion over the last three months, bringing the total budget shortfall to $6.4 billion.

Federal aid will provide $1.8 billion to help fill the hole. That brings the state’s share to $4.6 billion - making this, without question, the most serious fiscal crisis Minnesota has ever faced.

But the budget shortfall is a reflection of a larger systemic problem that must be addressed.

We are facing a steadily worsening economy. Revised jobs figures this week revealed 120,000 Minnesotans will lose their jobs to the recession before year’s end - that’s twice the population of Coon Rapids.

The problems facing us are serious and the answers won’t come easy. We must all work together and create a solution that meets this challenge with wisdom and foresight.

If we do this right, I am confident Minnesota can emerge from this recession stronger than we were before.

Jerry Newton
State Representative
District 49B

Town hall meeting

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the residents of Ham Lake and Andover for their presence at my recent town hall meeting. It is great to have town members collectively participate by gathering to discuss the current issues facing us in the state Legislature.

It is very important to me that the people of my district share their thoughts and opinions so I can best represent them in St. Paul. 

I was impressed with the discussion priorities from the citizens of Ham Lake and Andover.

It is clear to me they want the state to live just like their families do: on a budget. So when I vote on the budget bills this year I will make sure the state is not spending more money than it takes in. 

After all that’s how the family budget works and the state budget should be no different.  

For those unable to attend the town meeting your thoughts are equally important to me so I would like receive any further comments, questions, or general feedback you may have regarding the meeting. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me at via phone at 651-296-4231, by e-mailing me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or sending mail to 225 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

Sincerely,
Rep. Peggy Scott
District 49A