Letters to the editor for Friday, May 9

HURT BY HIGHER MINIMUM?

Maybe that's OK

In the words of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's spokesman, Brian McClung, the governor thinks a raise in the minimum wage to $6.75 now, and $7.75 next year, "goes too far."

A pay rate of $6.75 per hour, 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year (in other words, full time with no vacation) produces only $14,040 annual income. At $7.75 per hour, the annual income is only $16,120.

The suggestion that businesses would be "hurt" by increasing the minimum wage to these levels is just ridiculous. How can a minimum wage that keeps a full-time worker way below the poverty level be going too far? Why should we even care about preservation of any business that can't afford this?

Enough with the veto threats. The only people protected by such a veto would be predatory, irresponsible employers we don't want or need anyway.

KENT B. HANSON, MINNEAPOLIS

MINNESOTA'S SCHOOLKIDS

They need Report Card

This week, both the Minnesota House and Senate passed the Omnibus Education Bill and sent it to the governor for his signature. There are indications he is planning to veto the bill because of the Report Card component. Frankly, his resistance to this proposal is baffling.

The Report Card measures are comprehensive tools that would fully, fairly and accurately report student achievement and emphasize school excellence. They would not replace No Child Left Behind, even though growing ranks of educators, parents and lawmakers are calling for it, but instead would enhance the way we measure student progress.

The key element of this new direction is a growth measure. It is not enough to know if a student can pass an annual test, or if a school can make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP); we must also know how schools are contributing to student growth from year to year. For example, a school that has not made AYP but has test scores that have improved by 10 percent is a stronger indication of growth than a school that has achieved AYP but only has a 1 percent, or flat, growth percentage.

Schools that consistently meet the AYP benchmark but show a flat rate of growth could actually learn something from schools improving by a larger percentage. And, let's recognize schools, and students, who are growing -- isn't that the ultimate goal of education?

REP. CARLOS MARIANI, DFL-ST. PAUL, CHAIR OF E-12 POLICY COMMITTEE;

Rep. Kathy Brynaert, DFL-Mankato, House author of the Report Card Bill, and

Sen. Sandy Rummel, DFL-White Bear Lake, Senate author of the Report Card Bill

Central Corridor rail

As is, big problems

McKnight Foundation President Kate Wolford presents some good arguments for Central Corridor light-rail transit (Opinion Exchange, May 3), but it seems she hasn't taken a good look at key elements of the actual plan.

Big problem: how to best serve the University of Minnesota's needs as a major transit stop without creating dangerous street congestion, and while helping -- rather than harming -- nearby neighborhoods. The university's proposed alternative route at its main campus solves this problem; it is a faster route at a lower cost than an expensive major upgrade of the Washington Avenue bridge that would require considerable additional mitigation because of altered traffic patterns. The Metropolitan Council, however, remains stuck in its own bad plans.

Biggest problem: slow transit time resulting from the route on a busy street where the train must stop at red lights, subject to traffic delays. On University Avenue's 6.1 miles between Huron and Rice, there are 25 stoplights on a major street lined with retail businesses and offices. By comparison, the Hiawatha Line runs on a spacious divided highway and the train has priority at the eight stoplights between the Metrodome and Hwy. 62. Officials admit that the Central Corridor line as now planned will be much slower than the freeway express bus, making it a billion-dollar same-speed replacement for the limited-stop street bus, much too slow to attract automobile commuters off the freeway. (The Met Council and Ramsey Rail Authority threw away an expensive study that preferred a much faster, less costly rail route along I-94 that was expected to draw much higher use than a University Avenue line.)

A third problem, never discussed in the media, is difficulties arising from Central Corridor and Hiawatha lines running on the same tracks between the Metrodome and the western terminus. The exact coordination necessary to use the same tracks would be easier to maintain if the Central Corridor ran along I-94 on a faster, more predictable schedule. Otherwise we can expect snarls and delays of perhaps 10 minutes.

All three of these problems should be dealt with before pushing ahead with a badly planned project -- apparently the most expensive public works project in state history -- that we'll later regret.

DAVID MARKLE, MINNEAPOLIS

TODAY'S U.S. MILITARY

Standing quite tall

The May 5 Star Tribune carried an editorial from the Baltimore Sun that referred to "our once-proud military." Every time I see someone in uniform I say, "Thanks for serving." Without fail, each one has stood tall and replied, "My pleasure, sir" or "Our pleasure, sir" or "You're welcome, sir." Not one has ever indicated that they were not proud.

As for my family and me, we are very proud of our military. Shame on newspapers that suggest otherwise.

DOUG CLEMENS, BLOOMINGTON

UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

Minnesota needs them

The May 7 writer who cheers a recent step-up in deportations of undocumented workers may have missed the news item last week about how some Minnesota businesses are struggling with labor shortages as a result of those deportations. In their scramble for a solution, they are taking another look at guest worker programs.

The path to U.S. citizenship for those who wait "their turn" can take as long as 20 years. Most immigrants, desperate for a better life, can't wait that long. Neither can Minnesota's economy.

JERILYN JACKSON, STILLWATER