Pence does right by the people

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Congressman Mike Pence had something good to say when he approved extending unemployment, tax cuts and Medicare reimbursement on Friday.

 "The deal before us today is nothing to write home about, but it does avoid a tax increase on working families during these difficult economic times and starts us down the road toward unemployment insurance reform," said Pence, after jumping to the House floor to support the middle class tax relief and job creation bill.

 So Congress did the right thing in a national election year and made sure benefits for those who need them are extended through the end of the year. Only 160 millions workers impacted here. And millions more who received unemployment benefits.

 While the measure gave a 10 month extension of the payroll holiday tax and unemployment benefits, it also reduced overall unemployment eligibility. Namely, it drops the old 99 week benefit limit to 63 weeks in most states and 73 weeks in states hardest hit by the recession.

 The measure also temporarily helps the Medicare payment plan preventing a 27 percent cut in fees paid to doctors.

 Pence, who wants to be Indiana's next governor, said he never believed in short term tax policy, but then he certainly did not support a tax increase on working families, especially during an election year.

 There have been other times Pence voted against extending benefits or supporting President Barack Obama's stimulus bills, but again 2012 is a big election year for the congressman who would be governor.

 Pence did point out how benefits would be reduced and how the unemployed now must comply with a national job search requirement, He also pointed out how the bill would not interfere with Indiana's efforts to make the state's unemployment trust fund solvent.

 What's important to remember is how eastern Indiana's next congressman will vote on helping those in need or  to extend national health care to everyone.

 In one corner, there's Delaware County's entries in Democrat Brad Bookout and Republican William Frazier.

 Bookout was the boy wonder who was among the youngest elected to Delaware County Council and then worked as a grantsman to local government and economic development efforts. Bookout has hundreds of ideas for creating jobs and ensuring health care for those who need it. Frazier is among the oldest candidates and a former state senator and even worked with President Ronald Reagan to end the Cold War.

 Both have the common belief that whoever hold the high ground in Delaware County which is the biggest population base of the 19 county district will win. 

 That strategy is not shared by former state representative Luke Messer, a Republican who had a run in with the law, but now is a family man that wears his conservative, pro-life belief like a badge of honor and also said support from state Republicans.

 And Democrat Susan Hall Heitzman knows former Congressman Lee Hamilton and worked for former Congressman Baron Hill and is the only woman, a retired teacher, and wants to run without raising money. That type of grassroots campaign is always popular, given Congress had only a single digit approval rating among voters.

 Of course, there are three other Democrats and six other Republicans who are little or literally unknown and likely to stay that way by the May 4 primary.