I would just like to write a positive message about the current legislators from our area. Recently, my daughter's financial aid assistance at the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus was taken away from her because the financial aid officer determined that my husband's income was not derived from work.
He is a dairy farmer in partnership with his brother. He gets up at 3:45 a.m. 365 days per year and works at least until after evening milking and chores finish between 6:30 and 7 p.m (sometimes later). Because of the partnership situation, Kristi's financial aid was reduced to nothing. She had to take out a substantial loan to pay for the classes that she is already attending and will have to take out more in the spring to cover what financial aid had awarded her at the beginning of the year.
I e-mailed my problem to our legislators, Sen. Dean E. Johnson and State Rep. Al Juhnke, and expected them to help me after the campaign was over when they had more time and energy. I was mistaken. They got in touch with their staff and I got an e-mail from each of them asking for more information within 24 hours! To say the least, I was very surprised that they would take time out of their busy schedules to try to help me, but I guess that is the kind of people (politicians) that they are.
I just thought that the people in our area would like to know something positive that these legislators have done for just one family in our area. They didn't care that we are just lowly farmers with very little political clout -- they only care that we are facing an unfair situation and they are helping.
I am thankful that Al Juhnke and Dean Johnson hold positions that can help families like mine and I hope that they will continue in these positions so that they can help others in our area that are in need of help. My thanks go out to our area legislators, Al Juhnke and Dean Johnson.
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Jean Urban
New London
