A-Section 3-27.pdf - The McLeod County Chronicle

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Answer: YesOur view: Recent article on projected e-pulltabrevenues should halt Vikings stadium projectYou canvoteonline atwww.glencoenews.comWe hate to carp about theobvious, but apparentlyit needs to be re-enforcedover and over again. Is it possibleto make a bad situation evenworse with the new Vikings stadiumplans? Well, yes. Relying on an expansionof electronic pulltabs to helpfund the $1 billion Vikings stadiumproject was a horrible idea whenfirst proposed, and it has not improvedsince.To back that up is the Sunday StarTribune’s front page article “Gamblingfirms drove flawed e-pulltabplan.” The article pointed out whatwe suspected from the start. Theflowery e-gambling revenue projectionsof the stadium proponents, includingGov. Mark Dayton, were“pie in the sky” figures. Nor is expansionof gambling a very reliablesource of long-term funding for thisexpensive hen-house being guardedby the foxes.The Strib reported that in May2012 the projections were that e-pulltabs would generate $34 milliona year to help pay for the state’s$350 million share of the Vikings’fancy new playground. Using thoseprojections, the state’s share couldbe paid off in a decade or so.Then last November, the MinnesotaDepartment of Revenue’s projectionswere sliced in half to $17 milliona year after the start-up of the e-pulltabs in establishments around thestate sputtered badly.Of the 2,500 projected sites for theexpanded electronic gambling, onlyabout 200 are up and running. Nowthe revenue projection has been dramaticallytrimmed back to only $1.7million this year.That is a far cry from $34 milliona year needed to pay off the state’scommitment to multi-billionaireZiggy Wilf and his partners for a facilitythat will host only eight to 10football games a year as its primaryattraction.A wise investment of state tax dollars?Hardly.The state involvement in theVikings stadium plan has been illconceivedand highly political fromthe start, and it is only getting worse.Earlier this year we opined thatthe whole process should be haltednow, before it becomes an absolutedisaster. The project should not goforward until a more sensible way topay for the state’s share is identified,and thoroughly discussed.If it delays the NFL’s and theWilfs’ grandiose plans for their newdigs, so be it. It is time to insertsome common sense into this project,and not let pressure from theNFL or anyone else undermine theprocess of making this project workto the benefit of taxpayers of Minnesota.Perhaps the best solution would beto stop the project altogether andallow Minnesotans to determinewhether it is appropriate for a professionalfootball team, or any professionalsports team, to dictateterms for new facilities at taxpayers’expense.We already know the answer onany stadium referendum, and so dothe proponents of such projects. Thatis why no referendum will ever beheld.That, in itself, should tell us somethingabout the wisdom of this $1billion disaster-waiting-to-happen.Our only recourse now is to tossout the politicians who voted for thisboondoggle. The problem is, by thetime we get that opportunity, theboondoggle will be well on its wayto being ... well, a boondoggle.— R.G.Question of the weekAfter the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketballteam was eliminated from the NCAA basketball tournament aftertwo rounds, Coach Tubby Smith was fired.Was it a good decision?1) Yes2) No3) Not sureResults for most recent question:The price tag for the Morningside Avenue extensionproject has doubled in recent years due to changes in the scopeof the work. Should the city of Glencoe andMcLeod County still do the project?Yes — 22%No — 67%Not sure — 11%54 votes. New question runs March 27-April 2Feel strongly about an issue?Share your opinion with The McLeodCounty Chronicle readers through a letterto the editor.Please include your name, address andtelephone number (for verification purposes).email to: richg@glencoenews.comLetters to EditorThe McLeod County Chronicle, Wednesday, March 27, 2013, page 4Will continue his defense of traditional marriageTo the Editor:This is a brief response to FredSlocum’s editorial (“Refutes Gruenhagen’sclaims,” March 20). Whenit comes to facts and truth, Mr.Slocum plays “fast and loose” withboth.Since Mr. Slocum portrays himselfas someone who is knowledgeableabout homosexuality, I find itinteresting that he convenientlyomits the fact that there are thousandsof former gays who have leftthis unhealthy and addictivelifestyle, many of whom are now ina traditional marriage and raising afamily.I have a friend who lived the gaylifestyle and was a gay activist forover a decade. He sought help andleft that lifestyle and today has awife and three wonderful children.There are numerous organizationssuch as the International HealingFoundation that help homosexualssuccessfully leave the gay lifestyle.Since my public statements that“there is no gay gene,” I have beencontacted by research scientists andtherapists confirming my statementas scientifically accurate. I will notrelease their names to protect themfrom the vile, foul and hate-filled e-mails I have received for daring tochallenge the lies and deceit of thehomosexual activists. It appears thatfree speech and tolerance are not toleratedby the homosexual movement.There are genetic, biological andmedical facts which prove homosexualityis not an immutable characteristicas in the color of one’s skin.The Human Genome Project, whichwas an extensive study of the humangene, was completed in 2003. Theone piece of information that nevermaterialized was the identificationof the so-called gay gene. There areexcellent resources available on theInternet that will confirm my statementsas accurate and true.The American Psychological Associationalso acknowledges on itswebsite that there is no gay gene,and they are still unsure what causeshomosexuality.In the case of identical twins, ifone carried a gay gene, then bothwould carry that gay gene and bothwould be homosexual in all sets ofthese identical twins. Mr. Slocumhimself, acknowledged that this isnot the case.If Minnesota legalizes gay marriage,public schools will be mandatedto teach homosexuality as normaland optional in K-12 education aswe have seen in Massachusetts publicschools.In addition, in Massachusetts, religiousrights are being infringed uponthrough laws that force religiouscharities and adoption agencies tocompromise their religious beliefs.Many have been forced to closerather than compromise those beliefs(see www.massresistance.com foreven more extreme examples of religiousintolerance).On gays raising children, the mostextensive study to date by sociologistMark Regnerus, University ofAustin, proves completely that children,on average, do best whenraised by both a mom and a dad in astable home (http://www.frc.org/issuebrief/new-study-on-homosexualparents-tops-all-previous-research).The studies quoted by gay activistsare shallow and representonly a small sample of participantscompared to this extensive, longitudinalstudy.A large majority (68 percent) ofmy constituents, both democrats andrepublicans, voted for the MarriageAmendment. As their representativeI will continue to defend traditionalmarriage, especially for the protectionof our children and religiousfreedom.District 18B StateRep. Glenn Gruenhagen,R-GlencoeMorningside extension can wait until there’s a needTo the Editor:For the past five years our city officialshave neglected to keep ourstreets in a good state of repairs.I would think they (officials)would consider taking the $1 millionand use it to update our streets.Morningside Avenue can waituntil there’s a need for it.Earl DammannGlencoeInsurance exchange eliminated free-market systemTo the Editor:On March 18, the Minnesota Senatepassed the final version of theMinnesota Health Insurance Exchangeand sent it to the governor,where it will undoubtedly be signedinto law. The significant changes tothe bill since my March 11 newsletterto you are as follows:• All Republican amendments previouslyadopted by the Senate werestripped out.• Prohibition for the use of taxpayer’smoney to be used for abortionremoved.• The funding mechanism waschanged to a tax on insurance premiumsplus $20 million from the generalfund.• Complete autonomy for theboard enacting laws for an additionalyear (until 2015).• Creates two different legal appealstandards to determine eligibilityand grievances, one for privatecitizens and the other for insurancecarriers.• Active purchaser model selectedwhich allows the board to determinewhich health insurance plans will beoffered.I voted against the Health Exchangebill because I believe this tobe a costly and frightening piece oflegislation. Your Legislature has allbut abdicated its constitutional authorityto a seven-member boardwho will determine the type ofhealth insurance that you will haveavailable and do so without any controlsor accountability.Once again, we are growing governmentby spending money wedon’t have on something we don’tneed and eliminating consumer controlfrom our free market system.District 18State Sen. Scott Newman,R-HutchinsonThe McLeod CountyChronicleFounded in 1898 as The Lester Prairie News.Postmaster send address changes to: McLeod Publishing, Inc.716 E. 10th St., P.O. Box 188, Glencoe, MN 55336.Phone 320-864-5518 FAX 320-864-5510.Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Entered as Periodicals postal matter at Glencoe, MN postoffice. Postage paid at Glencoe, USPS No. 310-560.Subscription Rates: McLeod County (and New Auburn) –$34.00 per year. Elsewhere in the state of Minnesota – $40.00per year. Outside of state – $46.00. Nine-month student subscriptionmailed anywhere in the U.S. – $34.00. Address changesfrom local area to outside area will be charged $3.00 per month.StaffWilliam C. Ramige, Publisher;Rich Glennie, Managing Editor;Karin Ramige Cornwell,Advertising Manager; JuneBussler, Business Manager;Sue Keenan, Sales Representative;Brenda Fogarty, SalesRepresentative; Lori Copler,Staff Writer; Lee Ostrom,Sports Writer; Jessica Bollandand Alissa Hanson, CreativeDepartment; and TrishaKarels, Office Assistant.LettersThe McLeod County Chronicle welcomesletters from readers expressingtheir opinions. All letters,however, must be signed. Privatethanks, solicitations and potentiallylibelous letters will not be published.We reserve the right to editany letter.A guest column is also available toany writer who would like to presentan opinion in a more expandedformat. If interested, contact theeditor.richg@glencoenews.comEthicsThe editorial staff of the McLeodCounty Chronicle strives to presentthe news in a fair and accurate manner.We appreciate errors beingbrought to our attention. Pleasebring any grievances against theChronicle to the attention of the editor.Should differences continue,readers are encouraged to take theirgrievances to the Minnesota NewsCouncil, an organization dedicated toprotecting the public from press inaccuracyand unfairness. The NewsCouncil can be contacted at 12 SouthSixth St., Suite 940, Minneapolis,MN 55402, or (612) 341-9357.Press FreedomFreedom of the press is guaranteedunder the First Amendment tothe U.S. Constitution:“Congress shall make no law respectingan establishment of religion,or prohibiting the free exercisethereof; or abridging the freedomof speech, or the press…”Ben Franklin wrote in the PennsylvaniaGazette in 1731: “If printerswere determined not to print anythingtill they were sure it wouldoffend nobody there would be verylittle printed.”Deadline for the McLeod CountyChronicle news is 5 p.m., and advertisingis noon, Monday. Deadlinefor Glencoe Advertiser advertisingis noon, Wednesday. Deadlinefor The Galaxy advertising isnoon Wednesday.