TERRE HAUTE —
For whatever reasons that are buried deep in the entrails of Washington politics, the U.S. House Representatives leadership finally did the right thing Thursday in approving a Senate-passed bill that temporarily extends a federal payroll tax cut, lengthens the time for unemployment benefits and holds back cuts to Medicare payments to doctors.
The bill, which House Speaker John Boehner presented to House members during an unorthodox, evening conference call, could receive approval as early as today by voice votes.
Thursday’s action essentially approved the same bill that the House on Tuesday defeated, 229-193. It also is nearly the same bill the U.S. Senate approved in an 89-10 vote on Saturday.
At stake were:
• An increase in the Social Security payroll tax from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent for 160 million American workers — a 47.6-percent increase that could have accounted for as much as $1,000 over a year’s time for many taxpayers.
• The loss of unemployment benefits for about 2 million citizens looking for work in a jobless recovery — many out of work through no fault of their own.
• A 27-percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors.
Finally, the pleadings of such celebrated conservatives as Richard Lugar and Dan Coats, Indiana’s two Republican senators, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, the conservative from Kentucky, got through the thick skulls of House Speaker John Boehner and the cabal of tea party congressmen that seem to guide his every action.
Boehner, for his part, has performed abysmally on the bill. First, he played possum last week, sending signals that he was on board with the Senate bill and in agreement with McConnell, Democrat Leader Harry Reid and the White House. Then he waffled and, this week, came out against the bill. Thursday, as media reported that rank-and-file GOP members were retreating from Boehner’s all-or-nothing stance, the speaker caved. Clearly, Boehner does not have control of his own caucus nor is he able to generate support.
Sorry to say that the Terre Haute area congressman, Rep. Larry Bucshon, joined all other Indiana Republicans (Dan Burton, Mike Pence, Todd Rokita, Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young) in opposing the bill in Tuesday’s vote.
This brinksmanship was unnecessary and a disservice to the public, which must surely wonder whether Washington — especially Congress — can get anything done other than try to obstruct the other party.
Editorials
TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Finally, good sense prevails
House GOP did what it needed to do
- Editorials
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EDITORIAL: Independent running mates
Almost certainly, running mates will not influence voters choosing Indiana’s next governor.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
• Cream of the crop
• Keep the ideas flowing
• Remembering fallen officers
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EDITORIAL: Hazards of the spring abundant now on I-70
A major holiday weekend is approaching. The weather has been consistently inviting for travel and outdoor activity. Gas prices are even inching downward.
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EDITORIAL: Embrace the Sycamores
Terre Haute should understand the rarity of an opportunity to celebrate a championship.
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EDITORIAL: Good choice for stability
For the first time in 25 years, Indiana will have a new chief justice for its Supreme Court. For those who value stability on the state’s highest court — and we count ourselves among those who do — the appointment Tuesday of longtime Justice Brent Dickson is good news.
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EDITORIAL: Correcting the prison imbalance
Terre Haute will no longer count federal prisoners when the city slices its population into six equal City Council districts. That decision by the City Council last week to remove the inmates at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex from the council district mathematical formula may not make waves, but it makes sense.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the News
• Sometimes bureaucracies do listen
• April hours bring May flowers
• Getting our airport off the ground
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EDITORIAL: When it’s IU vs. UK, there’s got to be a way
If the annual Indiana-Kentucky basketball game was not significant, would the coaches of the two universities be talking like this?
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EDITORIAL: Sen. Lugar’s compelling message
Richard Lugar, no stranger to reading political tea leaves, undoubtedly knew for weeks that defeat was coming Tuesday night in his primary fight for re-election against a more-conservative-than-thou opponent. A statement Lugar released just hours after his loss of titantic proportions indicates that the six-term incumbent saw the reality even before he knew Richard Mourdock was to be his opponent this May.
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EDITORIAL: Reviewing the landscape
The compelling story line surrounding the race between Richard Lugar and Richard Mourdock dominated most of the local primary election chatter. With those stunning results now in the books and Mourdock heading toward a showdown with Democratic Party nominee Joe Donnelly of South Bend (the current U.S. House rep from the 2nd District), it’s time to survey the landscape for other general election races that will be worthy of attention.
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EDITORIAL: GOP changed; Lugar didn’t
Six terms. Overwhelming popularity. A statesman and a gentleman. A visionary. An icon in the annals of U.S. Senate leadership, even world leadership. So dominating on the political landscape that the opposing party did not even produce a candidate in the last election.
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EDITORIAL: An exercise in democracy
Primary elections rarely draw the same levels of participation as general elections.
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EDITORIAL: Fight against child abuse demands ongoing attention
As with many of our nation’s most maddening and perplexing social problems, one hardly knows how to fathom the egregious wrongs that occur when a child is abused.
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EDITORIAL: A ‘giant’ for his hometown
Home is where the heart is. That’s true for all of us. In addition, your heart can take you home.
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EDITORIAL: Curbing corruption a worthwhile crusade
If you are cynical about government, down to its most local levels, you may think it is overrun — or even controlled — by corruption.
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EDITORIAL: The politics of Primary 2012
In less than a week, voting Hoosiers get a chance to make a statement about the future of politics in their state and beyond. But whatever that statement turns out to be, the final punctuation marks won’t be added until November. It’s possible that nothing will be settled by the end of the night May 8.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
• Their footsteps can lead us
• It would be music to his ears
• Feeding a genuine need
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EDITORIAL: Hoosier Republicans should stick with Richard Lugar
Until late 2008, most Hoosiers were quite pleased — and in many cases, darn right proud — to call Richard Lugar their senior U.S. senator.
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EDITORIAL: Matt Branam: 1954-2012
The sudden death of 57-year-old Matt Branam on Friday morning continues to leave an air of sadness hanging over the community.
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EDITORIAL: A transplant from St. Ann’s
It would be understandable, for most of us, if we were madder than the opposite of heaven if a beloved, historic, personal part of our lives was to be taken away against our will.
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EDITORIAL: Pragmatic approach to downtown development benefits community
Terre Haute has known for some time now that Indiana State University’s master plan includes creation of student residential centers off-campus in the nearby downtown area.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: A salute to pride of ’55
Terre Haute gets the chance to witness and appreciate the extent of its rich baseball legacy this Saturday. Its past and present will merge at Bob Warn Field.
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EDITORIAL: A match of Mitt and Mitch?
Not every Indiana governor’s endorsement of a presidential candidate has made instant national news as did Mitch Daniels’ support for Mitt Romney on Wednesday.
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EDITORIAL: Drilling for fairness
Consistency and fairness were on trial Monday as the Vigo County commissioners grappled with a controversial rezoning request from a property owner who wants to drill for oil on his land near Hawthorn Park northeast of Terre Haute.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
Cheers, jeers and tears
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EDITORIAL: Be fair, consistent, but keep smokefree ordinance on track
The steps toward a healthier, more vibrant community should continue moving forward.
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EDITORIAL: Inspired by tradition, celebration
With the observance of Orthodox Easter on Sunday, the spring holy holidays for Christians and Jews will have passed for another year.
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EDITORIAL: No need to sing the blues
The words from Terre Haute Board of Works President Bob Murray on Monday afternoon were as sweet to the ear as a blues riff from an electric guitar: “The bottom line is, [Blues at the Crossroads] should be able to operate just as it has before. It will get worked out.”
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EDITORIAL: Traps abound in online world
For parents, guardians, civil authorities and those who supervise and nurture children of all ages, there is nothing new in the notion that the online world of digital communications is fraught with danger.
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EDITORIAL: Primary reaches critical junction
This is a key week in the highly competitive Republican U.S. Senate primary race between six-term incumbent Sen. Richard Lugar and state Treasurer Richard Mourdock.
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EDITORIAL: Independent running mates
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