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The taxpayers deserve accountability.

But, at the end of the day, we need to represent the taxpayers who have made enormous sacrifices. Many have lost their jobs. Many of them have seen their companies - they don't have a pension - they have seen their companies cut the match for their 401(k). They have seen their health care benefits be shredded.

But what shouldn't happen is, you shouldn't have the taxpayers from states that are managing their situations well paying for those states that are not.

I have long believed taxpayers make better use of their money than the government ever could.

Whether people care enough about local news to pay for it is, sadly, an entirely different question than whether our democracy requires a strong watchdog function at the local level to ensure safeguards against abuse, chicanery, and outright dishonesty.

There ought to be a thoughtful welfare-reform debate that doesn't turn into something that could be called scapegoating.

Unions should not be lapdogs to a political party, they should be watchdogs for their members' interests.

It is proper that the federal government help alleviate short-term disruptions and price spikes such as those brought about by Hurricane Katrina.

We count on the FEC to be the public's watchdog.

When I see something unjust, I have to intervene - it's hard for me to watch the underdog suffer.