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State surplus is almost shameful

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and other government leaders, should be blushing when discussing the state’s budget surplus, which reached an almost unthinkable $17.6 billion in the state’s latest economic forecast Tuesday. “Strong collections and lower-than projected spending” were factors cited by the Minnesota Management and Budget office in its report. Put simply, the state has been collecting way more in taxes than it needs. It is high time for the state to ratchet down its revenue collections to a more reasonable level. There are certainly things to spend more money on. ...

Iowa pushed back in the pack

The big news in the world of U.S. politics last week was the demotion of the Iowa caucuses by the Democractic Party. The Democrats have decided to hold their caucuses in Iowa later and make South Carolina the first contest for Democratic candidates. The decision won’t affect Iowa Republicans, who are still caucusing early, but have much less to discuss, with Donald Trump the likely frontrunner. For a long time the Iowa Caucuses, along with the New Hampshire primary, were the opening events in the quadrennial presidential election season. It was great for Iowa voters. Political ...

Trump vs. Constitution

On Jan. 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump put his hand on a Bible and swore the following oath: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” On Dec. 3, 2022, former President Trump, still smarting from his loss in the 2020 election, posted this on his Truth Social media platform: “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude (the 2020 election result) allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found ...

Thumbs Up/Down

Great season for Tigers Thumbs Up: The Springfield Tigers finished a great 2022 football season with a disappointing 38-21 loss in the Minnesota state Class A title game. Minneota’s punishing ground game proved too strong for the Tigers, especially in the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium Friday. Finishing in second place may seem like small comfort, but there were many, many fine football teams that didn’t make it to the state tournament, let alone the final game. Congratulations to the Tigers on a great season. Top meal count Thumbs Up: According to Les Schultz, one of the ...

Congress steps in on rail strike

There are times when labor disputes can spread beyond the worker-employer framework and spill over into the rest of society. In those times, the federal government has the authority to step in and impose a settlement in the dispute. President Joe Biden has asked Congress to act to prevent a national railroad strike this week, citing the huge economic impact that such a strike would have on the nation. The rail industry is tied in to just about every other industrial and commercial endeavor. It delivers tons of raw materials to processors and manufacturers, then takes those finished ...

Congratulations Springfield

Congratulations to the Springfield High School Tigers, who are playing on Friday for the Minnesota State Class A Football Championship. A state tournament trip is a great accomplishment for any high school athletic team, but to make it to the title game and play for state honors is exceptional. Springfield (11-2) has shown its mettle throughout the tournament, beating Kerkhoven-Murdock-Subburg 28-6 in the openingn round and thrashing previously unbeaten Deer River 54-30 in the semi-finals. They face the Minneota Vikings, a team with a long and proud state tournament history (15 ...