Your opinions
Supports Pitzrick
After reading a letter from last week's paper, I decided to do some checking on Ms. Loon. I'm certain she must be a nice person; that's a quality that everyone wishes to have said about them. I'm a nice person, too. But, I wanted to know more. So, I went to her website, as well as did some more checking online.
To me, it looks like Ms. Loon has spent her professional life saying she wants to make government smaller, while always being paid because of government. She has moved back and forth from government staff positions to lobbying positions. Her job for the last five years (through April 2007) was as registered federal lobbyist for an association of credit and collection agencies.
Does Eden Prairie Senate District 42B want to bring the partisan politics of Wasington to the Minnesota House of Representatives? I hope not. We've had enough problems that that in recent years.
I then did some checking on Jerry Pitzrick. He's a civil engineer with a small, Eden Praire based business who's lived here for 32 years. He works with companies in the building industry all around the country to help them work together effectively to produce more cost-effective, successful results. Isn't this what we really need in the Minnesota House of Representatives?
Personally, I think it's time for Eden Prairie to have a fresh voice in the Minnesota House of Representatives, not more of the same old entrenched ideas of politics as usual.
Kristina Guerrero, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie News, August 7, 2008
Questions Veurink
I question Kathy Veurink's revisionist history (letters to the editor, May 8 issue), which is so typical of the Grand Oil Party. The gas tax was supported by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (not known for liberal positions) because they understand the need for better funding of our transportation infrastructure. When gas jumps 30 cents in one day I am sure the 2 cents is not going to hurt the economy. I agree that ethanol should not be subsidized and the DFL Legislature is revoking the subsidy to a failed ethanol plant in St. Paul owned by GOP supporters. The GOP was a leader in promoting ethanol subsidies in the early days.
The cost of oil products is linked back to the reckless spending of the GOP and Bush (never vetoed a bill when the GOP controlled Congress) that was financed by borrowing from countries like China and other countries that are known to "love" us. Bush starts a trillion-dollar-plus war crime in Iraq and cuts taxes. The war economy is a major reason we are heading downwards. that is not a conservative principle that I remember from my Goldwater days.
Kathy goes on to say we should be good stewards to our environment but these are the same people that oppose just about anything that threatens their friends and supporters in the energy industry. Deficit spending is not responsible government or a conservative value.
Recently Erik Paulsen voted against allowing the University of Minnesota to do stem cell research. The state of Minnesota has a program to make our state the biotech capital of the world to generate more high-tech job opportunities. Remember, the GOP is the one that chose to spend $300 million for a new stadium over a bio research facility.
Erik Paulsen in a recent letter I received from him screamed about the big bad liberals. This recovering Republican moderate thinks that it is time to give the liberals a chance to support the middle class that has been attacked by the GOP since their contract with America. We clearly are not better than we were six years ago.
Kathy goes on to say that the DFL has had their chance since they have been in control of the Legislature. Kathy, you fail to mention the fact that they have a very small margin and cannot override Gov. no-new-tax Pawlenty without the help of a few members of the Grand Oil Part. This fall we need to send enough legislators from other parties to be able to override this spend-and-borrow-for-everything mentality.
Gregg Harcus, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie News, May 29, 2008
Supports Pitzrick
I am writing in response to the letter last week that was questioningJerry Pitzrick. First, I want to address the gas tax that Kathy Veurink is concerned about. As of right now the increase amounts to 2 cents per gallon, and this is the first time it has been raised since sometime in the 1980s. Minnesota will use the money raised to fix our broken infrastructure. More than that, we can build new road and transit systems with that money. I like responsible government that pays for what is needed, instead of borrowing money, don't you? I know that in hard times like these, every penny counts, but a few dollars a month seems like a resonable price to pay to keep our roads and bridges safe.
Now to Jerry Pitzrick. I actually talked to Jerry and learned some things about him. It turns out that he is a very strong candidate on the subject of infrastructure; Jerry Pitzrick serves on the Eden Prairie Planning Commission, and he is a civil engineer. It will be a great thing for our district to have an engineer in St. Paul who understands our transportation needs. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Jerry also wants to spend time on other infrastructure needs, like water and transmission line issues, which aren't as glamorous as roads and light rail, but are just as vital to our community.
Jerry Pitzrick is also an experienced business consultant. He has worked with many groups whose members have different positions on an issue. He has been able to help them find areas of agreement and then work to develop win-win solutions that they can all agree on. That's a skill that is needed in the Legislature, and would be a welcome alternative to partisan gridlock in St. Paul. He's also a small business owner, and he recognizes that small businesss are the driving force of our economy.
Jeffy Pitzrick is connected to Eden Prairie through family, his business, and his work on the Planning Commission. He has the right kind of knowledge and experience to get action on issues important to Eden Prairie. I invite you to join me and support Jerry Pitzrick for the State Legislature in 42B. He's the right fit for our district, and the right person for the job.
Rob Boyd, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie News, May 15, 2008
Defends Pitzrick
I read Kathy Veurink's recent letter responding to Jerry Pitzrick's economic thoughts about supporting small business. Her letter didn't so much legitimately question Mr. Pitzrick's thinking as take the current Democratic House and Senate members to task for what she perceives to be bad policy.
She then leapt off this attack and let us know that the woman who trounced her in the Republican race would be the best person to support new business.
Let me get this straight. Someone who has spent her career as a Washington insider and as a lobbyist for a coalition of credit collection agencies is my best choice to re-energize Minnesota's economic future? No thanks.
I've known Jerry Pitzrick for more than 30 years. I trusted him enough 27 years ago to make him godfather to my children; I trust him even more today. He has spent much of his working life in the trenches of one of the nation's largest construction firms. And for the past 10 years he has owned a small business that regularly works with developers and city, state and federal government agencies to help them establish common goals and then creatively and effiently achieve them.
That means working with people who come to the table with widely varying agendas and needs — and helping them work together to produce the best possible solution for everyone involved. And isn't that what millions of us have been hoping the political process would become?
Jerry Pitzrick is a rare combination of social conscience and analytical logic. Aside from being a true gentleman, he is an engineer; which means his method of solving problems is to seek out all of the information, verify its accuracy, and then work towards solutions that willk have immediate as well as lasting values.
That means not blindly following party lines, but rather researching issues thoroughly and listening carefully to all sides. When we have enough people like that in government, we might actually get something done.
I'm guessing a lot of us are just sick and tired of the same old approach to politics — the approach so perfectly expressed by Veurink's attack-dog, bared teeth, bite-the-ankles-of-anything-that-moves-and-take-no-prisoners approach.
Let's have some fresh thinking for a change. The newly crowned Republican candidate for the House seat in 42B represents the old way of doing the state's business that everyone — Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike — is rejecting in droves. Jerry Pitzrick represents a rational, intelligent independent approach. I think he deserves the cance to show he can help get things done.
Skip Zetzman, Eden Prairie
Eden Priarie News, May 15, 2008
Democratic Direction
In last week's edition of the Eden Prairie News, a writer questioned the direction Democrats want to take our state and our country. I would like to respond.
Earlier this year, Democrats overrode a veto by Gov. Tim Pawlenty of a gas tax increase of $0.08 (among other tax increases). The gas tax raise would increase funding for more road improvements, instead of postponing projects or paying for them later or asking construction companies to donate their services for the greater good. Are better roads a priority? Should Democrats have to wait to fix our roads?
Republicans also link the current high price of gas to the $0.08 gas tax increase to influence voters. Last year, gas was $2.47. With the new tax, gas would have been at $2.55. (I bet everyone would like to pay $2.55 per gallon now.) Are Republicans forgetting about other factors affecting the price of gas? Do they really believe $2.47 + $0.08 = $3.65? (Is this fuzzy math?) Republicans criticize Democrats for investigating alternative fuels and looking beyond oil. Some Republicans advocate drilling in protected wildlife areas and ignoring our responsibilities to our world. They forget that there is a limit on oil and other fuels in the group. Is it smart for us to start researching alternative fuels and to compete with other countries? Why are Republicans against preparing for the future? (Is our future like Kevin Costner's move "The Postman?" Are we going back to riding horses everywhere?)
Recent years have been difficult for many. Many of my co-workers at my temporary job worry about what happens after the job ends. The prices of gas, food and other necessities increase while most people's wages do not. Many worry about making house payments or paying off medical bills. The tax revenues have not increased, leading to budget deficits that are resolved by cutting programs and services or by forcing school districts and cities to ask to raise property taxes.
Some argue because Democrats now control both Houses of the Minnesota Legislature and both House of the U.S. Congress, they are responsible for our problems. Have people forgotten President Bush and Gov. Pawlenty still have powers and responsibilities? (Are Republicans disavowing them?) I think Republicans speak to us as Lucy does to Charlie Brown in the comic strip Peanuts. Lucy holds a football and tells Charlie Brown to trust her to hold it so he can kick it. As he runs to the football, she yanks it away at the last second, and Charlie Brown falls down with Lucy smiling. How long can we trust Republican promises while suffering because of Republican actions?
I know Jerry Pitzrick, Rep. Maria Ruud, and Ashwin Madia (DFL candidates running to represent Eden Prairie in the Minnesota House and the U.S. House) and I believe they want government to work to make people's lives better. I hope you will believe in them, too.
Dan Daniels, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie News, May 15, 2008
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