Dear Gov. Mark Dayton,

I write this letter with a very heavy heart. We have been friends for many years. Do you remember how many times you ran for an elected office and I was there to help you get elected every time?

I am shocked at your decision to shut down the Twin Metals project and not allow the process to work ("Dayton rebuffs proposal for mine," March 8).

I also wonder if you have the authority to bypass the Minnesota Executive Council. If you do have that authority, at least have a vote of the council so we can see who supports us or who are the Twin Cities people who seem to hate the Iron Range. We want to get ready for the next election.

Governor, as I travel in our area, I can't believe the solid Democrats who are saying they are voting Republican; will this be your legacy?

I also am told you are opposed to PolyMet and are using the smoke screen of financial assurance to be put in escrow. Why don't you do the same for everyone who is polluting the water in southern Minnesota and the metro area?

Governor, I care deeply about the Iron Range. I was born here and lived here for my entire 86 years, except for the years I spent in the U.S. Army. Let me die as a proud Iron Range DFLer. Reverse your decision on Twin Metals.

Your friend (?),

Joe Begich, Eveleth, Minn.

The writer is a former state representative and Eveleth mayor.

SUPREME COURT VACANCY

Well, the president did once mention the audacity of hope

Imagine a sitting president having the audacity to name a Supreme Court nominee! Why, who ever heard of such a thing? Per the opposition, a sitting president, especially the current one, has no business performing any of his duties during the last year of his term. We continue to hear that "the American people should have a vote on this nomination." Well, the American did speak, quite loudly, both in 2008 and again in 2012. What about their vote — does it count?

Ron Bender, Richfield

• • •

The Republicans in Congress should jump at the chance to approve President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland. By every account I have read, he is well-qualified, fair-minded and not tied to a political party. I don't think the Republicans should feel confident that they will control either chamber and/or the White House. If they just listen to Republican and Democratic campaign speeches they will run, not walk, to"make the deal" for the country's sake.

James M. Becker, Lakeville

• • •

We need to approve Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court. Seventy-five percent of Americans want Congress to act. He is very qualified and is as moderate as you will get from President Obama. Failure of the Republicans to act on this will give the Democrats one more issue to bash the Republicans with in the election, and we really don't need to give them any more issues than they already have. By approving him immediately, you take it out of the discussion, you get a moderate judge and you get a chance to appoint more by winning the presidency. By ignoring the vote, you lose the presidency and you give President Hillary Clinton the ability to appoint four judges. For once, let's try to do what is right for America.

Steve Sherwood, Minnetonka
STATE BUDGET PROPOSALS

Spending 80 percent of available surplus is still too much

I know it depends on your perspective and how you "spin it," but I do have to take issue with the March 16 editorial "Dayton's 'wish list' prioritizes prudence." The Star Tribune Editorial Board says it's prudent? Really? Gov. Mark Dayton proposes spending $700 million of the $900 million surplus, nearly 80 percent, and the Editorial Board espouses that as a good thing because it is "just $700 million of the $900 million that the latest forecast said is available." "Just?" Spending 80 percent is somehow "wise or judicious," the meaning of prudence? And if that weren't enough, $289 million will be for recurring, ongoing obligations that we the taxpayers will be on the hook for in all the years going forward. Or, another way to look at that is that after five years, that move will cost us nearly $1.5 billion.

I know the Editorial Board has an agenda, but please, don't insult us with a one-sided perspective that really doesn't tell the whole story.

Charles T. Killian, St. Paul
PRIORITIES

Just think what the pickleball splurge could cover

The March 16 article on the $150,000 a family donated to the city of Edina to build a pickleball court ("Edina gets a dilly of a deal …") provides an interesting comparison of what your money can do. That same amount of money would pay for five full-time assistant educators in the Minneapolis Public Schools. These people work in classrooms to directly help teachers and students. Parents at our school just spent hours and hours of time and work to raise money to fund one additional assistant educator for the whole school for the year — and we live in relatively affluent southwest Minneapolis; we are lucky we can do this, as many communities could not. I feel this is a sad commentary on our priorities.

Allison West, Minneapolis
VIKINGS AND STREET NAMES

Why wouldn't we show respect for Chicago anyway?

Not only is Chicago a great city, it has fielded some great football teams that deserve recognition and respect. Without the fierce competition and rivalry of those teams, the NFL division the Minnesota Vikings play in would be boring. Instead of excluding division foes from the new stadium — or seeking to remove their city names from streets near the stadium ("Vikings singing the (Bears) blues," March 15) — there should be pennants hanging around the field for each of them and the records of the Vikings' wins and losses. Those in the Vikings management have a history of living with their heads in the sand and their egos superseding sound judgment and good football moxie that would enable us to celebrate winning. It's time we recognized the quality of our competition and rise to the occasion.

John Crivits, St. Paul