This is in response to an Associated Press article that was published in the Sun Journal on June 4. The headline was: “Governor: August session not likely.”

In the article, House Speaker Patrick Colwell blamed Republicans for lack of agreement on bonds and tax reform during the 2004 session. I must remind the Sun Journal that the government in Augusta is totally controlled by the Democrats.

The governor is a Democrat, the House of Representatives is controlled by the Democrats and the Senate is in Democratic control.

Let me say that I personally like Speaker Colwell, having served with him for six years, but he is being disingenuous when he tries to blame the Republicans for not doing anything on tax reform. The majority party could pass any bill they wanted to if they could agree, but according to news reports they couldn’t even agree among themselves.

As far as the bond package is concerned, it is my understanding that the Democrats wanted to lump all bonds into one. The Republicans wanted to vote on each bond issue separately. For bonds to go to the public for a vote, it takes a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature. You can’t blame the Republicans for holding their ground after the way they were shut out of the budget process earlier.

Norman Ferguson Jr., Hanover

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