Editor, Times-Union: If you read the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, a number of politicians were shown “double-dipping” with two separate government jobs. Local Indiana State Senator Carlin Yoder draws a salary of $63,302 as a state legislator and $58,448 as the 3rd District Congressional constituent services director, a federal position, for an annual pay total of $121,750. This is almost three times the median Indiana income. This does not include perks of both state and federal pensions. Congressman Marlin Stutzman rails about government spending and transparency, while hiring Senator Yoder, a well-connected personal friend who does not even live in Stutzman’s 3rd Congressional District! These same politicians will tell voters that they need to tighten their belts and make do with less government while they maximize their take from our government tax dollars. We deserve better representation from our elected officials and need to end the “good old boy politics”. State Senator Yoder should completely devote all of his time to representing his constituents that put him in office and work to address their struggles during this difficult time. Public service should take precedence over self service. John Bonitati Warsaw, via e-mail
