It’s unfortunate that our federal government has named its obligation to pay its debt the “debt ceiling.” It’s like a person calling their monthly credit card payment their debt limit.
The federal debt ceiling does nothing to hamper the federal governments ability to accrue debt. Congress can merrily go on piling up debt as fast as it wants to, with no regard to the “debt ceiling.”

Have you ever tried to prepare a meal for a thousand people? I’m not talking about cooking burgers and hotdogs over a grill at a three-day festival. I’m talking about a sit-down meal with tablecloths, dishes, silverware, and two main entrees with several side dishes and you do it all in one day. That was the traditional lutefisk dinner served at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kasson several weeks ago.

Question: What is the deal with the Minnesota State Patrol and the maroon colored squad cars? I’ve traveled all over the United States and don’t know if I’ve ever seen this color used before. Is there a reason for this?

Last week St. John’s held their traditional lutefisk dinner. While all the sittings were sold out, not everyone was there for the main course. Some can’t seem to get enough lutefisk, while others won’t touch it. Stories abound about the fragrant cod that some call a delicacy and others relate it to something close to toxic waste.

Dodge County residents saw the needs recently and met them.
Last Wednesday the Kasson-Mantorville Ministerial Association sponsored the area’s first “Boo for Food” event. Students, along with adults, met at St. John’s Lutheran in Kasson and spread out in groups to collect non-perishable food and monetary donations. On Thursday, 1,040 pounds of food were delivered to SEMCAC’s Food Shelf in Kasson.

As a fifth generation southern Minnesotan, I like to say that I “bleed rural.” Not only have I lived here my entire life, but I have had the great fortune of serving rural Minnesota throughout my career — first during my time in the U.S. Congress, and now as president and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF).