Sometimes words of wisdom come from the most unlikely sources.

George Stephanopoulas, President Clinton’s White House aide, said in 1992, “Tom Harkin has been part of the problem in Washington for 17 years. During the 80s, he voted to raise taxes by over $100 billion and capped it off in July of 1991 by voting himself a $23,000 pay raise at midnight.”

I agree.

And Tom Harkin, Iowa’s U.S. Senator up for re-election — having now been part of the problem in Washington for 22 years — once uttered words of wisdom himself. In 1987 he said, “When Congress raises its pay, the public has a right to know. It shouldn’t be sneaked in through the back door while no one’s looking.”

I agree with this, too.

Unfortunately, Senator Harkin didn’t.

Brett Hellinga

West Des Moines