Posted on 12/16/2014 6:45:59 AM PST by Kaslin
INDIANAPOLIS -- If success at the state level were enough to recommend someone for president of the United States, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana would be among the frontrunners for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.
According to the governor's office, Pence has "signed into law $643 million in annual tax relief: That includes: $313 million for hardworking Hoosiers, thanks to last year's 5 percent income tax reduction, the largest state tax cut in Indiana history." In addition, the state corporate tax rate was reduced from 6.5 percent to 4.9 percent, making it the third lowest in the country and contributing to Indiana's increase in the labor force, which, Pence's office says, has grown by more than 51,000 over the past year, five times the national growth rate.
It helps to have large majorities of one's party in the legislature, but Pence consults and has good relationships with Democrats, who frequently vote with the Republican majority because his programs work.
Sitting with the governor in his high-ceiling office beneath portraits of two Indiana governors who became presidents of the United States -- William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison -- Pence tells me he is focused on the upcoming legislative session, which is expected to last four months, and won't think seriously about running for president until the session ends. Then, he says, "We'll probably take some time as a family to reflect and pray and make decisions about our future."
In his mind, Pence may have already crafted a winning scenario. He may be focused on his state, but he thinks a lot about the country, which he served for 10 years as a congressman.
A former Democrat (like his ideological mentor Ronald Reagan), Pence sees a need to transform his party's image: "The Republican Party has become just the other party to Washington solutions. We have to get back to advancing state-based solutions and reforms. We must be relentlessly optimistic." He paraphrases a Reagan line: "'Why shouldn't we dream great dreams, after all we're Americans.' There was a confidence and optimism I think our party would do well to repair to. ... There's a lot wrong with our national government, but we've got to stop confusing our national government with our nation."
That's a good line for a stump speech.
Pence wants to move from opposing bad ideas in Washington, to focusing on the success records in many states. For example, Pence's education agenda includes a goal of taking children in underperforming schools and putting them in good schools: "By the year 2020, I want 100,000 more Indiana students in high-quality schools than we have today. Today, we have 105,000 kids who are in underperforming or failing schools." He wants to fix traditional schools, pay good teachers more, giving bonuses to the best, and expand vocational education to every high school in the state. "We have the largest education voucher program in America. I want to expand that by lifting the cap and encouraging more private investment." Indiana also has 75 charter schools.
Pence declines an invitation to comment on former Gov. Jeb Bush's recent remarks about having to lose the primary in order to win the general election, which many conservatives view as an attack on the party's base.
If Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, I asked, is she beatable?
Pence answers indirectly, saying he thinks 2016 will be the first foreign policy election since 1980 and that as a former secretary of state, Clinton will have some advantages. That's why he thinks the eventual GOP nominee should do as George W. Bush did in 2000: name a group of advisers with strong foreign policy credentials to advise him during a campaign and, if he is successful, some might serve in his administration.
Mike Pence is a model of humility and restraint. While some characterize Obama as a failed president, Pence will only label his tenure "disappointing." That in itself is in sharp contrast to the hubris, narcissism and self-awareness of Obama. Humility, coupled with a proven track record of success and more confidence in the states and the people, is what's needed at the national level. Mike Pence could be the one to bring it.
He would make a good President.
Has an excellent conservative record and he turned IN around.
I’d like to see Mike Pence run.
I agree completely
I’ll get on board. By the way do not be fooled by the R in front of Michigan governor Rick Snyder. He has raised taxes on Michigan and wants to do it again.
The national gubmit is not American, either.
It is the enemy.
Which was the purpose of the 2nd Amendment, and is the reason that gun sales are soaring.
Bring it, Dorkbama.
Make sure your fellow idiots are with you.
Since government is the problem, why would we want someone who has been a good governor?
Pence is doing a good job building upon the Indiana “turn-around” started by his predecessor, Mitch Daniels. Pence is a solid conservative who would make a good President, as is Daniels. Either of them would bring a welcome contrast of humility, maturity, and competence so needed for our nation. I hope one of them runs, most likely Pence.
Pence is currently my top choice.
I would definitely vote for him if he runs
Pence and Walker sews up the Midwest. Given everything else being the same, winning Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and possibly Minnesota should be enough.
Would you want someone that was a bad governor?
I clicked on your name and see you must know what you are talking about.
Walker would be another good choice imho
i wanted him to run in 2012 and am praying he runs in 2016...
Totally agree. I want a work horse not a show horse. A button-down, green eyeshade guy. A Coolidge!!
“Mike Pence is a Hard-Core Conservative.
Click here for explanation of political philosophy.
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http://www.ontheissues.org/IN/Mike_Pence.htm
Looks like Pence is as good as it gets for a Republican POTUS nominee. Congressional experience, successful governor, and a rock-ribbed conservative. Correct on both social and fiscal issues.
I have always like Mike Pence. I wished he would have bben the GOP candidate in 2008 instead of McStain.
Rick is more rino than anything. His name has been floated. We do not want him.
How about the scam he pulled with Common Core? He "got rid of" the evil Common Core and then had the architect of Common Core come in to design the new Indiana standards. Guess what? They are pretty much just like Common Core except with a new name.
He is certainly not the worst candidate the Republicans could field but he is nowhere near the most conservative.
The people that hold the purse strings, hold the reins.
Lowering taxes at the state or local level may improve the economy in the short run, but it just means that more of people's tax money goes to Washington where it is used to create more federal mandates for the states to suffer under.
It just means more illegal aliens that the US government refuses to keep out of America, more federally mandated education "reforms", more federally mandated health care programs, more federally mandated traffic laws, smoking restrictions, environmental restrictions, land use restrictions, etc.
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