When Gov. Steve Beshear laid bare Kentucky's financial problems soon after entering office, I was taken by surprise. I usually stay on top of current events, but here was a colossal problem that I don't remember hearing much about.

Of course, part of the reason is Ernie Fletcher's cover-up. In speeches made and e-mails sent last year, his campaign said that Kentucky had a $700 million surplus, when we now know we have a $434 million structural deficit. Fletcher lied to the tune of over $1 billion. That's Enron-style accounting. Isn't anyone else angry about this?

It's refreshing to imagine that Beshear and other Democrats are being forward-thinking politicians and focusing their energy on solving the problem, not telling us whom to blame for it. But a $1 billion lie? We shouldn't let Ernie off the hook for this one. Now we will have to cut money for education, vital social services, Medicaid, pensions, the list goes on.

Here's my two cents: Let's pass House Bill 262, the Kentucky Forward Bill, that would raise revenue and make our tax system more fair to poor working families. While we're at it, let's pass HB164, too, to protect our mountains and streams.

Oh yeah, and thanks, Ernie. Heckuva job.

SEAMUS ALLMAN

Louisville 40218