Rebutting Ralph Doty on just about everything
After reading Mr. Doty's commentary in the Jan. 24 issue of the Budgeteer I just could not help but make my own observations:
- Would not the "alien" come to the same conclusion after observing the jubilation of Democrats and Independents with the victory of Obama over McCain? I believe Scott Brown defeated Martha Coakley because of what the Obama administration has been doing in Washington, not anything Coakley said or did.
- Forty million people do not have health insurance for only two reasons: They choose to spend their limited resources on other personal needs or they have a pre-existing condition. I think it better to concentrate on the latter as a more noble and achievable pursuit. I would wager many of those 40 million Doty mentions are not so much in debt or filing for bankruptcy because "their medical bills have out-stripped their ability to pay."
My wager is they went in debt for other stuff -- let's have a look at their checkbook before we blame it on their medical bills. I have never believed, nor did the founding fathers, that health care is a right. I have always believed it to be a personal choice.
All things material in this world suffer the same condition: economic scarcity. I don't pay for you, and you don't pay for me. That works every time it is tried -- as with raising our kids, it's called "tough love." Pass this tough love on to the insurance companies in the form of allowing them to compete nationally and watch what happens then. Fair competition always brings the cost down. But how would one handle those pesky lobbyists?
Doty needs to rethink his "60 percent" comment about the Senate: Sixty percent only means it can go to a vote -- then subject to 50 percent plus one to make it law. The 60 percent is to keep the party in power from excluding the minority party from the debate, not, as Doty writes, to bring "partisanship and stalemate." Didn't the Democrats use this on budgetary matters during the Bush years?
How long will Doty and the Obama administration continue to refer to "the mess he inherited"? He campaigned and was elected on the promise of change to correct the mess, so change it and stop whining. My guess is that the Massachusetts voters -- as well as many in the rest of the country -- think he is headed in the wrong direction. It's difficult to be patient when you're out of a job. For sure we'll all give him at least three more years.
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Jim Burho
Cotton
A letter to constituents: Rep. Roger Reinert wants your input
The Legislature reconvened Feb. 4. It's hard to imagine, but this session may be even more difficult than the last.
Recently, state economist Tom Stinson announced that, due to the ongoing recession, the state of Minnesota will face a $1.2 billion budget deficit this year, followed by another $6.5 billion budget gap in the next biennium (when adjusted for inflation).
Given the scope of the problem, it is my goal that the governor and legislative leadership from both parties work together to find concrete solutions. Minnesotans expect civil leadership and shared governance, not divisive politics.
Minnesota is facing the most extraordinary economic challenges in a generation. This crisis is a call for us to come together as Minnesotans to discuss what kind of state we want now and into the future, then prioritize and make our budget and funding decisions accordingly.
As always, your input helps me make the best possible decisions for Duluth and Minnesota. I strongly encourage you to contact me throughout the legislative session with any questions, concerns or suggestions -- and, if you find yourself in St. Paul over the next few months, please stop by the Capitol and visit. I am confident that, working together, we can continue to make progress here in Duluth and northeastern Minnesota.
Roger Reinert
State Representative
District 7B
(651) 296-4246
rep.roger.reinert@house.mn
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