Hill not Sodrel

I read with interest the IDS editorial regarding Baron Hill, “A big win for an OK candidate,” on Nov. 10. While I encourage anyone – particularly students – to be watchful and critical of our elected officials, I do believe a more complete perspective should be offered to the recent election of Baron Hill as our Congressman.

First, you seem to put Hill, a Blue Dog Democrat, in the same class as Mike Sodrel. Though I do not agree with all of Hill’s positions, it is clear he does not follow the “party line,” whereas Sodrel moved his party’s agenda to the point where our nation’s blood-and-treasure reputation was compromised. At first, I simply did not agree with Congressman Hill’s votes regarding tobacco versus children. However, an expanded perspective comforted me, as Hill:  

-Supported expanding health insurance to children whose parents cannot afford it and backed efforts to upgrade and improve school facilities

-Supported cuts to interest rates on need-based student loans and voted for measures ensuring current financial turmoil does not affect students’ access to education loans

-Authored a property tax relief measure for hard-working Hoosier families and was the co-sponsor of the Middle Class Tax Fairness Act, and

-Consistently supported clean water protection and restoration measures, voted for incentivizing increased green building production, backed the standards which will require companies to generate 15 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2020 and supported extension of the renewable energy production tax credits for wind and solar energy and fuel cells.

Second is my perspective to the character of Baron Hill. When I was the Director for IU’s Washington Leadership Program, on Sept. 11, many of our elected officials ran from the Capitol, leaving their interns to fend for themselves. Alternatively, Congressman Hill ushered his intern out, gave him directions to safety, then left the student only after he assured him he could make it out OK. That intern was my student, and that selfless act says much to me regarding Baron Hill as a man.

Thus, it is obvious I do not understand your “disappointment regarding two more years of Hill’s mediocrity.” Further, I would counsel readers to judge their elected officials, not just on how they vote, but also their character, how accessible they are and whether they listen to all of their constituents.

Marc L. Lame
IU SPEA professor