Ernie Fletcher has ushered in a new era in Kentucky government and he has taken good advantage of his short six months in office. He has redesigned government, cutting the number of Cabinets from 14 to eight and has assigned capable people to key positions. Under his direction, there is under way a thorough review of every facet of state government. He is using a process similar to "zero based" budgeting in which the agency is examined from the ground up to be sure that only necessary things are being done.

The governor's priorities are right. He had to put the budget and tax modernization first because a budget is required and it is necessary to know what your revenues are going to be before you know how much you can spend.

His economic development efforts will bring new business to Kentucky, creating jobs and adding taxpayers to the rolls. Northern Kentucky now has a friend in the governor's office.

Edward L. Smith, Jr., Park Hills

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Fletcher receives a failing mark in my book. He ran on improving Kentucky's educational system yet asked our universities to cut $82 million from their budgets. He announced that 200 of the Governor's Scholars Program slots would be eliminated, but then did change his mind on that when he received negative press. Without a quality educational system, the structural changes necessary for improving the economic quality of life in Kentucky are lip service at best.

Fletcher submitted his budget to the Legislature too soon before the close of the session. Who can decipher a 700-page document that includes "tax modernization" with no time to study the implications of such changes? My brief review indicated that it would not be the folks of the Commonwealth that would experience tax relief, but once again those who could least afford to pay more taxes would be those shouldering the burden. What was worse was he held the budget hostage by insisting that it be included. I can only hope that Fletcher is a person who learns from his mistakes and grows. He has allowed himself ample opportunity for growth!

Darlene Goodrich, Newport

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His idealistic mentality and strong work ethic deem him the right man for the job. Economically, Fletcher's fiscally conservative budget is a happy median, providing financial support for issues that take precedence and preventing unnecessary expenditures that would result in a continued large-scale state deficit. Also, through his tax modernization plan, the governor would make Kentucky very favorable to businesses, which in turn would result in the creation of numerous jobs.

Gov. Fletcher looks very promising on the educational front as well. Although many are upset about his proposal to cut back aid to institutions of higher learning in the forthcoming years, the governor has made it clear that aid will be given to keep college enrollment numbers steady. Gov. Fletcher has also shown a continued commitment to Northern Kentucky.

Allison Drummey, Edgewood

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The first six months of any new administration are certainly a learning experience for all involved. Yet, the Fletcher administration appears not to have learned very much about how things get done in the politically charged atmosphere of Frankfort. The administration may have felt it had a mandate, but with or without a mandate, any administration must be willing to work with both sides of the political aisle, and be willing to compromise.

A clear example of Fletcher's unwillingness to face political reality involves his efforts to force passage of his regressive tax proposal in conjunction with the budget. While changes to Kentucky's tax code may be necessary, these changes should not be rushed through or negotiated behind closed doors by members of only one party. The result has left the Commonwealth without a budget.

While finding and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse was the mantra of the Fletcher campaign, the administration actually has very little to show for their six-month hunt.

Perhaps Fletcher's biggest failure of his six-month tenure as governor has been his treatment of state government employees for whom he proposed a piddling pay increase and additional increases in health care costs.

Brad Burtner, Villa Hills

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I feel he is doing an adequate job. However, my expectations for any governor in the first year of his term are few. I give them a grace period for the learning curve. I will, however, expect greater things in the coming months and years. Our governor needs to be a strong, visible leader to move Kentucky forward and upward. Gov. Fletcher has yet to show me if he will be such a leader. To be fair, I don't feel Kentucky has had such a leader in my 18-year voting history. I would gain more respect for Gov. Fletcher if he took a stand and called a special session to hammer out a budget with the legislature. As a side note, I have lost respect for the Legislature. How can they even think of leaving the session with no budget?

Noelle Higdon Grimes, Union

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It really is too early to tell how Gov. Fletcher is doing, but the feeling is: not much. The state has many opportunities to improve and should take advantage of them. The main item Gov. Fletcher should rattle the state House with is the budget. Without that, education, economic development and reform of state government will not change for the better. Budget matters have been a thorn in the side of Kentuckians for too long. Gov. Fletcher's approach to this will be watched keenly by many people on both sides of the party lines. Performance-based government, Gov. Fletcher, is the idea. Many Kentuckians want a strong and decisive governor and he has time to prove he is just that.

Mark Watton, Dayton

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The governor ran on the slogan "Let's clean up the mess in Frankfort," and it seems fair to use that slogan as a basis of judgment. Unfortunately, the present budget mess indicates things may be deteriorating rather than improving. The governor's primary responsibility over the last six months has been to work with the Legislature to develop and negotiate a budget for the next biennium. He has thus failed to do so.

Part of the reason for this failure may be Gov. Fletcher's focus. The governor appears to have been absorbed in the perquisites of his position - traveling abroad, involvement with the governors' council and Republican politics at a national level. I think they may be distracting him from business in Kentucky.

Rob Thrun, Covington

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Like everyone else in the state I am very frustrated by the budget impasse. I think Gov. Fletcher could have lobbied to get a budget passed and then work on the tax modernization plan. Now the "economic forecasters" are predicting the state's economic situation isn't as bad as first predicted. To me this shows some stability.

However, if we don't have a budget in place by June 30 I am fearful this will be very damaging. State workers will be facing layoffs, state offices will continue to be understaffed and important state and regional projects will be put on hold indefinitely.

Tom W. Ratterman, Bellevue City Councilman

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Fletcher had done his homework and knew exactly where he was going with streamlining and reforming state government. While he had support of the Senate, and most of the House of Representatives after a series of meetings, he was stopped cold by a few top leaders in the House.

I met Ernie Fletcher a year before he was elected, and talked to him about his programs. I liked the way he talked about changing the way business in Kentucky is taxed, and why it now puts us at a disadvantage with the states around us. How bringing in more company's would increase our revenue, help pay for our schools and highways.

Being a doctor, he knew why Kentucky doctors were going to other states for a better place to practice. He understood why insurance companies had all but left our state in order to survive.

I believe that without the boondoggle in the House brought on only by political greed, six months would have been time to evaluate Gov. Fletcher, a man that did not need to stop and think about what he needed to do.

Robert L. Williams, Union

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It seems to me that Fletcher is trying to govern Kentucky like President Bush presides over the nation. Both are arrogant and wear their religion on their sleeves. His first six months in office have been less than impressive. It will be a rocky road for his administration over the next 3 1/2 years.

Paul L. Whiteley Sr., Louisville

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The governor's tax modification plans presented to the General Assembly with the proposed budget should have been presented earlier in the regularly scheduled 2004 session. It could have been thoroughly debated and a budget passed during the session.

As someone who has an ongoing interest in education, I would like to see the governor find funding for full-day kindergarten, which would be in keeping with his interest in making sure all children read by the third grade. I would give the governor credit that when he finds additional funds, he restores them to the education budget.

Paul Whalen, Fort Thomas