MANKATO — Thumbs up

To the people behind the effort for The Reach, a new gathering place for homeless youth in downtown Mankato. With grant money and fundraisers, Lutheran Social Service has made its goal a reality with a new center on South Front Street.

It’s not a shelter, but it is a sanctuary of sorts. It’s a place homeless youth can go to socialize, talk and get access to the services homeless adults have been getting through established organizations.

The Reach embraces the reality. More than half of Minnesota’s homeless young people live outside the Twin Cities. Mankato is attempting to meet an important need here.

But it’s not going to be just a hangout or a place to get a shower. Already, more is being planned — events, like movie nights, game nights, art projects.

That’s what makes the idea so special. The reality. And the possibilities.

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GOP senator talks straight on taxes

To Senate Tax Committee Chairman Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, for being honest with Minnesota taxpayers about the nature of the state’s sales, income, property and corporate tax exemptions. They’re government spending.

She’s right, not only from generally accepted government accounting principles but from a state budget point of view. Each year, the state and federal government put out reports that are called “Tax Expenditure” reports. They show how certain industries get exempted from paying the sales tax, for example, while others don’t.

Those who pay sales tax, in effect, must pony up more money, more of their taxes, to provide these breaks, which can be legitimately called “reverse earmarks.” They’re special tax break deals secured by lobbyists years ago as a favor to some industry or individual.

These “tax expenditures” need to be looked at as spending, she told the Associated Press. She is being true to the conservative idea to scrutinize every aspect of spending. “We should be viewing each of these expenditures as a spending program. We came here to review every single aspect of state funding,” she said.

Unfortunately, her counterpart in the House, Taxes Committee Chair Greg Davids, R-Preston sees removing reverse earmarks as increasing taxes.

Even the Minnesota Department of Revenue agrees the breaks are spending. Those expenditures have rarely been scrutinized, the department said in its latest report.

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Senate Republicans reject compromise

While it’s been clear for some time that the Republican leadership in the Minnesota House and Senate do not favor taxes as a way to balance Minnesota’s budget, they hadn’t before this week said they reject all compromise.

That is the essence of a letter all 37 Senate Republicans sent to Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday. After a perfunctory introductory paragraph that suggested they are off to a “good start” working with the governor, the Republicans proceeded to “make perfectly clear” their opposition to taxes to balance cuts.

We suppose that can be a position, but it also suggests the Senate Republicans are not willing to compromise. That, in itself, is an ill-advised strategy.

They seem to be forgetting that in addition to voters wanting their money spent wisely, voters also demanded both sides work together and compromise to solve the budget deficit.

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CPR bill deserves support

To lawmakers ushering through a bill that will require teachers at day care centers to be trained in CPR.

The legislation, being called “Hannah’s Law,” was inspired by the choking death of a 4-year-old at a North Mankato day care in June. Hannah Kozitza died after choking on a grape. A state investigation found that staff waited too long — at least two minutes — attempting to call two family members before seeking emergency responders.

Hannah’s grandfather testified at a House committee, with her parents in attendance.

The bill deserves continued support as it moves through the Legislature.