Any time I see a letter to the editor using terms like “left-wing agenda”, I know the writer is desperately grasping at straws.

Which was the case with Eric Anderson’s letter, published June 21, criticizing Congressman Tim Walz. As a former Mankato resident (where I lived for over 25 years) and currently one of your neighbors, I felt compelled to respond.

We are lucky to have a brave and thoughtful congressman.

In the month of May alone Walz made a trip to the Middle East, announced airport grants for southwestern Minnesota, published surface transportation requests on his website, voted to create jobs, voted to make schools more energy efficient, voted for Common Sense Financial Reforms, and promoted the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

I don’t care what you call it Mr. Anderson, because the rest of us in southern Minnesota call it, moving in the right direction. We call it progress. We call it leadership. And we are grateful to finally have a congressman who asks for our opinion on the important matters facing working families and then acts on our behalf.