Netlets for Monday, Jan. 12

Schools saving money using Midwestern Compact I commend my legislative colleagues for introducing legislation for pooled purchasing to save money for our schools. Group purchasing saves money. For example, hundreds of school districts, colleges and local governments in the Midwest are already purchasing technology products from contracts negotiated by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) for its 12 member states.

I am one of Minnesota's commissioners on the governing body for MHEC, headquartered in the Twin Cities. All of these government entities are able to purchase from MHEC contracts because MHEC is statutorily created in Minnesota and every member state. Last year, entities across the Midwest purchased over $200 million in technology hardware from MHEC contracts, saving them over $18 million.

In Minnesota, 100 state and local governments and higher education campuses plus 73 school districts used MHEC contracts to purchase $4.6 million of technology products saving them $400,000. Nearly $500,000 of technology products were purchased by three K-12 entities alone (Roseville, White Bear Lake and Technology Information Education Services [TIES]), saving them over $40,000.

So, as we debate the pooled purchasing legislation, we must keep highly successful options like MHEC available.

SEN. SANDY PAPPAS, DFL-ST. PAUL

Is Brookdale up for grabs? Now that Macy's has decided to close its Brookdale Mall location, leaving the entire retail complex half empty, I suggest it makes perfect sense for Zygi and Mark Wilf redevelop Brookdale for a new Vikings stadium.

I know that they prefer a downtown location, but Brookdale has plenty of space and parking, freeway access from all directions, and is approximately a 10-minute drive from downtown Minneapolis. And certainly it must be a better value for all parties involved. Food for thought, Mr. Wilf?

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Unemployment may well become most printed/spoken word in 2009. Why wait for Washington? With the news that the vacancy rate at Brookdale Mall will be about 50 percent, let's get creative.

Instead of allowing the site to decay, the state/county/city, in partnership with the trade unions, could open a job training center with the specific goal of training citizens in the skills which will make them eligible for the upcoming government-sponsored jobs to repair the infrastructure. I am sure there are many obstacles to this proposal but if this is not the time to think outside the box then when?

STEVE KORTUS, BROOKLYN PARK

Bring on the bubbles, and burst them Bubbles? How did this seemingly harmless word suddenly become an everyday phrase known by all? Perhaps irrational exuberance or plain greed or something that brings relief to the average citizen.

What is next? Two areas come to mind that have been unchecked for over 20 years, health care and education. Both are not working and both need a makeover. It is rare to want a bubble to burst but these two need it.

MARK SCHMITT, ATWATER, MINN.

Slow down, and let the process play out I've read many newspaper editorials lately pointing out that this recount/election contest process is not over yet, and I couldn't agree more. Our country proudly boasts "one person-one vote" and it would be wrong to proclaim Al Franken the winner of the U.S. Senate race without assurance of that privilege.

Our state law lays out a process to do just that and that process is being followed here. Let's not rush to judgment for the sake of politics. Instead let's get a result all Minnesotans can be confident about.

RENEE GOLINVAUX, PRIOR LAKE

This is not surprising as we can look to our own country and clearly see the failure when the state takes control. Social Security and public education are good examples. The root of the problem is that individual freedoms are sacrificed for the good of the community.

An old Russian proverb sums it up best. The pig owned by everyone dies of starvation.