Off The Editor’s Desk – 10-14-2015

“Summer’s gone, fall leaves, Jesus doesn’t.” — Sign on a church in Hayward.

We spent the weekend in Hayward and traveled north to Iron River and Bayfield to look at the color of the trees. And it was great, being at its peak. If you like to view this fall’s beauty, this week is a must, because I think by next week the leaves will have fallen to the ground. Of course, the lakes, and streams of northern Wisconsin are a thing of beauty any time of year. Especially Lake Superior has a changing view of its own all year long.

This past week the national news centered around who will be the new Speaker of the House. In the forefront of the people named to become Speaker of the House is Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan. I would urge him to accept the spot, but he apparently has reservations in doing so.

If Ryan does not take the Speaker’s podium, I will throw my hat into the race. I don’t know what the qualifications are, but apparently you do not have to be a member of Congress to be Speaker. I looked to find out what the salary is, on one site on Google I found out the Speaker’s salary is $223,500 for life. That site also said the former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is getting $803,700 in government payments. But let’s understand that many times that information you get from the Internet is not accurate.

But, I will do the job and accept a fifty percent cut in wages, and I will have a long talk with Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid about getting the federal spending under control and start paying down our enormous federal debt.

While listening to a news program last week, it was stated that the Speaker does not need to be a member of Congress. Well, that’s my chance, I thought. I looked at the constitution (Article 1, Section 2) states: “The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker.” Does not say anything about the speaker being a member of the House.

But, I remembered that the Speaker is third in line, behind the Vice President to become President. I don’t know if I am equipt to be President!

Thanks for reading!       ~Carlton