While the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation late Tuesday night to avert automatic “fiscal cliff” tax hikes and spending cuts by a 257-167 margin, the Indiana delegation largely said “no” to the plan.
The only Hoosier rep to buck the party line was Democrat Pete Visclosky, who voted against the compromise deal. Republicans Larry Bucshon, Mike Pence (Indiana’s governor-elect), Todd Rokita, Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young all voted “no” to the package, aimed at preventing broad spending cuts to military and domestic programs and automatic tax hikes on nearly all Americans.
Democrats Andre Carson and Joe Donnelly (the U.S. senator-elect) voted yes. Retiring Republican Dan Burton did not vote.
Among the Illinois delegation in the House, Wabash Valley Republicans Tim Johnson (19th District) and John Shimkus (15th District) also voted in favor of the agreement.
The bipartisan Senate legislation, which passed that chamber overwhelmingly by a vote of 89-8, also delays by two months the implementation of the automatic sequester spending cuts, setting up debates over alternative reductions in government spending.
Bucshon referenced President Obama’s re-election campaign in explaining his “no” vote, saying in a statement, “The president ran on a platform of more taxes, more spending and more government and he won. Unfortunately, the American people will have to pay the price with larger deficits, increased government power and intrusion in their lives, and slower growth.”
He also said: “While I want to keep tax rates as low as possible for all Americans, the fiscal cliff deal passed by the United States Senate fails to address our most pressing problem — reducing out-of-control spending. This plan has $41 dollars in tax increases for every $1 in spending cuts. It is not balanced in any way and will not improve our economy or reduce the deficit.”
Overall in the House, 151 Republicans voted against the Senate bill, while 85 supported it. Those voting “yes” included House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
Among Hoosiers, Rokita took a hard line in his opposition. “I opposed this bill because we have a spending problem, and the deal sent over by the Senate makes it worse,” Rokita said in a statement. “I will not consign our children to a debtors’ prison just to block President Obama’s tax hikes.”
Donnelly, who will fill outgoing Sen. Richard Lugar’s seat this month, acknowledged the bill’s flaws in explaining his “yes” vote in the House. In a statement, Donnelly said, “I voted for the bipartisan, Senate-passed compromise because it preserves low tax rates for 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses. It is far from perfect, as I would have preferred to keep low rates for everyone for one year while our economy continues to recover, but the American people deserve a Congress that is willing to compromise to get things done.”
The legislation extends current tax rates for Americans, except individuals earning more than $400,000 in annual income and couples earning above $450,000 annually, and makes permanent capital gain, estate tax and inflation-rate indexing for the Alternative Minimum Tax. It also preserves the $1,000 child tax credit and marriage-penalty relief. Those steps were cited as the positives that prompted Shimkus to join 84 fellow Republicans who voted for the bill.
“Maintaining the current tax rates is important for both families and the economy,” Shimkus said in a statement.
The automatic tax increases and spending cuts are a consequence of congressional gridlock on budget resolutions. The agreement passes the detailed deliberations on spending from the 112th Congress to the 113th, which takes over Thursday.
Mark Bennett can be reached at 812-231-4377 or mark.bennett@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
UPDATE: Most Indiana House members oppose fiscal cliff deal
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Holcomb, other top leaders leaving Indiana GOP helm
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Republican Party Chairman Eric Holcomb leads a number of high-level departures from the state party half a year after the 2012 elections.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 19, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Right lane of U.S. 41 South closed at Harlan Road
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. – An intersection improvement project on U.S. 41 and Harlan Road has closed the right lane for southbound traffic beginning today. This lane closure is scheduled to last about one month.
-
Terre Haute Coke & Carbon: Cleaning up a legacy
When heavy equipment starts moving dirt next week at the former Terre Haute Coke and Carbon industrial site, city officials hope a new day will be dawning for a long-neglected part of town.
-
Diversity growing: New census report shows changing face of Indiana
Like the rest of the nation, Indiana is continuing on a trend toward greater diversity as the numbers of Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other minorities are rising at a faster pace than whites.
-
Valley following diversity path of nation, Indiana
Like much of Indiana, the majority white population in the Wabash Valley is on the decline, while minority populations are on the increase.
-
Court lets walkout fines against House Democrats stand
House Democrats who had to pay more than $100,000 in fines after they walked out of the Indiana Statehouse two years ago during a legislative session won’t get the help they sought from the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Arrest made, victim identified in Rosedale homicide
The victim in a Parke County homicide that occurred last week has been identified as Kathryn A. Bays, 55, of Rosedale.
-
Vermillion industrial park gets award for transition
The Vermillion Rise Mega Park, a former chemical weapons base now an industrial park north of Clinton, has gotten national attention for its rapid transition to civilian from military use.
-
Slight damage from evening storm
Very little damage was reported from a late evening storm that rolled through the Wabash Valley on Tuesday.
-
U.S. 41 lane restrictions
Motorists should expect delays because of lane restrictions on U.S. 41 in Sullivan County next week as a railroad company repairs a rail crossing 1.2 miles north of Shelburn.
-
Lane restrictions next week on U.S. 41 at Shelburn
SHELBURN, Ind. – Motorists should expect minimal delays because of lane restrictions for U.S. 41 in Sullivan County next week as the railroad company makes repairs to the rail crossing 1.2 miles north of Shelburn.
-
Reputed Mafioso tip triggers new Hoffa body search
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The FBI saw enough merit in a reputed Mafia captain’s tip to once again break out the digging equipment to search for the remains of former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa, last seen alive before a lunch meeting with two mobsters nearly 40 years ago.
-
UPDATE: Parke County homicide victim identified
ROSEDALE — The victim in a Parke County homicide that occurred last week has been identified as Kathryn A. Bays, 55, of Rosedale.
-
Court lets walk-out fines against House Democrats stand
INDIANAPOLIS — House Democrats who had to pay more than $100,000 in fines after they walked out of the Indiana Statehouse won’t get the help they sought from the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 18, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
Back home again: Items from vaudeville stage and Terre Haute native sent to Historical Society
The staff at the Vigo County Historical Museum are excited about the arrival of priceless items used by Terre Haute-native Rose Fehrenbach and her husband, Edward Pierce, to promote their Vaudeville acts in the early 20th century.
-
Husband charged in Archer homicide
Terre Haute Police have found local reports of domestic violence between a Terre Haute man and his wife, whose body was discovered wrapped in a tarp and dumped in an Ohio ditch.
-
National Road panels dedicated
Rewind to the mid-1800s, when the trotting of a horse and buggy on National Road could be heard alongside the voices of people heading west, searching for opportunities.
-
Pence sets agency priorities
Following a directive from Gov. Mike Pence, state agency heads are reorganizing some of their top priorities to better reflect the first-year governor’s “roadmap for Indiana” plan for improving the state’s economy, infrastructure and health.
-
Another I-70 traffic snarl: Three injured in two related crashes
Three people were injured Monday afternoon from a pair of crashes on Interstate 70 that temporarily closed the highway and diverted traffic into Terre Haute.
-
Terre Haute man still hospitalized after scooter/car crash
A Terre Haute man remained hospitalized Monday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after his scooter struck a car early Saturday on Wabash Avenue at 25th Street.
-
Overpass repairs causing Interstate 70 lane restrictions
Repairs to the Frye Road overpass in southeastern Vigo County has caused a restriction to the left lane of Interstate 70 between the 13- and 14-mile markers, about two miles east of the Indiana 46 exit.
-
Indiana woman condemned for killing at 15 is freed
A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old Bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison Monday after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
Grant will let Vigo Library evaluate map collection
The Vigo County Public Library has received a $2,000 grant to evaluate its historic map collection, a library official announced Monday.
-
Four juveniles caught on elementary school roof; one injured jumping off
Police say a juvenile was lucky to have suffered only a broken leg after jumping from the roof of a Vigo County elementary school – dropping about 30 feet to the ground.
-
Farmersburg man sentenced after guilty plea in rape case
A Farmersburg man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a rape that occurred at his parents’ residence in May 2012.
-
Still no information being released on Rosedale homicide
No new information was being released Monday afternoon concerning a Rosedale homicide.
-
Woman condemned for killing at age 15 freed from Rockville prison
INDIANAPOLIS — A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison today after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
UPDATE: All lanes of I-70 now open
All lanes of Interstate 70 in Vigo County are now open — as of 4:15 p.m. — after multiple crashes shut down the eastbound lanes temporarily this afternoon.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Holcomb, other top leaders leaving Indiana GOP helm
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Today in History June 19
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Failed Cuba-to-Florida Swimmer Won't Try Again
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone
Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
