The document is an email from a Senator to caucus members discussing an editorial criticizing the Republican party for failing to pay recount bills at the county level as promised. The editorial argues this damages the party's credibility when advocating for fiscal responsibility. The Senator urges the caucus members to resolve the unpaid bills by the end of the week to demonstrate accountability and responsibility.

1. Dear Caucus Members,
I am writing concerning an important issue that I raised over a month ago.
Now, a constituent emailed me a link to a Winona Post editorial this
morning entitled "Our View: GOP, practice what you preach." It discusses
our party's failure to pay its recount bills at the county level.
"State Republican lawmakers have urged the state to live within its means.
That may be good advice, but it becomes cheapened — if not discredited —
when the same party can’t live within its own means."
"But maybe the most galling part is the same group of political operatives
who demanded nearly immediate attention of countless government officials
are the same people who now refuse to pay for those same services."
This is embarrassing and painfully indefensible. This damages us not just
on the local level, but statewide as well. It is spreading through the
political blogs, and must be a reason for much head shaking in water
cooler conversations.
I asked back then whether it would be legal for each of us or our campaign
committees to contribute funds to eliminate this debt. To date, I have not
received a response.
If we are the party of personal responsibility and accountability we'd
better show it. I think we all need to know that this is a non­issue and
has been resolved by the end of the week.
Below is a link to the article:
http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_8ffe112a­
8e5c­11e0­815a­001cc4c002e0.html
Sincerely,
Senator John Howe
Office 651­296­4264
Mobile 651-278-4693