In today’s world of polarized politics, most legislators refuse to reject policies proposed by their own party.
Thankfully, that isn’t always the case; some lawmakers will still stand up against their contemporaries — and the president — if they feel their constituents are at serious risk.
Such was the case with the final decision on the recommendation to change the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) for U.S. cities.
Last week, the Office of Budget and Management said it will keep the minimum population needed in a community’s core city to at least 50,000 residents in order to be designated as an MSA.
The decision rejected a proposal filed Jan. 19 under former Republican President Donald Trump’s administration that suggested increasing the minimum population threshold for the designation to 100,000.
Had the population minimum bumped up, places like Columbus, Muncie, Terre Haute, and several other Indiana cities would’ve lost their MSA status; and access millions of federal dollars that go towards housing, transportation, Medicare reimbursement, and more programs.
The change in designation could’ve impacted funding granted to Columbus through its current status as an “entitlement city” within Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.
That type of change would’ve changed the economic landscape of the area in a bad way.
During deliberations, Columbus’ congressional delegation of Rep. Greg Pence and Sens. Todd Young and Mike Braun all wrote letters to the Office of Management and Budget urging them to deny the proposed changes.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop, Columbus Regional Health CEO Jim Bickel, and Greater Columbus (Indiana) Economic Development Corp. President Jason Hester also wrote letters to the national office laying out concerns.
Those voices, which represent Columbus and Bartholomew County, all appear to have been heard.
The Biden Administration made the right call in not moving the proposal forward, and our lawmakers and other local officials should be credited in helping guide that decision.
