(Rochester, MN)  --  More than 100 U-S mayors, including four from Minnesota, have sent a letter to Congress urging a bi-partisan balanced federal budget deal be in place before automatic cuts go into effect January 1st.  Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede (BRADY) says he and the mayors are concerned that federal and state budgets will be balanced on the backs of cities.  He says discretionary funding for cities such as Rochester has already been cut.  Brede says the mayors understand the need for cuts in order to balance the federal budget, but they want cuts prioritized and the consequences understood.