Letter to the editorDear Editor,

I would love to see someone bring some sense to this [Tobacco Tax Dispute,Capitol Weekly, Oct. 20]. The money should go to offset the cost thatsmoking presents to the healthcare system and to help those who either A,want to quit, so fund smoking cessation program supervised by physicians orrespiratory therapists

Last week, political consultant and Hoover Institution research fellow BillWhalen wrote a rebuttal to my piece about Steve Poizner (Capitol Weekly,October 6). Readers can review both columns by logging on towww.capitolweekly.net.

Mr. Whalen’s beef is that I was unkind to Steve Poizner, a man he works forand admires. Okay, I was unkind to Steve Poizner.

The Capitol Weekly’s Sept. 15 article (“State contracts with ‘Saddam’sfavorite bank’”) contained omissions and political attacks disguised as“fact.” The piece falsely reported that Treasurer Angelides refused torespond to these attacks from a well-known partisan, when in fact he was notgiven ample opportunity to respond.

The piece provided a platform for right-wing extremist Frank Gaffney

Child health, education remain high on
Governor