We need
Brita Sailer
We recently received several glitzy pieces sent by the Republican Party attacking Rep. Brita Sailer. The Republican candidate, Doug Lindgren, was not mentioned, nor was anything said about his stance on issues.
Now a fancy letter arrives from the "Lindgren Volunteer Committee" in which Mr. Lindgren states, "I refuse to engage in negative campaigning and attack style politics. I believe it's cheap, sleazy and insulting to your intelligence. It's also unfair to the opposition." I couldn't agree more! The ads sent out by his party are "cheap, sleazy and insulting."
Lindgren's mailing also raises its own disturbing questions. His chart of Brita Sailer's voting record on issues is as misleading and incomplete as the mailings from his political party. Take, for example, the category of "Education." He reports that Sailer voted against House File 872 to increase school funding by 6.1 percent over two years and that he would have supported this bill.
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The facts: Brita Sailer voted against this bill because it would have raised property taxes by 32 percent without fully funding our schools. Sailer voted in favor of the final overall education bill that increased funding for education a total of 8 percent over two years. Lindgren's mailing doesn't mention that. Should we conclude he preferred 6.1 percent for education and a 32 percent tax increase?
The facts also show that while Doug Lindgren was in office, Republican leadership cut education by $185 million, pushing costs onto the shoulders of local governments, thereby significantly increasing property taxes. The need for Park Rapids to support the education referendum in order to better fund our schools is a result of those actions. Do we want to send this kind of leadership back to the Minnesota House? Not in my book.
Sailer's excellent record of voting for health care issues shows she will work to stop the serious erosion of health care coverage for those of middle and lower income levels. I am confident that Brita Sailer will continue to represent our district well. Please give her your vote.
Duane M. Gebhard
Park Rapids
