Mike Pence is the future Vice President in the Trump administration beginning in 2017. Pence was formerly the republican Governor of Indiana. Pence began his career as a lawyer after receiving a law degree from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where he was the president of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. After delving into law for a few years, he joined a free-market think tank known as the Indiana Policy Review Foundation. After two years with the think tank, he began and hosted The Mike Pence Show, a talk radio show. Pence described the show by saying it is “Rush Limbaugh on decaf.” After the show, Pence had a platform and began his career in politics.
In the definitive times we currently face it is important that our leaders are focused on the challenging problems awaiting us in the future. So, to understand Mike Pence and his political views it is important to look at what he has voted on. Analyzing voting records is a valid way of analyzing the views and character of a politician. Pence's voting records were found on ontheissues.org, a website documenting congressional voting records.
On the economy, Pence is a fan of decreasing regulation and decreasing taxes to spur economic growth. This is shown when he voted no on regulating the subprime mortgage industry in 2007. Decreasing regulation in this sector indeed did spur economic growth. That is, until the economy crashed in 2008, in large part due to the unregulated subprime market. In addition, he voted no on multiple economic stimulus programs after the crash of 2008. This was against the urgent recommendations of members of the Federal Reserve to salvage the economy. Pence eventually voted yes on the anti-recession stimulus spending package in 2009 after voting no on several attempts. He voted no on monitoring TARP funds to ensure mortgage relief. He voted yes on terminating the Home Affordable Mortgage Program and restricting bankruptcy rules.
On the environment, Pence does not acknowledge climate change as a threat. He lives in a state where non-durable goods like factory farming, coal and oil, account for 38% of the GDP, according to the bureau of economic analysis, meaning Pence has to answer to his electorate consisting of energy and farming companies. This reflects in his voting record. He has voted no on: investing in homegrown biofuels, tax credits for renewable energy, tax incentives for energy production and conservation, incentives for alternative fuels and prohibiting oil drilling and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He voted yes on barring the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases, speeding up approvals for forest thinning projects and reauthorizing “critical habitats,” for endangered species. Pence believes regulating these industries will cost jobs. However, it is widely known in the business world that huge profit lies in renewable energy. Renewable energy is a rapidly rising industry. It is essential now that Pence represents a larger electorate he recognizes that the majority of Americans recognize climate change as a dire threat and he can help contribute to domestic and international collaboration.
On jobs, Pence has increased jobs in Indiana. Indiana’s unemployment rate has been cut in half since 2013 from about 8.5% to 4.5%. This has in part been due to the Shale Oil boom. He voted yes on ending offshore tax havens to promote small business and on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports. He voted no on restricting employe interference in union organizing.
On healthcare, Pence wants to replace Obamacare, does not want to regulate the prices of life-saving drugs and says Medicaid is a broken system. Pence believes in healthcare that is chosen by the consumer and the consumer has a bigger say in their health. He voted no on: regulating tobacco as a drug, expanding the children health insurance program, giving mental health full equity with physical health and expanding Medicare. He voted yes on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay, limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to 250,000 in damages, small businesses associations for buying health insurance, repealing the “Prevention and Public Health,” slush fund and the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax and spending cuts.
