Tag Archives: st cloud times

Let’s Keep Advocating For Expanding Love Rather Than Limiting Love

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Eric Austin

A few days ago my friend, Larry Hosch, wrote an opinion piece in the St. Cloud Times about the anti-marriage amendment on the ballot in November. If you haven’t read it, I have posted it below in its entirety because it is a powerful statement in favor of loving relationships and against limiting those relationships with a divisive amendment to the state constitution. Read it below: This month, as we reflect on our country’s history of celebrating freedom and independence, I’m struck by the real threat to freedom our state is facing in November. On Nov. 6, we’ll be asked if we want to limit the freedom to marry of committed, same-sex couples in Minnesota. We’ll be asked if we want to limit religious freedom … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Rights, Election 2012, Issues, Legislation, Minnesota Constitution, Minnesota House of Representatives, Minnesota Politics, Minnesota Secretary of State, Minnesota Senate, Thing I Read Today..., Voting & Elections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

St. Cloud Times: “Amending Isn’t Governing”

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Eric Austin

Republicans are consistently reminding us that this country is a Republic and NOT a Democracy. They are right, of course, but the problem is they seem to not have any understanding of what it means to BE a Republic. In a Republic, we the people elect other citizens to represent us and make decisions on our behalf. Minnesota Republicans have chosen to abdicate that power and turn the state into a direct democracy. They have done so because governing in a Republic is hard and requires compromise while governing in a democracy is easy as you can simply pass all the difficult and complex issues of the day onto the people and claim no responsibility in their passage. It was for “the people” after all… … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012, Issues, Legislation, Minnesota Constitution, Minnesota House of Representatives, Minnesota Politics, Minnesota Senate, Politics, Thing I Read Today..., Voting & Elections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kriesel Smacks Down Gottwalt With “Mind Your Business”

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Eric Austin

The St. Cloud Times came out with an article today about social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook and described how local leaders are currently using them to stay connected to their constituents. While most of the article is pretty standard stuff about politicians using the sites for varying purposes and to varying degrees, there was also some intra-party fireworks playing out between Representative John Kriesel (R) and Representative Steve Gottwalt (R). Gottwalt took a shot at Kriesel for his recent twitter exchange with Bernard Berrian: While Berrian drew the bulk of criticism for the exchange, Gottwalt says Kriesel’s posts are “a cautionary note” for other legislators. Gottwalt told the Times that Kriesel’s posts to Berrian were “not something I would have done.” “He … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Rights, Election 2012, Humor, Issues, Minnesota Constitution, Minnesota House of Representatives, Minnesota Politics, MN House District 15A, MN House District 57A, Politics, Thing I Read Today..., Twitter, Voting & Elections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

St. Cloud LTE: Marriage Amendment “Unjust”

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Eric Austin

Former DFL candidate in Senate District 15, Bruce Hentges, wrote in to the St. Cloud Times to express his disappointment over the anti-gay marriage amendment passed by Steve Gottwalt and the Minnesota Republican Party. Here it is: Anyone who hasn’t heard Rep. John Kriesel’s speech in opposition to the marriage amendment on the floor of the Minnesota House should do so. A conservative legislator, John is a true American hero. A Marine who fought in Iraq, John was seriously injured by a roadside bomb. During the debate in the House, John gave an impassioned speech against the amendment. He explained that five years ago, he might have voted yes, but the life experiences he had in the military have made him realize he was wrong. … Continue reading →

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Representative Larry Hosch: Republicans “Randomly Hacking Away” At The Budget

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Eric Austin

Representative Larry Hosch (DFL) has an editorial piece in the St. Cloud Times today describing the recent budget proposal by Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Rather than creating a comprehensive plan to deal with the budget and create the least pain possible, Hosch describes the Republican plan as “randomly hacking” at the budget: As Minnesotans, we’re aware that digging out of a $6.2 billion budget hole will require hard decisions and most certainly difficult cuts. But hard decisions also should be thoughtful ones. As opposed to randomly hacking away at only a small part of the problem, Minnesotans deserve a process that will address the whole budget problem, and come up with a shared, comprehensive and structurally balanced solution. Included in this random … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Minnesota Budget, Minnesota House of Representatives, Minnesota Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment