Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, In a recent column, to his credit, Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) addressed Ukraine.  To his shame he did so only to state “The impact of the war in the Ukraine has compounded the gas price…”  How can anyone mention Ukraine and not stop to condemn Russia’s war of choice and express solidarity with the suffering people of Ukraine?     Instead, after bemoaning the prices at the gas pump and grocery stores, he tells us that “It is important to understand these issues and factors that contribute to them.”  Unfortunately, he failed to deliver useful and valid information on that.  Pausing state gas taxes would lower the gas price, but the senator says that this would eliminate funds for road repair.  The senator admits that constituents have asked that the state surplus (projected at $3.8 billion) be used to compensate for dropping the gas tax, but he says, “Let me put it this way…[I] want to see how things go.”  We can tell you how things are going senator, not good, and we need you to do something.  However, when the senator states that his ability to impact gas prices and inflation is limited, he is right.  The Republican dominated Wisconsin Legislature has closed up shop and gone home for the year.   The senator goes on to blame inflation on the COVID relief funds provided by Democrats in the U.S. Congress.  However, a recent study from Moody’s Analytics indicates that the COVID relief funds contributed only 0.35 percent to our 7.87 percent inflation.  In addition, I don’t think the senator understands where many of us would be if we had not had those relief funds to get us through the worst of the COVID pandemic.  The senator also tries to blame gas prices on the energy policies of the Biden administration.  But, oops, he admits the increases began in 2020, months before President Joe Biden took office.    The senator ends his update by bragging that the legislative policies of the last 11 years have put the state in “a very strong fiscal condition.”  Understandably, he doesn’t address how those policies have affected you and me. William Cary Richland Center   Dear editor, I received the Old Franklin Township Historical Society Newsletter and I enjoyed reading about the good deeds of the Kraemer family that was written by Ken Kraemer. A very delayed Great Big THANK YOU to Tom, Soni, Marty and Kevin Kraemer for restoring the markers and grave sites at the Old St. Luke Cemetery!  In their plans to do “Good Things for the Community” they went over and above the call of duty in service to our families. A second Big Thank You to the very dedicated Officers and Board Members of the Old Franklin Township Historical Society museum.  It is a Blessing to have this history preserved for us and our families.   Please consider visiting the museum and joining and become a member and receive this informative newsletter. www.facebook.com/groups/OFTHS plainofths@gmail.com www.oldfranklintownshiphistoricalsociety.weebly.com PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE!!! An appreciative member:   Joanne (Bindl) Ganske Middleton