Editor:

Borrowing a tactic from a often-published letter writer (designed to get around the two-letter-a-month limit imposed by the Star-Tribune), I offer my two cents on the following issues:

1) Now is the perfect time for the University of Wyoming to consider benefits for domestic partners. Conservative priggish lawmakers be damned (and you too, Star-Tribune editors). This smacks of the Barack Obama administration's stalling on ending "Don't ask, don't tell," just be patient, we have to deal with the economy, the war, foreign relations, etc., first. We believe in equal rights but … it's not the right time? So, when would be? It's a no-brainer to me when it comes down to cutting programs and amenities in order to help people obtain health care. Guess what would help alleviate all the concerns of the university, Wyoming Department of Education, municipalities and businesses regarding health insurance: single payer.

2) According to Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States, Wyoming ranks 4th, up from 5th last year. Gov. Dave Freudenthal says "the study points out once again that Wyoming is a favored location for businesses thanks to our low sales tax/no income, corporate, inventory tax" set-up, and our "unparalleled quality of life and relative low cost of living." I suppose when you have had a government job for so long, it's easy to feel that way. But if the governor visited Interfaith, a social service agency, he'd learn requests for help with those low costs of living have doubled over last year. "A lot of people moved to Casper for work, they don't realize the high cost of apartments," according to Linda Brown, executive director.

3) Staying with the governor, he believes that fossil fuels are being penalized in the energy and climate change policies of the Obama administration. Hello? They are the cause of the bulk of our pollution problems! Clean coal is a farce, coal-bed methane a nightmare, oil shale a pipe dream. Yes, the idea is to move away from artificially cheap, dirty energy, sir.

4) Concerning education and keeping kids at the reading and math levels they reached in the spring, there seems an obvious solution to me. Year-round schooling! Let's embrace modernity in our attitude toward the school calendar. And keep kids from falling behind. My thanks to Curt Wartick.

KIMBERLY HOLLOWAY, Casper

Member, Casper City Council