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Open letter to Rick Akin:

I readily acknowledge and accept your criticism of my legislative efforts ("It's all about ideas," May 31 in the Steamboat Pilot & Today). Unfortunately, I can't please all the people all the time. However, I think in order to provide some context for your criticism, you should acknowledge some of my many accomplishments.

For the sake of brevity, let's just focus on the past session. Although it was a difficult year, my position on the Joint Budget Committee enabled me to manifest significant benefits for my constituents, although you might not perceive them in the same light.

For instance, because you are an attorney, you probably don't care that I was able to save $15 million for tourism marketing. We know every tax dollar we spend returns $200 to the private sector. This translates into jobs and food on the table for the hard-working families of my district.

Because you're not a senior citizen, you probably don't see it as a positive that I was able to save $2 million that was scheduled to be cut from important seniors' programs such as meals on wheels, and transportation.

Because you're not a rancher, it doesn't mean much to you that I was able to save $500,000 that was scheduled to be taken from the Brand Board. This would have required increased fees to ranchers who are such an important part of our culture and economy.

Because you don't live in Rifle, it doesn't mean anything to you that I was able to keep the Rifle Correctional Facility from being closed, and saved all of the attendant jobs in an economy that is suffering mightily from reduced oil and gas activity.

In short, Rick, despite the stress and turmoil of the most difficult economy our country has seen since the '30s, I was able to do some significant good on behalf of my constituents.

I believe in all of the things you cited in your article - smaller government, less taxes and personal responsibility. But obviously we differ on our interpretation of the details. I know you would prefer someone in my seat who is more like you; someone who would cast all their votes the way you would. But I'm not you.

For nine years I have watched the unsuccessful efforts of intractable ideologues on both sides of the aisle. I prefer to be an effective legislator. My constituents deserve no less.

State Sen. Al White,

R-Hayden