Mike Pence in 2016 IN Governor's race
On Drugs:
Indiana will be tough on narcotics and drug dealers
Mike Pence is questioning legislation that dramatically decreases penalties involving pot, even for entry-level drug offenses. Pence has questioned if that's the right move. "I think this legislation, as it
moves forward, should still seek to continue to send a way strong message to the people of Indiana and particularly to those who would come into our state to deal drugs, that we are tough and we're going to stay tough on narcotics.
Source: Indiana Economic Digest on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jul 16, 2016
On Civil Rights:
Pro-business environment better for wages than equal pay
Hoosier women earn about 73 cents for every dollar men make for the same work, and the poverty rate for women and girls in Indiana is nearly 17 percent. Mike Pence says he believes the way to address income disparity is to promote economic
growth. "Creating an environment that encourages more investment, more job opportunities for Hoosiers is the best pathway forward toward increasing personal income for men and women in Indiana," he says.
Source: Howey politics on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jul 15, 2016
On Education:
Pro-voucher so parents decide how to educate their kids
Each year since his election, Pence has spoken at an annual school choice rally, affirming his support for publicly funded vouchers to pay private school tuition for low- & middle-income families and for charter schools. "Children in this state ought to
be afforded opportunities for quality education. Those decisions should be made in the best interests of our kids, and those decisions should be made by parents." Pence has pushed to expand charter schools & vouchers, with some legislative wins in 2015.
Source: ChalkBeat.org on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jul 15, 2016
On Social Security:
Personal investment for Social Security retirement
"Conservatives want to see personal retirement accounts that have immediate relevance to younger Americans, that they can see the value, and that will require that they be big and that they be implemented in the final bill without delay," said Rep. Mike
Pence. Pence said Republicans have come to agreement on principles for fiscal discipline and Social Security, and are prepared to be the conservative balance trying to give the president the backing to pursue the boldest possible plans on both issues.
Source: Washington Times on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jul 14, 2016
On Foreign Policy:
Against agreement with Iran; keep all sanctions
Pence joined 14 other GOP governors in a letter to President Obama opposing the Iran nuclear deal: "I am opposed to this agreement because it will not make the US or our most cherished ally, Israel, safer. Instead, it promises Iran a lifting of US nuclea
related sanctions for an agreement on Iran's nuclear weapons program that will only halt its ambitions temporarily, rather than permanently dismantle its nuclear desires," Pence wrote.The letter asserted: "This agreement would lead to the lifting of
sanctions on Iran without any guarantee that Iran's drive toward obtaining a nuclear weapon will be halted or even slowed. Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, and it should not be permitted any pathway toward obtaining a nuclear weapon, now or ever.
The lifting of federal sanctions that would only result in Iran having more money available to fund terrorist groups and attacks. We intend to ensure that the various state-level sanctions that are now in effect remain in effect.
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Apr 26, 2016
On Civil Rights:
Opposes pay equity; close wage gap by growing economy
Pence said he wanted women to make every bit as much as men, and said the way to close Indiana's wage gap was through growing the economy. In this legislative session, House Democrats offered an amendment creating a commission to study pay disparity,
but it was blocked by Republicans. Governor Mike Pence says he believes the way to address income disparity is to promote economic growth: "Creating an environment that encourages more investment, more job opportunities for Hoosiers is the best
pathway forward toward increasing personal income for men and women in Indiana," he says. [Howey Politics, 4/9/2014]Pence thrice voted against equal pay for women:- July 2007: Voted Against H.R. 2831, the "Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007."
[H.R. 2831, Vote 768, 7/31/07]
- Jan. 2009: Voted Against S. 181, the "Fair Pay Act of 2009." [S. 181, Vote 37, 1/27/09]
- Jan. 2009: Voted Against H.R. 12, the "Paycheck Fairness Act Of 2009." [H.R. 12, Vote 8, 1/9/09]
Source: INDems.org & Howey politics: 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Apr 15, 2016
On Homeland Security:
Supported expanding benefits and opportunities for veterans
Pence signed more than a dozen bills he says will expand benefits and opportunities for Indiana's military servicemembers and veterans. [One veteran's spokesperson], who led the Indiana National Guard for 11 years, says he's particularly pleased with
one that expands the Military Family Relief Fund. That program was originally created to help post-9/11 veterans pay food, housing, utility, transportation and medical bills. Umbarger says the legislation extends that help to all veterans.
Source: WFYI news "Pence Signs 13 Bills," 2016 Indiana Governor race
Mar 22, 2016
On Civil Rights:
Listen to the merits of debate on LGBT rights
Civil rights expansion: This is the elephant on the table. All sides are digging in. This creates a situation where either Gov. Pence, Speaker Brian Bosma or Senate President David Long will have to take the lead.
Pence is playing his cards close to the vest. He has repeatedly said that he will listen to the "merits" of the coming, noisy debate as
Freedom Indiana and the Indiana Pastors Alliance will hold dueling demonstrations during legislative Organization Day in November.This is a policy and political gauntlet for Gov. Pence.
He will have to be adroit and communicate well, or he faces the prospect of being a one-term governor. It's time for statewide non-discrimination protections for LGBT Hoosiers!
Source: Kokomo Perspective on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 24, 2015
On Drugs:
Signed legislation allowing needle exchange
Officials report the HIV outbreak has mainly been fueled by individuals sharing needles used to inject prescription painkillers. John Gregg finds Gov. Pence's initial hesitation to address the issue troublesome. Pence signed legislation in May which
allowed the installation of a needle-exchange program, but by that time, the number of infected people already had reached 150."You know, that's asinine," Gregg said. "I mean, we've got to realize there's a drug problem.
And to say that we would not do a needle exchange, that's irresponsible. They're going to be using the drugs, and we might as well see to it that that's a great way to stop the HIV virus.
His attitude on that is akin to people who don't want to talk about sex education because if we don't talk about it, then, you know, the kids won't be procreating. I mean, how do you think we all got here?"
Source: Kokomo Tribune on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Sep 24, 2015
On Drugs:
Do not legalize: pot is a gateway drug
In late March 2013, in response to Gov. Pence's criticism of legislation that rewrites Indiana's criminal code to lower drug penalties, a Senate committee amended the criminal code reform bill to make punishment for marijuana crimes tougher than
the legislation's Republican authors had originally proposed. House Bill 1006 supporters say the intent of the bill is divert drug users out of state prisons and into treatment programs, while reserving the prisons for the worst offenders.
Pence waited till mid-March to weigh in on House Bill 1006 and did so at a press briefing with TV and radio reporters, telling them, "I think we need to focus on reducing crime, not reducing penalties."During a 2012 gubernatorial debate in
Zionsville, Gov. Mike Pence said he opposed any marijuana law reforms and viewed marijuana as a "gateway" drug. His Democrat opponent John Gregg generally agreed, but added that medical marijuana would be worth studying.
Source: Howey politics on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Sep 8, 2015
On Energy & Oil:
Against Obama's plan to battle climate change
Indiana will not comply with President Barack Obama's plan to battle climate change by requiring reductions in emissions from coal-fired power plants, Republican Gov. Mike Pence said Wednesday.
The proposal as currently written, known as the Clean Power Plan, will make Indiana electricity more expensive and less reliable and hurt economic growth in Indiana and across the nation, Pence wrote in a letter to Obama.
Source: Orange County Register on 2016 Indiana Governor race
Jun 24, 2015
On Health Care:
Healthy Indiana: expand Medicaid but with "skin in the game"
When faced with the decision of whether to embrace Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, Pence took the money. But he did it with a conservative twist: The Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 is built on a smaller coverage program. The program began last year and
extends coverage to low-income adults up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Indiana's program requires beneficiaries to pay into health savings accounts. It's based on the principle that people should have "skin in the game."
Source: Politico.com on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jan 26, 2014
On Principles & Values:
Religious Freedom Restoration Act protects religion
Hoosiers deserve to know that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act enhances protections for every church, non-profit religious organization or society, religious school, rabbi, priest, preacher, minister or pastor in the review of government action
where their religious liberty is infringed. The law also enhances protection in religious liberty cases for groups of individuals and businesses in conscience decisions that do not involve provision of goods and services, employment and housing.
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jan 26, 2014
On Free Trade:
Favors free trade, but not tariff dodging from China
Pence asked U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to look into U.S. Steel's allegations, including that Chinese steelmakers dodge tariffs by misrepresenting what country the steel comes from.
The (Munster) Times reports that U.S. Steel has filed a trade case that could result in a ban on all Chinese imports deemed unfairly traded. Pence says he favors free trade but he called U.S. Steel's allegations against China serious.
Source: Associated Press on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jan 15, 2014
On Free Trade:
Favors free trade, but not tariff dodging from China
Pence asked U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to look into U.S. Steel's allegations, including that Chinese steelmakers dodge tariffs by misrepresenting what country the steel comes from.
The (Munster) Times reports that U.S. Steel has filed a trade case that could result in a ban on all Chinese imports deemed unfairly traded. Pence says he favors free trade but he called U.S. Steel's allegations against China serious.
Source: Associated Press on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jan 15, 2014
On Principles & Values:
Indiana & U.S. Constitutions guarantee religious freedom
Gov. Mike Pence has signed into law a measure aimed at removing fears that the state's new "religious freedom" law would allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Excerpts from his full statement:The freedom of religion for every
Hoosier is enshrined in the Constitution of the United States and in the Indiana Constitution, which reads, 'No law shall, in any case whatever, control the free exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience.'
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jan 2, 2014
Page last updated: Nov 30, 2021