Posted on July 12 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good Saturday morning. Well, I just finished my monthly trip to the recycling center. Dapa2's comments remind me of the same old Republican themes they have recycled for too many years with gloomy results.

Which president has run up the largest national deficit in our nation's history? Answer: George Bush

Who was president when 9-11 happened? Answer: George Bush

Who went to war in Iraq based on faulty intelligence? Answer: George Bush

Who was Minnesota House Majority Leader when the state ended up with a $4.6 Billion dollar deficit in 2002? Answer: Tim Pawlenty.

It seems to me that the only thing growing in Minnesota right now is the prison population. Can we start connecting the dots and observe that for over the past six years we have seriously under funded public education while our prison population at the state and county level are growing?

Competent government is about making good choices. Our nation became one of the most powerful countries in the 1950's and 1960's when we had strong political leaders such as president Eisenhower that proposed the building of the Interstate Highway system. He implemented the national gas tax to provide funding to build a wonderful network of roads and bridges. Fifty years later, it is now time for our generation to repair and maintain our fragile network of Interstate highways. This is vitally important for District 27A that has two major Interstate highways (I-35 and I-90).

Political campaigns should be based on what individuals are willing to fight for. I want specifics on what programs a politician is for and I want them to inform me how they plan to provide the adequate funding for these programs.

Now is the time to pull together as a region, as a state, and as a country and prioritize on the role of government and the cost of government. I firmly believe in a pay-as-you-go government. I do not believe that any government at any level should ever spend any money that they are not willing to tax for.

For an example, who is really going to pay the $12 Billion per month that we are spending on the war in Iraq? The president and congress have not been willing to raise additional revenue since the war began in 2002. During WWII, congress and the president supported the selling of war bonds to pay for the war effort. Is it really responsible to spend $12 Billion monthly on a war that is being funded on the backs of our children and grandchildren? This is not an example of competent government.

Now is the time to work together to get America focused on the future. This is why we need competent political leaders at the local, state and national level that will actually deliver on their promises to make America a better place to raise our children and grandchildren. We have been fortunate over the past 200 years to have many examples of good competent political leaders from both parties representing us.

On Robin Brown officially announces bid for re-election

Posted on July 11 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is unfortunate when people make charges that are not substantiated by facts. Representative Robin Brown did vote for an increase in the gas tax that had not been raised for almost 20 years. How many people have to die on Minnesota roads and bridges before Governor Pawlenty and other anti user fee folks acknowledge the fact that it takes real money to maintain our current system of roads and bridges. Economic development needs quality transportation infrastructure. The bi-partisan effort in the legislature that over rode the governor's veto was the right thing to do to save lives and maintain our quality of life. Representative Brown voted to continue JOBZ tax breaks. Representative Brown voted to place a cap on local property tax increases. Representative Brown voted on property tax relief. Get your facts right. Representative Brown is serving District 27A in an outstanding manner. Remember that Representative Dan Dorman voted to increase the gas tax during his last term in the legislature. Thank you for comparing Representative Robin Brown's votes with Representative Dan Dorman. They both supported safe roads and bridges and were willing to back up their support with an increase in the user fee. If you really want to stop wasting tax dollars, how about bringing an immediate end to the immoral Republican war in Iraq that is costing tax payers over $12 billion per month and more importantly the precious lives of our young soldiers.

On Robin Brown officially announces bid for re-election

Posted on July 11 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Robin Brown has consistently supported economic development in District 27A by voting for and supporting the continuation of JOBZ; by voting for and supporting safe roads and bridges and transportation infrastructure; and by voting for and supporting funding for public schools including Q-Comp that provides additional funding for schools with merit pay for quality teaching for the districts of Albert Lea and Alden-Conger. Robin Brown has carried on a tradition of quality representation by developing positive legislative relationships across party lines that resulted in $2.5 million for the cleanup of Edgewater Park. She has worked hard for District 27A and provides timely and quality constituent service. She has already personally visited 4,444 homes in her re-election campaign in 2008 that will result in personally visiting over 10,000 homes. Congratulations Representative Robin Brown on a job well done. Your family and constituents are greatly appreciative of your effective representation of District 27A in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Continue striving to provide competent government. By providing safe roads and bridges, additional economic development, and quality schools District 27A will continue to be a great place to live.

On Robin Brown officially announces bid for re-election