The new census results show that those states without an income tax, or have a generally lower tax burden, are gaining people (and political representation in the House) while those with higher tax burdens are losing people and representatives. Michael Barone writes about the phenomenon, as do Dick Morris and Eileen McGann. On the other hand, Froma Harrop believes a slower growing population is something to celebrate.

A New York Republican says the Empire State needs to radically alter its tax and business policies to reverse the population outflow that the cause of their loss of two House seats. New Yorkers just elected Andrew Cuomo as their governor, so I do not believe they will do much to reverse their liberal tax-and-spend policies (although those policies will probably be constrained by their economic and fiscal realities).

Another good article in The New York Times today (that is two in a row for the Old Grey Lady). This one is about how a small Alabama city failed to find their public employee pension plans, which ran out of money in 2009. The doleful consequences for the city and their retired employees stands as a stark warning for all the municipalities and states across the country that have over-promised and will soon start to under-deliver or face bankruptcy.

Jay Cost takes on the folks who still believe in the 'emerging Democratic majority'. Cost believes the false assumption they make (and I agree with him) is that Hispanic voters can be automatically assigned to the Democratic camp. Wrong. Hispanics are not African-Americans (a bloc that is 90% for the Democrats). In fact, as Cost points out, Hispanics in New York and other Northeastern urban areas vote quite differently than do Hispanics in Texas or Florida. Although Cost does not write about this aspect of the story, the reason for the differences is quite simple. Hispanics are incredibly diverse, sharing a language, but with variations in history and culture that can be quite dramatic. A Mexican-American in Texas from a family that has lived in the region for two centuries is quite different from a Puerto Rican recently arrived in New York City from his island home, for instance. Failure to take these differences into account is one reason why political analysts make improper conclusions about how Hispanics will vote.

George Will writes about 'the FICA scream'.

E.J. Dionne celebrates the progressive accomplishments of the recent Congress and the performance of those Democrats who gave their seats for the cause.

Finally, teenage girls with guns.