Former Vice President Mike Pence doubled down on his image of being the traditional, steady conservative in the rambunctious Republican presidential primary, speaking to hundreds of legislators Wednesday morning in Indianapolis almost exclusively about his plan to what he called restore states’ rights if elected president in 2024.
But he also reiterated what he’s now said publicly many times on former President Donald Trump’s indictments, this time wrapping in the latest indictment out of Georgia alleging a conspiracy to overturn the election results there in 2020.
“The Georgia election was not stolen and I had no right to overturn the election on Jan. 6,” Pence said.
To a warm reception at a Republican lawmaker breakfast at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Legislative Summit, Pence waxed poetic about federalism and the 10th Amendment, announcing a five-point plan to give more power to the states that includes eliminating whole federal departments and mandates.
“You hire me on as president of the United States, we’re gonna trust states every single day,” Pence said.
And Pence couldn’t resist giving a pretty spot-on impression of former President George W. Bush, at the behest of Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers.
His last public stop in Indianapolis was at the Indiana State Fair earlier this month, where he talked at length about the economy and his critical take on Trump’s latest federal indictment.
Pence takes the national stage next week in the first Republican presidential debate. He’s one of at least eight candidates who have announced that they met the donor threshold, including Trump, though Trump has not committed to participating in the debate.
‘Big government is back with a vengeance’
After touting his own record during the Trump Administration removing regulations at the Environmental Protection Agency and the federal register — a sort of notebook about rules and public notices of funding opportunities —Pence criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for attempting to strengthen the federal government’s role in areas Pence believes should be under the states’ domain, such as elections and land use.
He referenced increased rules and regulations in the Securities and Exchange Commission, Biden’s rescinding of health care waivers, and an executive order directing federal agencies to assist with voter registration efforts.
“Big government is back with a vengeance under the Biden administration,” he said.
Pence’s unveils plan to strengthen state control
Pence announced for the first time his plan to strengthen state control. Some of the key proposals include:
- Eliminate the Department of Education and return its $24 billion to the states.
- Eliminate complex requirements attached to federal highway formula dollars and give that money to states in the form of block grants with “no strings attached.”
- Eliminate Affordable Care Act mandates and instead give states flexible block grants to spend on health care policy
- Sell some of the federal government’s 640 million acres of land to the states
- Prohibit any unfunded federal mandates or regulations that impose a cost on states
Pence dodges question about pardoning Trump
A member of the audience asked Pence how he would differentiate himself from Trump on the debate stage, if Trump participates, and whether Pence, if elected president and if Trump is convicted, would pardon him.
Pence did not answer the second question. To the first, he described his move back to Indiana after the White House, his 5-acre pond and John Deere tractor, his desire to let people get to know him.
“I’m well known but I don’t think I’m known well,” Pence said.
As vice president, he took a servant role, prepared to assist but not take the spotlight, he said. He mentioned the infamous fly that seems to be the spotlight of his time debating Vice President Kamala Harris. So he’s hoping for the chance to present his fiscally conservative vision for the future, which he believes is different from Trump’s vision.
“I hope he comes, I really do,” he said of Trump. “I’ve debated Donald trump a thousand times. Just not with the cameras on.”
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.
