Readers write for Friday, May 7

The state Supreme Court's unallotment decision is a great day for Minnesota. No matter which side of the partisan divide you are on, you do not want any governor to unilaterally set the state budget.

The citizens of Minnesota elected a divided government and expect elected officials to do their job and negotiate. This is a big win for the people and a big loss for hyperpartisans.

ALICE JOHNSON, Minneapolis

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King Pawlenty has lost his crown. Gov. Tim Pawlenty learned that there are three branches of Minnesota government. He also learned that there are checks and balances. That's how the Minnesota and U.S. constitutions are set up.

Compromise is necessary between the legislative and executive branches.

CHARLES HELLIE, SAUK CENTRE, MINN.

Now that the court has decided, will we follow in the shadow of our illustrious leaders in Washington? Obviously our Legislature is cut from the same mold, as it wishes to follow Washington's spend, spend, spend, borrow, borrow, borrow footsteps and let our children and grandchildren face the music.

BRUCE GRANGER, WEST CONCORD, MINN.

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Gov. Tim Pawlenty, in response to a possible shortfall in the budget, says, "If they won't do it, I'll do it for them" ("Pawlenty to Capitol: Cut $536M or I will," May 5). House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, says, "I don't think that I'm going to do anything extraordinary here for this bill" ("Leaders needed on Vikes stadium push," editorial, May 5).

Did both of these folks ever truly understand that they work for us, and that we did not elect them and do not continue to pay them to make decisions based solely on what is best for them? (Funny, both of them are running for a higher office.) It should alarm voters of all parties that "our representatives" are acting out of selfishness.

If you see this royal triumvirate in person, reach out and greet them and let them know who "we" are.

ROGER NUNN, EDINA

The Minnesota Walleyes? Nah, not strong enough. The Minnesota Lumberjacks? Maybe. The Minnesota Marauding Scandinavians? Too reminiscent.

I'm trying to think up a name for the new NFL expansion franchise. You know, the one we begged the NFL for in 2022. The one for which we will build a $3 billion totally public-financed stadium since the Vikings left town ("Stadium sacked at Capitol," May 6). Thank God the NFL finally gave in and gave us an expansion franchise.

I know it will take years to build the franchise into a competitive position, and it will never be the same team that I followed faithfully for 50 years. But I am willing to wait.

JERRY LEPPART, EDEN PRAIRIE

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Where are our priorities? A new stadium or good education, health care and social services?

The prostadium people are out of touch. Unemployment is high. Gov. Tim Pawlenty cut health care and services to low-income individuals, as well as services for the mentally ill and disabled. He is once again threatening to cut local government aid.

As a librarian, I see a crowd rush in to use our library computers every morning to job-search. They can't afford computers or Internet service. We added a job area and increased computers to meet their needs.

Please, Minnesotans, tell our representatives and governor that services cannot be cut further. Our education, health care system, social services and government services should be at their previous standards, ones we can be proud of.

JOAN ENNIS, NORTHFIELD, MINN.

I disagree with the May 5 letter about Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, and his stand about the alcohol ban at Gophers games ("TCF Stadium bill comes up dry," May 4).

Rukavina is correct: The public paid for this stadium, not the regents.

This reminds me of the George Orwell novel "Animal Farm," where everybody is equal, but some are more equal than others.

After all, my taxes also helped finance this stadium.

JOSEPH ST. GERMAIN, Forest Lake

Serving in Congress is not a job for life. U.S. Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., just got that memo ("In another blow to Democrats, Rep. Obey won't seek reelection," May 6).

There are two senators and seven representatives who have served more than 35 years. That means they never held another significant job.

That was also the case with the "lion of the Senate," Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., before he died this past year.