V19, N13 Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 Governor previews legislative goals Pence will focus on jobs and education By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence’s second Indiana Gen- eral Assembly agenda will feature legislation on jobs and education. In an exclusive interview with Howey Politics Indiana on Wednesday, Pence held a stuffed manila folder he said contained much of his agenda. “I could tell you everything, but then I’d have to kill you,” he joked. Pence said he would unveil more details in early December when he gives what he calls “a major address that will outline our agenda.” But, he added, “I can tell you in very broad strokes a couple of things. My focus is going to be on jobs and schools. We’re going to continue to drive toward the six office 10 months ago, the Roadmap has had a prominent goals in our Roadmap for Indiana and our advanced poli- station in his Statehouse office on an easel. cies about that.” The priorities include: The Pence “Roadmap” began as a 2012 campaign 1.) Increasing private sector employment: As brochure outlining his policy priorities. But since he took Continued on page 3 Pence will seek reelection By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence plans to seek a second term in 2016, with senior administration officials dousing any notion of a potential presidential run. “Gov. Pence, through his newly “Follow the money,” a senior Pence administration official told Howey Politics Indiana on created education agency, the Wednesday. Center for Education and Career While Pence has a national political action committee that could raise fed- Innovation, is undermining the eral election money, the source told exceptional work done every day by HPI that all of the governor’s fundrais- ing activity is related to his Indiana the Department of Education.” gubernatorial campaign. “He will seek a second term,” the - Supt. Glenda Ritz HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 source said. Obama. The revelation comes just as But the presidential specula- the activities around the 2014 Indi- tion can have repercussions. When ana General Assembly session begin Pence pushed his 10% income tax cut, to pick up next week. The General there were several comments by legis- is a non-partisan newsletter Assembly convenes for its annual lative leaders that played the proposed based in Indianapolis and Organization Day on Tuesday. cut as part of Pence’s broader political A shadow factor in Gov. plans, centering on 2016. Nashville, Ind. It was founded Pence’s initial 2013 session was one The senior administration in 1994 in Fort Wayne. that dogged former Govs. Evan Bayh official told Howey Politics that all of It is published by and Mitch Daniels, Pence’s fundraising in WWWHowey Media, LLC which was specula- 2012 has been in his 405 Massachusetts Ave., tion on whether he Indiana gubernatorial will seek the presi- campaign account. Suite 300 dency. The source said that Indianapolis, IN 46204 Pence Gov. Pence has received flirted briefly with a number of invitations Brian A. Howey, Publisher a 2012 presidential to speak in early presi- Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington run in the winter of dential primary and cau- 2011. That came cus states of Iowa, New Jack E. Howey, Editor along with a tan- Hampshire and South Mary Lou Howey, Editor dem exploration by Carolina, and most have Maureen Hayden, Statehouse Gov. Daniels. With been turned down. Matthew Butler, Daily Wire social conservatives If Pence hits that Sarah Palin and Mike circuit, the speculation Huckabee opting out on a 2016 presidential Subscriptions of the presidential race, conserva- run would intensify. In turn, that kind $599 annually tives such as Dick Armey, Jim Ryun of scrutiny during an Indiana General Ray Volpe, Account Manager and Club For Growth encouraged Assembly session can result in specu- ' 317.602.3620 Pence, then the third ranking House lation on his ulterior motives. Republican, to consider a White House That was often the case email: [email protected] candidacy. during Gov. Bayh’s two terms. The Sources tell HPI that in order worst kept secret in town was that Contact HPI to keep two Hoosier Republicans from Bayh had presidential ambitions. He www.howeypolitics.com running, Daniels helped clear the was a regular on quadrennial veep- decks for Pence to get the gubernato- stake lists and keynoted the 1996 [email protected] rial nomination. That resulted in Lt. Democratic National Convention in 'Howey’s Cabin: 812.988.6520 Gov. Becky Skillman ending a brief Chicago. Bayh finally launched a 'Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 campaign of her own, citing a “minor presidential campaign in 2006, only 'Washington: 202.256.5822 medical” condition. to abruptly end it in December of that In February 2011, Pence year when it became clear that Hillary 'Business Office:317.602.3620 announced in Pendleton that he would Clinton and Barack Obama were going conduct a multi-month “listening tour” to dominate the nomination process. © 2013, Howey Politics Indiana. that resulted in his official gubernato- There have been a couple All rights reserved. Photocopy- rial run that May. Later that month, of stories focusing on a Pence presi- ing, Internet forwarding, fax- Daniels stunned Hoosier Republicans dential run this year, but most of the ing or reproducing in any form, when he announced that he, too, gathering 2016 field has been focused would not seek the White House, cit- on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, U.S. whole or part, is a violation of ing his family “female caucus.” Sens. Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Rand federal law without permission Pence’s name has come up Paul, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (who from the publisher. v in Indiana circles about a potential will address the Indiana GOP Fall Din- 2016 candidacy. The White House will ner later this year) and former Florida be open after two terms by President Gov. Jeb Bush. v HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 Bond Buyer Magazine just named the East End Bridge at Pence priority, from page 1 the top and most innovative project in the country. We’re measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Indiana going to finish that under budget and ahead of schedule.” Department of Workforce Development. Pence continued, “I’m committed to finishing I-69 2.) New investment with emphasis on manu- all the way to Indianapolis. Very shortly we’re going to facturing, agriculture, life sciences and logistics: As open up that bypass around Kokomo on 31. My inclination measured by investment (known as “total deals”) reported is to look at other infrastructure needs around the state by the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana Univer- and see where we can enhance infrastructure in the short sity; term as we finish the longer term projects.” 3.) Improving math and reading skills of Pence said he was “excited” about his Blue Rib- elementary students: As measured by I- READ3 and bon panel on infrastructure and said that when he brings ISTEP+ results from the Indiana Department of Education; those stakeholders together, he asks, “What does infra- 4.) Increas- structure look like in 20 years? In 30 years? In 50 years?” ing graduation rates: The Pence legislative agenda will include expanding Measuring by Indiana’s early learning programs. “I will tell you that we have been non- waiver graduation making a very careful study of early learning. I have been rate from the Indiana studying a number of pre-K programs around the state. I Department of Educa- was in Evansville last week and (have seen those in) North- tion; ern Indiana and a couple in Central Indiana. We’re going 5.) Improv- to have some proposals to expand access to quality early ing the quality of the learning for disadvantaged families.” Hoosier workforce: As And the governor said he will be “leaning into” ca- measured by the Ameri- reer pathway issues. “We’ll have a proposal on focusing on can Community Survey making college more affordable,” he said. “We made a little and STATS Indiana; progress on that last session.” 6.) Improving On the education front, Pence said there will be the health, safety and proposals “promoting more opportunities for our teachers. well-being of Hoosier We’ve got a couple of very fresh ideas about promoting families, especially innovation in the classroom, for high performing teachers, children: As measured by the Kids Count Data Center making sure that we’ll have some ideas on charter schools, from the Annie Casey Foundation. making them more economically viable.” With some specificity, Pence talked of a “couple of A couple of obvious things not on Gov. Pence’s broad strokes that I haven’t mentioned anywhere publicly.” short list here are issues relating to the health of Hoosiers, “We’re going to have some proposals for tax reform as well as what House Speaker Brian Bosma has identified that are specifically focused on spurring new investment as the “skills gap.” and making Indiana more competitive with a particular eye In an interview with HPI last summer, Bosma toward our neighboring states,” the governor said. “We are observed, “We have to take substantive action to address deep into a tough competition for jobs. We’re holding our two items: The skills gap, which is a consequence of almost own in Indiana. We have actually added jobs in the Hoosier a million Hoosiers not having the high tech skills to suc- state, and we have significant encouraging numbers in the ceed in today’s high tech economy, and what I believe I area of manufacturing.