DONATION DRIVE

Recently we received word from our press that costs for materials have risen over 19% in the past few months and that our printing cost will go up accordingly.

If we charged $1 for each copy of Valley Sentinel, just half of the copies that are picked up each week would entirely cover our printing costs — however, we are committed to remaining a free

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PO Box 144 Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA

(608) 588-6694 editor@valleysentinelnews.com valleysentinelnews.com

Editor-in-Chief

Nicole Aimone

Managing Editor

Taylor Scott

Legal Editor

Current Speaker of the House, Republican Kevin McCarthy, told his members that he was a “hell no” on the bill. “This is a monstrosity”, he said, “…one of the most shameful acts I’ve ever seen in this body.” We will have to see what the Republicans, who gained control of the House in the 2022 election, perceive as less monstrous and less shameful acts of the House. Could it be that they believe that this bill did not go far enough in meeting the needs of our people and our democracy? I rather doubt it. So far, they have voted to remove funding for the IRS that allows it to go after the rich with their complicated tax forms. They passed two anti-abortion bills. Some are proposing a 30% sales tax on everything we purchase. (Hmmm, wouldn’t that be kind of like 30% inflation?) It is hard to see how any of this would do anything to meet our needs. Thankfully, none of this will happen because it would never know you read Valley Sentinel each week. publication with an accessible, hybrid model that allows anyone that wants to read local news to have access to it. We do not believe financial ability should be a barrier to reading local news.

In 2021 the Republican Legislature cut $3.4 billion out of Gov. Ever’s proposed budget including Medicaid expansion that would have added $1 billion in additional federal healthcare funding, a pilot program that would have prioritized housing vouchers for homeless children, justice system reforms which were projected to reduce recidivism, and expansion of 4K to a full day which would reduce the burden on parents who struggle to afford childcare. It is hard to imagine how those cuts served to meet our needs.

While in the process of cutting 90% of the Governor’s proposed school funding, which put the state at risk of losing federal funds, Sen. Marklein said, “You can be as dramatic as you want to be…I think the risk is manageable.” How can any risk to the education and futures of our children be deemed manageable?

Sen. Marklein is Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee that is largely responsible for the Legislature’s budget decisions. During his time in the Legislature, K through college education funding has experienced draconian cuts.

The Legislature needs to be told that it is time to start returning some of that tax-supplied surplus back to the people and the communities that paid it in. We have needs that must be met. It is not the Legislature’s money and giving it back to us is not charity. Returning that surplus through the budget to fund local needs is an investment in us. Those funds were only temporarily put into their hands to be returned to us to meet our needs. We will find out soon if this Republican Legislature can be added to the “this is who we are” folks who invest in our communities and work to meet our needs.

Chances are, if we want changes in funding priorities, if we want some of our tax dollars returned to us, our Representatives are going to have to hear that from us in the next few months. Let them know we don’t want charity; we just want our tax dollars invested in us to meet our needs.

How many other ways to meet our needs may have escaped our notice and deserve our support? Let me know at bpestel@msn.com.

Beverly is a retired professor. She lives in a remodeled farmhouse and tends 40 acres of woodland in Richland County. When not in the woods she spends her time reading, writing and enjoying the beauty of the Driftless Area.

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What does independent news mean to us? It means NOT influenced by corporations or government, NO big corporate backers, NO corporate umbrella organizations, NO big money investors. Just a handful of people with a dream to build community.

Valley Sentinel is all-volunteer, independently owned and operated by its editors and is a majority woman-owned business. Community fueled and community focused. We only succeed if the community succeeds.

For more about Valley Sentinel and our model, visit us at valleysentinelnews.com/about

EDITORIAL

Gary Ernest Grass, esq.

Editorial Policy

On certain topics in areas of great community interest, the editors of the Valley Sentinel may take positions they believe best represent and serve the interests of the community. Any opinions or positions taken by the editorial board are separate and distinct in labeling and substance from the community journalism that appears in the rest of the publication and does not affect the integrity and impartiality of our reporting.

Graphic Designer

Julianna Williams

Commentary/Opinion Column

Beverly Pestel

Letters submitted for consideration are subject to fact-checking and editing for space and clarity. Submissions must have a compelling local community interest. Letters to the editor must fit within a 500-word limit, and include name, city and phone number. Phone numbers are for office use only and will not be published. Letters of a political nature, without chance of rebuttal, will not be published the week before an election.

Commentary/Opinion Column

Barb Garvoille

Column Policy

Editors may feature opinion columns written by public figures, members of the public or other publication staff. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual contributors and do not represent positions of the publication. Guest columns of an anticipated length more than 500 words should seek prior editor authorization.

Deadlines: The display and classified advertising dead- line is Monday at noon for that week. If you would like our design team to design the ad then please allow extra time for the creative process and proofing.

Commentary/Opinion Column

Katie Green

From time to time the editorial board may select letters to the editor of a particular compelling community interest where a public figure or accountable public action is the recipient of criticism and allow, in the same issue, the subject of the criticism chance for rebuttal, with expounded independent input. The format shall be point, counterpoint and expert analysis. This community discussion shall serve as a moderated dialogue that presents multiple views of important community topics.