President Ostrow's comments miss one key point. The Council is to do the city's business as it can.
I applaud loudly the brave council members who stood up to the suburban Republicans where they lawfuly could to support some of the hardworking people that do the city's business. Since the state has taken local control away from the city in this case, it is the state that needs to speak to the unfairness of its actions. If one of the very very very few contractors that falls under the domestic partner benefit resolution were to think this ordinance unfair, that contractor should address the state government not the city's. Of course the Republicans in the state government believe in "local control" only if the locals control themselves the way Republicans think they should. Greg King Lyndale Something I was asked: If free speech in Minnesota means the government can whitewash Nazi history, don't you think you should consider moving out of that state? We're getting a rep comparable to Alabama or Mississippi--it doesn't take long Something to think about: Under President Clinton: Prosperity, a growing nestegg, relative peace, a good future full of hope, terrorist threats taken seriously, Whitewater non-issue, targeted tax cuts. Under Bush (I and II): Huge and growing deficit, fast dwindling savings, huge expensive unecessary war, no hope for the future, terrorists strike as expected, Enron execs and other Bush-friends indicted, tax cut for the wealthiest few. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ostrow, Paul T" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 9:36 AM Subject: [Mpls] Lindner Lays an Egg Tim Bonham writes that Barb Johnson and I voted against the Council resolution requiring city contractors to provide the same benefits to GLBT employees as they give to straight employees because of specific and direct threats from Republcan leadership at the Legislature. This is incorrect. I voted against this resolution because I believe it is inappropriate for the City of Minneapolis to require its contractors to provide benefits we ourselves cannot provide. I continue to believe strongly in domestic partner benefits. It is an injustice that hardworking men and women, including three of my colleagues, are not eligible for these beneifts. Paul Ostrow Council President/Ward One TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
