Letters to the editor for Saturday, March 1, 2008

The state of Minnesota is collecting record amounts of revenue. Transportation is just a political football. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and the DFL legislators have more taxpayer dollars at their disposal than ever before.

The only good reason to raise taxes to provide the desperately needed funding for our roads and bridges is that legislators blew their allowance already. The state has been collecting the money needed for transportation for decades. It's just been squandering it away on just about everything but transportation.

Thanks to House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, Rep. Tom Emmer and the other 42 Republicans who opposed this bill for trying to bring accountability back to our state government. I have a strong feeling that Minnesota voters are watching the great money grab of '08 and will act accordingly in November.

ANDY LIPKOWSKI, ANOKA

Saluting the six The Minnesota Six. Those "rogue House Republicans" have clearly gone too far. They have sought to separate policy from politics. They have "left the reservation" and dared to seek consensus. "It should have been an easy vote for these Republicans to have taken."

Well, it wasn't, and therein lies the difference between their actions and those of the strident left and right. They actually put consideration for the welfare of our state before consideration of self.

"We expect Republicans to follow Republicans." Well, this old-fashioned moderate Republican does not; as with Democrats or independents, I expect them to follow their conscience, not the herd.

CHARLES A. MALKERSON,

GOLDEN VALLEY

Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG) wants to block redevelopment of Calhoun Square until a public gathering space is added to the plans ("Calhoun Square overhaul plan hits resistance," Feb. 29). Minneapolis cannot afford to drag its feet on approving millions of dollars of investment in a major center of retail and entertainment.

Neighborhood groups like CARAG, disproportionally made up of homeowners in what are often renter-majority neighborhoods, too often get in the way of needed economic development in our city. Such development increases employment, housing density and our tax base. This additional tax revenue helps pay for transit, schools and libraries. It also helps keep homeowners' property taxes in check.

THOMAS A. MOORE, MINNEAPOLIS

Wake up, people; the Cottonwood bus tragedy was due to a stupid and reckless person -- not illegal immigration.

MIKE MARTINEZ, MINNETONKA

As a restaurant owner, I am disappointed to see that there are other business owners who have decided to violate the spirit of the smoke-free law with their "theatrical productions" ("To smoke or not to smoke," Feb. 15).

I see the law helping my fellow community members take steps towards better health. My customers, workers and I have waited a long time for it, and we are happy to have smoke-free air in our restaurant and state. We hope that other business owners will also respect the smoke-free law's intention to protect Minnesota's workers and community.

JAMAL ANSARI, EAGAN

ADAM BEATTY, MINNETONKA

Denigrating the "old politics" has been a very successful ploy for Sen. Obama. However, even after months of hearing his politics of promise wrapped in the pulse of the secular sermon, I still don't know what he stands for. I can hear, see and feel the package, but not what's in it.

PAUL PETER PAULOS, ST. PAUL

I just don't get it. The family of Amanda Jax -- an avid drinker who consumed so much alcohol that she died -- is suing her friends. How is her death anyone else's fault? No one has reported that she was held down and had drinks forced down her throat.

The responsible party was Amanda. She caused her own death. I hope the judge throws out the lawsuit and makes the plaintiffs pay all the legal costs the defendants incur.