Readers write (July 3): Shutdown, Michele Bachman and John Wayne, Racinos, Tom Emmer

Bob Carney Jr. was spot-on ("Neither GOP nor DFL has a mandate," June 30). The people have made only one mandate to state government leaders: Get the budget matters resolved now. We don't tolerate our 4-year-olds behaving as they have. A shutdown is not a solution.

BRIAN MURRAY, MINNEAPOLIS

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As cynical as it sounds, I bet if lack of a timely state budget triggered reelections, there would be a timely state budget.

ROBERT F. VATALARO, MINNEAPOLIS

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Hooray for Gov. Mark Dayton, the voice of reason in an institution for the mentally challenged.

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Is the word "negotiate" too difficult for the children running Minnesota government to understand?

SHEILA MOHR, MAPLEWOOD

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Any legislator who has chosen to protect the millionaires in this state instead of children, elderly and the disabled should be fired by voters in 2012.

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Tax the richest 2 percent, but make it temporary. Look at the functions of state government piece by piece to see where savings could be made. Set a time frame for this to be done. Make departments prove their worth.

MARY MOLINE, CAMBRIDGE, MINN.

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The Minnesota medical boards that license all medical professionals have been ordered to be shuttered under the governor's plan. This means that when the kindly nurse or doctor taking care of a patient hits an annual renewal date, there is no possibility of getting the renewal accomplished.

KIRSTY SMITH, BUFFALO, MINN.

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I'm shocked at the purposeful misinformation of the media as it relates to the John Wayne reference by Michele Bachmann.

A much more reasonable interpretation would be that growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, more than a few people referenced that John Wayne's parents had lived there. They moved from Waterloo to Winterset, Iowa, where John was born.

So how in the world did the media leap from legendary actor John Wayne to serial killer John Wayne Gacy?

Bachmann is owed an apology.

BEN RIECHERS, COON RAPIDS

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As a horse farm owner of 30-plus years, I'm not alone in witnessing the slow decline of our farms as well as the agricultural recreation and hobbies that relate to them. Local horse shows, rodeo, 4-H clubs and pony clubs have long provided a healthy and wholesome outlet for families -- teaching teamwork, responsibility and hard work.

Most people are not aware that the passing of a racino bill would bring up to $1 million each year to all horse-related disciplines in Minnesota. This means grant money for pony clubs, horse shows, research, trail system improvements, handicap riding, research, rescue, 4-H programs and more.

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So according to Tom Emmer, residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul don't count as legitimate voters ("Republicans must not back down," June 28). And perhaps we should be excluded from other benefits of citizenship, because we aren't true Minnesotans like the noble and righteous people who voted for him? What arrogant gall!

His tired trumpeting of the miraculous virtues of tax cuts for the wealthy, rampant deregulation and shady accounting shifts to "balance" budgets ignores the grim evidence such policies have wrought over eight years of former Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former President George W. Bush.

It's nothing new, yet he sanctimoniously proclaims it such -- with a disingenuous and divisive tone that might play perfectly on right-wing radio rant shows but doesn't serve the greater good in print. Someone needs to point out to Emmer that he's not actually an emperor.

JOHN GOODRICH, MINNEAPOLIS

In light of New York's legalization of same-sex marriage, it's perplexing to me that Minnesota Republicans are pursuing the opposite approach -- a constitutional ban. By some estimates, New York stands to gain a $284 million economic boost from activity related to same-sex marriages over the next three years.

Obviously, if Minnesota legalized same-sex marriage, the number would be lower based on population, but why would anyone be against spurring our economy like this?