Green Bay Press-Gazette Editorials

A week ago, Green Bay Bishop David Ricken joined Catholic Church leaders across the country to publicly denounce a recent federal mandate affecting faith-based hospitals, charities and schools. The new requirement, effective next year, would require such entities to provide birth control and reproductive services in their health plans.

A bill that would revive Wisconsins mining industry has merit, but we are concerned the legislation may be moving too fast.

I just read a big study about all the people fleeing Wisconsin for warmer or wealthier spots, and talked to the author about the troubling population trends in this state. And the good news, from what I can tell, is theres only one surefire thing we can all do to turn things around: Become, well how should I say it better procreators.

DE PERE I was hoping that President Barack Obama would address the subject of the increasing national debt during the State of the Union Address.

DE PERE Tom Bertz claims (Press-Gazette, Jan. 29) that unions are no longer needed because government agencies enforce the laws that unions fought for are preposterous.

GREEN BAY What you didnt hear in Gov. Scott Walkers State of the State was the war he has waged against womens reproductive health care access. He spent a lot of time telling us about jobs but didnt tell you what he and his extremist Republican colleagues are spending their time on a slew of legislation to restrict womens access to health care.

GREEN BAY It appears the Democrats want to make hay by uttering untruths like Gov. Scott Walker has divided the state. Just isnt true. Every person I have discussed this with is in favor of Walker. There is no division only in the minds of the union sympathizers.

HOBART I have no doubt that the biomass facility to be built in Green Bay is a bad idea. Facilities of this type and those that go by the names pyrolysis or plasma arc are merely incinerators in disguise. Fueled by government grants because they are looked upon as clean energy. Incinerators are anything but clean.

Ron Johnsons decisions should remind us there was a clear choice between him and Russ Feingold in the 2010 U.S. Senate election.

The National Congress of American Indians every year releases its State of Indian Nations, an alternative prospect for Congress reported during the week of the State of the Union. This has become an important exercise for many reasons. As NCAI President Jefferson Keel says, Tribal nations are its first governments one of three sovereigns recognized in the United States Constitution. And our America is a place where each member of the American family of governments contributes to a prosperous future.

ALGOMA Maybe this will be the year that enough people are so fed up with political ads that something is done to stop this race to the bottom. There is only so much time on TV and radio for political ads, so much space in newspapers, and so much time for robo calls.

GREEN BAY America must win the industries of the 21st-century economy, to create good jobs at home and create a secure, sustainable environment for the next generation of Americans. In July, the Obama administration announced new fuel-efficiency standards requiring cars and light-duty vehicles to get an average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. With benefits from decreasing greenhouse gas emissions to creating good American jobs, predominately in the Midwest, its no surprise these standards garnered support from labor and environmentalists alike at hearings across the nation last week.

OCONTO FALLS Now that we have more than one million signatures on the petitions to recall Gov. Scott Walker, we can send a bill to each of them to cover the estimated cost of $9 million. While they may have a constitutional right to request a recall, those who signed the petitions should be responsible for the financial burden that comes with it.

Nobody wants to pay a higher sewer bill especially in difficult economic times but the need to help finance the Metropolitan Sewerage District expansion project requires it.

America lacks a comprehensive energy plan. Long lead times to develop energy sources and the need to adapt our infrastructure to the types of energy available make an intelligent plan addressing Americas energy needs through the 21st century a high priority.

FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz. Dina Galassini does not seem to pose a threat to Arizonas civic integrity. But the government of this desert community believes you cannot be too careful. And state law empowers local governments to be vigilant against the lurking danger that political speech might occur before the speakers notify the government and comply with all the speech rules.

This February, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will celebrate Black History Month with a comprehensive program intent upon promoting awareness about African-American history and culture. Black History Month challenges us to reflect upon stories of great hardship, toil, perseverance, creativity and vitality. The observance also presses us to understand African American history as an integral part of the larger American story.

A committee wants Brown County to ask the state to pay medical bills for anyone becoming sick because of wind turbines, but we dont think its the countys place to make such a move.

At the tender age of 16, Jessica Ahlquist already has endured more verbal abuse than most people experience in a lifetime.

State Sen. Michael Ellis, R-Neenah, deserves the criticism he is receiving for making careless comments about Preble High School in a hotel bar last week.