By Dan Spalding, Goshen News, 11/21/2011
GOSHEN — U.S. Rep. Mike Pence brought his gubernatorial campaign to Elkhart County Monday afternoon, promising his top priorities if elected would be jobs and education.
Pence, who’s been a Congressman since 1991, spoke at a crowded meet-and-greet event at Republican headquarters on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Goshen.
Pence is one of two Republican candidates seeking the nomination for governor. A Democrat and a Libertarian candidate are also trying to replace Gov. Mitch Daniels who cannot seek re-election because of term limits.
Pence spoke briefly and then fielded questions, many of which were of a national concern. In numerous cases, though, he took federal issues and gave it a state perspective.
An example of that came when somebody asked about the mortgage crisis and regulations concerning Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government sponsored mortgage lenders.
“I think the best housing program for Indiana is a good paying job,” Pence said. “As we go forward, our campaign is going to unpack in great details a jobs plan that is built on economic freedom. It’s not going to be built on more borrowing, spending and bailouts. It’s going to be built on allowing Hoosiers to keep more of their hard-earned dollars.”
Pence spoke about the importance of states’ rights and noted that he opposed No Child Left Behind, which was President Bush’s education program.
Parents should have the final decision in where their children go to school, he said.
“We’ll look for opportunities to expand that in fiscally responsible ways, I promise you that. Education is a state and local function. Washington D.C. can send us resources, but no more red tape, no more national testing,” Pence said to a round of loud applause. “We can solve whatever ails our schools in Indiana without the heavy hand of the federal government reaching down on us.”
Asked about right-to-work legislation, Pence said he was grateful to see Indiana lawmakers appear to be making “job creation” a top priority, saying he believed “economic prosperity and economic freedom are closely linked.”
“And that economic freedom begins in the workplace,” he added.
Other announced candidates running for governor include Republican businessman Jim Wallace, Libertarian Rupert Boneham and former State House Speaker John Gregg, a Democrat.
