Readers Write for Wednesday, Nov. 18

WHERE WAS LEADERSHIP?

Kelliher was slow to oppose unallotment

The Minnesota House leadership is only a "friend" of the court ("House revives budget fight with Pawlenty," Nov. 17)? After Gov. Tim Pawlenty unconstitutionally breached the separations of powers by usurping legislative power in an unprecedented unallotment action, Speaker and gubernatorial candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher demonstrated that she was too busy fitting Pawlenty his crown and handing him his scepter to worry about being a "friend" to the state Constitution or the people.

Only after six financially challenged individuals filed a lawsuit against Pawlenty in a fight to save their own lives does Kelliher give the secret wink to the Minnesota House to give the plaintiffs a tad bit of encouragement through a "friend" of the court filing. Is cowering behind the poor and waiting for them to fight legislative battles the kind of leadership Kelliher expects to provide Minnesota as governor?

As a Democrat I hang my head in shame and humbly apologize to the six good people brave enough to fight for our Constitution and the people. I can only hope that we elect a true friend of both in 2010.

KIM MILLMAN, BURNSVILLE

MAMMOGRAM GUIDELINES

Retain the old ones -- they saved lives

With great disbelief I read the Nov. 17 story that suggests woman wait until they are 50 before receiving their first mammogram. My first mammogram at age 40 was clear; my second, at 42, resulted in a Stage IIB diagnosis.

Less than 10 percent of breast cancers "run in the family" -- it doesn't run in mine. Please continue to recommend screening starting at age 40 ... it saved my life.

SANDY WEIGEL, MINNETONKA

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Two years ago, at the age of 44, I was diagnosed with an early stage breast cancer. It was found by routine screening mammogram. I had no symptoms, family history or any other risk factors. One can only speculate what stage the cancer would have been in six years when, according to the recommendation of the government panel of experts , I should have had my first mammogram.

I am outraged that this panel would come out with new guidelines that conflict with the longstanding position of the American Cancer Society. I suspect it is financially motivated. Let's hope that the excellent medical community in Minnesota, as well as the insurance companies, continue to recommend, and cover, screening mammograms starting at age 40.

MARY S. KERN-FRIEDMAN, MINNEAPOLIS

9/11 MASTERMINDS

They belong in military court, with no soapbox

The people who elected this president and his cronies are directly responsible for the movement of the 9/11 masterminds from military court to civil court. What a travesty!

These murderers should have had a Nuremburg-type trial and been punished long ago. With the civil trial they will get on their soapbox and rail against the United States and waste time and millions of hard-earned tax dollars. But this is obviously a part of the left-wing agenda to chastise the citizens of the United States for their complicity in provoking the attacks. I continue to weep for my country because of its left advance.

WILLIAM EATON, BROOKLYN PARK

DETENTION OF IMMIGRANTS

Conditions in Minnesota are below standard

The news that the Department of Homeland Security plans to improve oversight of immigration detention centers (Star Tribune, Nov. 11) is positive, but our research in Minnesota demonstrates that much more is needed to protect the rights of noncriminal immigrants who are jailed in a hodge-podge of criminal facilities across the state.

In 2009 we conducted a study in which we interviewed immigration attorneys and public defenders representing immigrants who were detained in Minnesota. According to the attorneys, conditions of detention in Minnesota fall well below acceptable standards and result in numerous violations of laws and rights. Common violations include barriers to telephone calls to lawyers, and lack of access to personal property, including essential legal documents. These conditions violate the voluntary standards set by the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement itself.

The administration's plans to improve oversight and accountability are an important step. However, to truly rein in detention abuses requires examining whether costly detention is appropriate or necessary for the majority of immigrants who have been charged with nothing more serious than crossing the border without authorization to work in the United States.

KATHERINE FENNELLY, MINNEAPOLIS, PROFESSOR, HUMPHREY INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA; Kathleen Moccio, Minneapolis, adjunct professor, St. Thomas School of Law; and Jacob Chin, Charles Miles and Jose Pacas, Minneapolis, candidates for Masters in Public Policy, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota

AMBASSADOR MIGUEL DIAZ

He represents his country, remember?

Surely the writer of your Nov. 15 letter of the day understands it is the job of an ambassador to represent the United States to the Vatican and not the other way around.

It would be a strange state of affairs if our Chinese ambassador needed to be in complete harmony with Beijing on important issues, or Sam Kaplan had to check in with Morocco before opening his mouth here about something of interest to both parties.

JAMES MCKenzie, St. Paul