Reader’s view: Oberstar ‘stole’ airport money from our future

Former U.S. Rep. James Oberstar was absolutely correct in praising the leadership of Brian Ryks at the Duluth International Airport (Oberstar’s July 3 letter was headlined, “Ryks’ leadership at airport will long be appreciated”).

Ryks did a great job, and I wish him well.

However, Oberstar gave a clue as to why he no longer represents this part of Minnesota when he wrote, “I stole the funding fair and square from the stimulus program.”

There is no “fair and square” in stealing. The stimulus was a massive theft, pure and simple. The American taxpayers and our future generations were the victims. We in Duluth benefited in the short term from the theft, but that does not make it right. We need to stop stealing from future generations and return to a limited, pay-as-you-go federal government. Pork-barrel theft needs to end.

David J. Podratz

Duluth

Tags: readers views, opinion, editorials, politics, money