Do all the Senators (and members of the House) have the same budget

[question everything]

for staff, etc., or does it vary by - I don't know - the size of their constituency?

In the past 25 years I have lived in four states and on occasions would write to my Senator or my member of the House. And I would always get a reply about the topic that I raised. I've even got replies from Senators who were not from my state.

Granted, most of those were before the proliferation of the Internet, when a few clicks can send thousands of letters to a member of Congress. And I know for a fact that someone from San Diego - do not remember whether it was Hunter or Cunningham - would not allow an email from a non-district zip code.

But I was surprised that a letter from Norm Coleman, while acknowledging a recent letter from me - snail mail, with a stamp - did not touch on the topic at all, it was just a form letter detailing his... whatever.

If Senators Feinstein and Boxer, with more than 30 millions constituents can send a personal reply, so can Coleman, with only 5 millions.

Unless the California Senators have a staff of 100 each, while Coleman has only one secretary..

And then, of course, was Paul Wellstone, who did reply to an email of mine, when I was brand new in Minnesota, before I was even a registered voter.