TO THE EDITOR:

Two issues: It is a well-known fact that secondhand smoke is very bad for a person's health. It is legal to smoke, but a person who smokes has absolutely no right to endanger another person's health. Therefore, now that the elections are over I hope that the legislature and Governor Pawlenty will pass a statewide ban on smoking in all public places. I think the majority of people in Minnesota would approve of this.

The amendment to the constitution passed which gives all the state's tax revenue from the sales of autos and trucks to the transportation fund. However, due to a drop in sales of autos, some are saying the transportation department won't have enough money. What needs to be done is raise the gas tax 10 cents a gallon.

Just think what projects need to be done: light rail between St. Paul and Minneapolis, a new bridge over the St. Croix River at Stillwater, the crosstown project, and others that I am not aware of.

Just think of all the jobs that could be created. Wisconsin has a higher gas tax than Minnesota and they have better roads.

Most township roads are paved, at least that is true in Polk County. Hwy. 8 between St. Croix Falls and Barron has several passing lanes - something we need between Forest Lake and Taylors Falls.

Carl Hasselquist
Lindstrom