The mail.(Letter to the Editor)

Kevin Hassett got the state budget mess exactly right in "Guess Who's To Blame?" (October/November). Minnesota's revenue has reportedly increased 6 percent this year, but the politicians are crying about the worst deficit in history because they had planned for a much bigger increase. The press echoes this, since bad news sells better than good news.

Jim Fear

Bloomington, Minnesota

Interesting to have Wisconsin labeled a Democratic state. Yes, there was a bit of cheating that helped M Gore win the 2000 vote. But at the time, Wisconsin's legislature and governor were Republican. So the state budget problem isn't merely a Democratic or Republican issue, but a matter of tire type of person who gets elected into office--big spenders.

Lloyd Daub

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Kevin Hassett's analysis is great, showing a clear linkage between Democrat politics and stales' financial woes. It's unfortunate that he didn't spend more time on the notion that state taxation may have to rise as federal taxation decreases.