Letters
April 26, 2006
OPEN LETTER TO MIKE HUEBSCH
Clean government is good for Wisconsin, we are all for it.
SB1 is good for Wisconsin, returning to squeaky clean government.
The Wisconsin Senate thinks it's a good idea, heck they voted for it, and passed it.
The Governor thinks its a good Idea, he says he will sign it.
The Wisconsin Assembly thinks it's a good idea, they let it out of committee so you all can vote on it.
Let's do that. Let the Assembly vote.
That's the spirit. A quick, no muss, up or down, roll call vote.
You know like the big boys do in Washington when they want a new Supreme Court judge or something.
Be big boys. Do your job. Let Wisconsin know you work for us. Get John Gard to put if up for a vote this week. It won't take long. If the someone in the Assembly doesn't know what's in this bill yet, then they should get a new job.
Don't tell me TABOR took all your time, or that you would have voted for this great step forward in cleaning up Wisconsin, but that you couldn't find the time, your dog ate the bill, you left it in your other pants, etc. etc.
Let us see you do your job now.
Let Wisconsin see who is for clean government.
John Sarnowski
April 26, 2005
Republicans must return to conservative ideals.
If I was ever embarrassed to carry the moniker of Republican, it is certainly most true when Chris Muller, the chair of our local organization says, “If an adult is earning minimum wage then it must be because of a lack of education and training or a lack of willingness to achieve.”
It took a Republican to free this country from the tyranny of slavery; I hope a Republican can free this country of rampant greed that oppresses those it can. The “I-ME-MINE” nation cannot long stand. The world will not carry it, the hungry will not feed it. Where is the America that my flag stands for? One nation, under God, indivisible, caring and bringing the hope of the future to its people and all the people of this planet.
Regarding the raising the minimum wage, Muller says,” Instead of pushing the wealthy down why not try to raise the poor up?” And I agree. Why should we allow businesses to push the cost of feeding, housing and caring for the poor on those of us who do pay decent wages?
Muller would have the good business men and women of this community subsidize the lack of an adequate business plan by a few.Why is it that gasoline can be raised a hundred percent in price, but we MUST not pay the person who picks our food any more than the bare minimum because it would ruin the economy? Where are the bankers and investors who approve of business plans paying below poverty wages? This kind of poor ‘planning’ only breeds more poverty in our community.
Muller says,” We are extremely blessed in this nation to have limitless resources.” We do have limitless imagination and hope, but our national resources are far from limitless. We have responsibilities to use all our national wealth wisely, including our human resources.According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, for the past three years profits have grown at the fastest rate since World War II -14.5 percent annually after inflation. For those same three years, wage and salary income grew at less than a tenth as fast as profits - the least of any other postwar recovery.
Let’s do a better job of carrying our responsibilities. Let's do a better job of lifting all people up and remind the “successful” with whose labor they have climbed so high.
We should raise the minimum wage in the city of Onalaska to at least match that passed in La Crosse.
Wed, 06 Apr 2005
An open letter to the Citizens of Onalaska
The minimum wage has been stagnant for too long. Yes, most people are not affected by the minimum wage, but the poorest among us will accept whatever an employer will offer. Let's bring some kind of justice to this.
If you are blessed with a higher paying job, or on a cost of living adjusted retirement you have not felt the effects of low minimum standards.
The State of Wisconsin should take the lead on this issue, but the Assembly and Senate are too busy fighting for political advantages. The City of La Crosse is afraid of being an island in western Wisconsin and with good reasons. Business owners do not want to keep track of multiple wage levels and cut in dates. We need to lead, be compassionate and take action in a more organized manner.
I suggest that we petition the Common Council of Onalaska to align the minimum wage required within the City of Onalaska with the City of La Crosse ordinances. This will allow for the cities to continue cooperating in the area's development.
Write to
The Common Council
415 Main Street
Onalaska, WI
Phone: (608) 781-9530
Fax: (608) 781-9534
Email addresses of the Council are found at
http://www.cityofonalaska.com/faq.html
If you would like to voice your anonymously, you can do so online at
http://www.johnsarnowski.com/Onawages.htm
I will give the results of your input to the Common Council.
Wed, 13 Oct 2004
Closed to the Public
To: Dick Mial (Opinion Page Editor, La Crosse Tribune)
In a sidebar article today in the Tribune you wrote that Dick Cheney met with you...
" immediately after holding a closed-to-the-public town meeting with a select group."
Can you define "town meeting" ?
And can you tell me how a "town meeting" can be closed to the public?
Fri, 14 May 2004
I Apologize.
As a member of the La Crosse County Republican Party, I would like to apologize for actions taken during the President’s visit.
This was a complicated political event with legitimate security needs. The last time the President came to La Crosse on a Presidential visit, there were too many tickets printed and distributed which left many ticketed people barred from entry at Logan High School’s front door.
I can understand the wishes of all to put on a good face for this visit. But there was no reason to block access to many members of this community .
I apologize to those denied access for stating they did not vote for the President in the last election. One decides best by being open and listening to both candidates. You made an effort to come and hear the President and we denied you the opportunity. I am sorry.
I apologize to Sandra McAnany and others who identify themselves as Republicans who could not express their views in matters of policy. Every one in a free society has the right to their opinions and the right to voice those opinions. You chose to wear your opinion and were refused access to hear your candidate speak. I am sorry.
I apologize to Mayor Medinger. As the non-partisan mayor of the hosting city, you should have been invited and given the opportunity to represent the city. I am sorry.
I apologize to Guy Wolf, personally and to all those who wished voice their opinions in a peaceful organized manner.
I am sorry that we did not take this opportunity to show how our party can be open and inclusive, progressive and welcoming.
I am sorry, if we offended you.
John Sarnowski
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Former candidate for Senate District 32
Former Alderman City of Onalaska
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003
ONALASKA -Wake up!
Why are you sleeping?
Maybe it’s all the numbers that have you nodding off. Yes, City Hall was built and you thought it was too big. And who approved that multimillion dollar extravagance?
YOU DID.
Wake up! The Onalaska City Council has just spent $15 million of your taxes for a parking ramp on private land.
FOCUS!!! We are talking MILLIONS. A ramp costing $7.5 Million (nearly FOUR Swimming Pools worth) is to be paid for by YOU. This plus interest to fund the project will drive the cost over $15 MILLION.
Wake up! This multimillion dollar parking ramp will save the developer land worth a whopping $700,000 dollars. That’s correct the City will build and pay interest of over $15 million to save land worth $700,000.
Why? Because the developer Gundersen Clinic says that they can’t possibly build what they want without a ramp. The same people who just built the Cancer Center in LaCrosse. How many floors did they add to their La Crosse parking ramp?
NONE! They don’t have a LaCrosse ramp.
Your Alderpersons, and Mayor were joined by members of the County board who whole heartedly support the expense. Why not? The County gets their taxes, WWTC gets their share.
Ooops, the Onalaska School District is under caps so they won’t be seeing any increase. And that leaves you out too because ALL the taxes from "the largest commercial development in the history" of Onalaska are going to pay for the ramp. YUP! all 25 years worth.
Where will you be in twenty-five years when the Clinic starts paying for services they will have been receiving for over a quarter century?
Wake up Van winkle! Call the Mayor, Alderpersons, the CDA board and TELL THEM NO THANK YOU!!!!
STOP NOW!!
John Sarnowski
http://www.johnsarnowski.com/onapark.htm