The political odd couple

By Rick Yencer

 MUNCIE, IN - He's a congressman wanting to be governor. And he was a state lawmaker who is now mayor.

  Democratic Mayor Dennis Tyler met with Republican Congressman Mike Pence on Tuesday and agreed that jobs are a top priority and that public safety needs continued federal support.

 "We are there because we care," said Tyler, about why he and the congressman are public servants. "We love the public service that we provide."

 The mayor and congressman talked about working together and funding needs by local government. And the two also visited a government class at Southside High School where they talked about public service. Tyler has been a lifelong firefighter, reaching the rank of captain. And Pence has served in Congress for a decade after a radio and legal career, and now wants to be Indiana's next governor.

 Pence was in Muncie Tuesday visiting the new mayor and talking to the Muncie Rotary Club about the last session of Congress that fought over unemployment, defense spending and even the Omnibus spending bill that Pence voted against.

 With more than 250,000 people unemployed in Indiana, Pence said government had to do more more to get people back to work, whether it was reducing taxes or providing incentives to business and hire more people. He was a supporter of repealing 1099 revenue requirements for small business. 

 The congressman saw Indiana on track for economic growth with efforts by Indiana lawmakers to pass a Right to Work law that he supports. Tyler, a former labor leader, is a strong opponent.

 But both officials still agreed to work for a better economy and improved quality of life for Hoosiers.

 Tyler told  Pence that Muncie has as many as 18 federal grants, whether they were entitlements or direct funding, most for fire and police services. The city depends on over $1 million to keep firefighters on the job besides several thousand dollars for police equipment and other spending.

 The congressman promised to keep money for public safety on a priority list and also indicated there would be another federal transportation bill coming through Congress this year, meaning more money for roads and streets in local communities.

 Transportation funding is something that Pence, in his final year in Congress, can support, although he did not support President Barack Obama's $1 trillion spending bill that kept the federal government operating.

Pence no longer supports earmark or "pork" as some lawmakers and citizens refer to federal spending. That still means less money for the local community while others get more.