Letters: Indy's lack of traffic congestion is a plus for Amazon

Now that Indy is a finalist for Amazon's HQ2, the city's leadership should emphasize one of our foremost attributes: lack of traffic congestion.

Among the criteria Amazon considered in its original request for proposals, traffic congestion was directly or indirectly cited three times. Also, Amazon's HQ in Seattle is often criticized for extending rush hour traffic in that city. 

The INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard ranks traffic congestion in American cities, with Los Angeles being the worst. Indy ranks 71st in the nation for traffic congestion. Among the 20 Amazon finalists, only Raleigh, N.C., at 72nd, scores better than Indianapolis on traffic congestion.

Colin Meyer

Madison

Donnelly's argument against

tax bill is deceptive

I received Sen. Joe Donnelly’s Annual Report 2017. While Donnelly wants to give the impression of helping Hoosiers, he waffles on two big issues for Hoosiers: tax relief and health care. He justifies his failure to support the tax relief bill by saying it was a “tax hike for nearly a million Hoosier middle class families in the coming years”. While this is a technically correct statement, it is very deceiving by using the words “in the coming years”. Middle class Hoosiers receive significant tax reductions starting in 2018. Eight years from now the reductions expire. It is more than likely the reductions will be extended. Apparently, Donnelly wanted the tax bill to be “perfect” in his eyes. But the fact remains that he voted against Hoosiers receiving significant tax reductions for the next eight years.

It is interesting, after voting for Obamacare, that his annual report shows his support for changing two major provisions: the medical device tax and the 40 hour work week requirement. Apparently, he is capable of voting for a bill that is not “perfect” in his eyes. Does his report address the massive increases in premiums and deductibles Hoosiers are facing?

If you want higher taxes, bigger bureaucracy, more power in Washington, lower take-home pay and fewer jobs, continue to support Donnelly!

Dan Schoenherr

Westfield

Donnelly has shown independence from Trump

The current political arena and atmosphere in the United States are toxic.  One of the major contributors to that is the relentless gerrymandering that allows state legislatures to draw districts that will favor one party or the other in congressional races.  That effectively negates many votes with regard to the election of public representatives.  However, an entire state cannot be separated when it comes to the election of its two senators.

That is why I am amused and perplexed about Indiana’s mid-term senatorial election this fall. Republicans have identified Sen. Joe Donnelly as occupying a vulnerable seat in the Senate. They have done this because President Trump carried Indiana with such a plurality that he swept Gov. Eric Holcomb and Sen. Todd Young into office.  Consequently, Republican candidates are lining up to compete in their primary with each candidate attempting to be more Trump-like than the others. 

Donnelly has been more willing to evaluate potential legislation based upon what is good for his constituents rather than what the president wants. Donnelly even got to the point of being told by the president that unless he went along with him, he would be targeted in his re-election bid. 

My hope is that the voters in Indiana elect, or re-elect, their next senator based upon how he or she will represent them rather than how in line he or she falls with our president.   

Mel Pfeiffer

Indianapolis

Republicans have pushed up national debt

Cal Thomas' citation of Confucian philosophy ("when prosperity comes, do not use all of it") comes 15 years too late.  It should have been directed at George W. Bush, who inherited a budget surplus from Bill Clinton.  With the leadership of Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels, the surplus was converted into a then-record deficit in just three years.  That's what happens when you fight two wars without asking for adequate tax funding to support them, and instead actually seek tax cuts!

Subsequently, the "Great Recession" left incoming President Obama with a record $1.4 trillion deficit, which was gradually reduced over his eight year tenure to "just" $666 billion for fiscal year 2017.  With both Congress and the presidency now under full GOP control, you might expect the Republicans to act on their reputed fiscal conservatism.  Instead, we got a new tax cut and a proposed 2018 budget that will boost the deficit back over $1 trillion, with more deficits looming over the next decade. Thomas is surely whistling past the graveyard if he hopes that the "US might be forced to face debt."

Mitchell Pote 

Indianapolis