Readers write (May 11): Legislators, Marriage Amendment, Vikings stadium

Dear Legislators: If you could finish things up at the Capitol -- with minimal bickering -- one of these days, we'd really appreciate it. Stalling on the budget is hurting organizations that provide important assistance to many families in the Twin Cities.

At my nonprofit, we are looking to hire staff and increase capacity, but we can't make our budget until you finish yours.

If you're concerned with creating jobs, why don't you do us all a favor and cut the farfetched propositions and partisan haggling? While entertaining, this political point-scoring is not helping the economy.

Instead, spend some time on the important work that you were elected to do, and stop wasting our time (and taxpayer money) on stadium deals and constitutional amendments.

The state needs a budget to function. It should not be left for the last minute or shunted to the bottom of your to-do list. Please hurry up and get your important work done so the rest of us can do ours.

CLARA SANDBERG, ST. PAUL

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Where would be the status of voting rights and common access to public facilities be if the rights of minorities had been subjected to a popular vote in Alabama, Mississippi or Louisiana? There are rights and principles where the courts and legislators must take the lead.

JOEL CARTER, MINNEAPOLIS

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May the group of House and Senate Republican lawmakers who introduced a constitutional amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriage be remembered in history. May their names be chiseled on a wall of stone if this discrimination makes its way into our Constitution.

May every legislator who votes to amend the Constitution add their names to this wall of shame. What a terrible legacy they leave their children and grandchildren.

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Whatever one believes about amending the state Constitution to confirm the state's traditional definition of marriage, may we at least politely insist that the debate be civil and respectful? Nothing of real value is ever gained by demonizing either side of any public debate.

I strongly support the marriage definition amendment. A "yes" vote for the amendment confirms the traditional definition of marriage recognized by Minnesota statute and by Minnesota Supreme Court precedent.

Those of us who strongly support the amendment believe that it is necessary as further protection against incremental legislative and judicial erosion of the traditional view of marriage.

For instance, last legislative session the House Civil Law and Elections Committee heard bills that would have created same-sex marriage in this state, or would have abolished the legal status of marriage in this state, or would have required Minnesotans to recognize same-sex marriages entered into in other states.

I have heard many opponents of the marriage amendment accusing supporters (like me) of bigotry and mean-spiritedness. These accusations are not true; they are not intellectually honest; they are not just, and they do not productively advance the dialogue on this important debate.

Is it genuine bigotry to believe that a child needs a father and a mother? Is it mean-spirited to believe that the legal institution of marriage is far more about children's and society's ultimate needs than it is about the emotions and desires of the wedded adults?

Whatever our viewpoint, let's commit ourselves to a public debate worthy of honorable men and women nobly participating in a government of the people. To that end, let's allow those same honorable men and women to vote on the marriage amendment in November 2012.

WILLIAM LEMIRE, LITTLE CANADA

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But during the same period, the cost of a new stadium for the Vikings has stayed constant at nearly a billion dollars. Why hasn't that number been drastically reduced? It should be down to $500 million or $600 million.

Those are the percentage savings I've realized in my work. And, even better, the public might be more receptive to a new palace for these elite if the cost were reduced so significantly -- why, the public contribution could conceivably be $200 million, an amount we could probably live with.

Should I be in charge of sourcing contractors if that stadium ever gets approved?