Sticking to Minnesotan issues that matter

I am reprinting this letter to the editor of the South West Review newspaper. It was written by Ted Trenzeluk of Inver Grove Heights. He is a fellow Republican and I am proud to say that he is a supporter of mine.

Sticking to Minnesotan issues that matter

To the editor:
Democrats swept into the State Legislature this past election cycle with a promise to focus on issues important to Minnesotans, things like education, health care, and property tax reform to name a few. Theses issues are important and should be priority one for our legislators. However, in a quick review of the activities of one of our local legislators, Rep, Rick Hanson (DFL-South St. Paul), I'm puzzled to see how most of the bills he authored this session fit this supposed mandate. A sampling of bills he's authored include: A bill that would make it illegal to posses firewood on DNR lands if it was not approved by newly created inspection criteria managed by state commissioners (H.F. 1016); state funding of a study and regulation of contractors who uses sponges and other antimicrobial devices to get rid of mildew (H.F. 402); A tax checkoff that would allow a portion of tax refunds and/ or increased taxes to pay for sesquicentennial parties in MN towns (H.F. 1009); and a bill to mandate bathroom breaks and other "rights" for meat packers, as well as creation of another state position to monitor these (H.F. 643). I'm sure many bladders across the state are appreciative of Mr. Hansen's efforts, but I'm still wondering how all this fits into the important issues like education, health care and taxes that Mr. Hansen promised to address when elected last fall. You may think I'm picking on Mr. Hansen by calling out only select bills to make my point. Unfortunately, I was at a loss to find even one bill that he authored that had anything to do with "priority one" issues. Time to get to work Mr. Hansen and focus on issues important to the residents of your district.

Ted Trenzeluk

Inver Grove Heights

See my post dated Wednesday, February 14, 2007 titled "The week for Rick Hansen." H.F. 643 is unacceptable. It is redundant. Several years ago, the Federal Government made it mandatory that a person may take a bathroom break as needed without fearing any repercussions from their employer. Also, it requires the establishment of the position of a meatpacking industry workers rights ombudsman in the Department of Labor and Industry. But the real zinger here is this, "An employer must provide an explanation in an employee's native language," and this is under penalty of law!

I strongly believe in a national language of English!