Salt Lake Tribune

Rep. Rob Bishop boasted last week that it was time to forge a workable compromise on the debt-ceiling crisis (“Bishop takes his own road on debt-crisis talks,” Tribune, July 31). When I read that report, I thought: Bully for Bishop! Finally, we have a Utah member of Congress acting like an adult to solve our crisis, even if it is a phony one. But then Bishop ended up voting against the workable debt compromise. He talked well, but when it mattered he chose to let the economy and the government’s credit rating go over the cliff.

In the end, Rep. Jim Matheson was the only Utah congressman to hold his nose and vote for the debt deal that no one liked but which was necessary (“Matheson only Utahn to vote for debt compromise,” Tribune, Aug. 2). Utah’s Blue Dog Democrat has what it takes to actually solve problems through hard choices instead of simply grandstanding for the tea party.

Matheson does Utah proud. I hope he runs for the Senate next year. He could beat that tired old dog Sen. Orrin Hatch or the extreme Rep. Jason Chaffetz, both of whom showed their immaturity by voting against the debt compromise.

Benjamin Charles
Salt Lake City

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/52310223-82/debt-bishop-compromise-matheson.html.csp