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Mike Pence

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Mike Pence
Governor of Indiana
Elect
Assuming office
January 14, 2013
LieutenantSue Ellspermann (Elect)
SucceedingMitch Daniels
Chairperson the House Republican Conference
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
LeaderJohn Boehner
Preceded byAdam Putnam
Succeeded byJeb Hensarling
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 6th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2003
Preceded byDan Burton
Succeeded byLuke Messer (Elect)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded byDavid McIntosh
Succeeded byChris Chocola
Personal details
Born
Michael Richard Pence

(1959-06-07) June 7, 1959 (age 65)
Columbus, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materHanover College
Indiana University, Indianapolis

Michael Richard "Mike" Pence (born June 7, 1959) is the U.S. Representative for Indiana's 6th district, and previously the 2nd district, serving since 2001. The 6th District covers much of eastern Indiana. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Pence is the former chairman of the House Republican Conference.[1] After the 2010 election Pence said he would not run for re-election to chair.[2] On May 5, 2011, Pence officially announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for Governor of Indiana in 2012.[3][4] Pence's announcement was anticipated by his resignation of his leading position in the GOP caucus in the House. He won the race for governor over Democratic nominee John R. Gregg and Libertarian Party nominee Rupert Boneham in the general election on November 6.

Early life, education and career

Pence was born in Columbus, Indiana, one of six children of Nancy Jane (née Cawley) and Edward J. Pence, Jr., who ran a string of gas stations.[5][6] His family was of Irish Catholic background (Pence later converted to Evangelical Christianity).[7] He was named after his grandfather, Richard Michael Cawley, a Chicago bus driver who came to the United States from Ireland through Ellis Island.[8] He attended Columbus North High School, graduated from Hanover College in 1981, and earned his J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1986. While at Hanover, Pence joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, serving as his chapter's president.[9]

Personal life

Pence and his wife Karen have three children: Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey. Michael is a student at Purdue University. Pence is a declared Christian and attends Community Church of Greenwood in Greenwood, Indiana. The Pence family lives in Arlington, Virginia while Congress is in session.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

He is the former chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative House Republicans. He was succeeded in the 110th Congress by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). He has stated his support of Israel and its right to attack facilities in Iran to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons, has defended the actions of Israel in its use of deadly force in enforcing the blockade of Gaza and has referred to Israel as "America's most cherished ally"[10] Pence claims to have been influenced by Traditionalist Russell Kirk and holds some views that are in line with Traditionalist Conservatism and Burkean philosophy.

Fiscal issues

Spending limits

Pence is a cosponsor of a Spending Limit Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment would limit federal spending to one-fifth of the American economy - the historical average since WWII.[11]

Hurricane Katrina

In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina struck the Louisiana coast and in the midst of the clean up, Pence called a press conference announcing $24 billion in spending cuts, saying "... [W]e must not let Katrina break the bank.[12]

Earmarks

Pence was a supporter of earmark reform. He voted against the $139.7 billion Transportation-Treasury spending bill in June 2006, and in favor of a series of amendments proposed that same month by Jeff Flake that would strip other members’ earmarks from the federal budget. Pence, however, has in the past secured several of his own earmark projects. Pence earmarked $500,000 for the “Transit Acquisition and Intermodal Facility Project” in his state, as well as $250,000 for construction of a park in Portland, Indiana. Pence also secured earmarks for inclusion in a Labor-Health and Human Services 2007FY bill. This included $200,000 for both Ball State University’s Center for School Innovation in Muncie, Ind. and to the Madison County Community Health Center in Anderson Ind. Pence also secured $100,000 for Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus, Ind. When confronted with this, a spokesman for Pence’s confirmed the projects, stating, “Mr. Pence stands by his earmark requests."[13]

Civil liberties and social issues

Fairness Doctrine

Pence has opposed the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine, as he believes that it would "censor the airwaves of American talk radio and American Christian radio".[14] The Doctrine has not been in effect since 1987 and in 2011, was formally removed from the FCC guidelines by the FCC.

Online gambling

Pence is an advocate of federal restrictions of online gambling. In 2006, he along with 34 others cosponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act[15] and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.[16]

Immigration reform

In June 2006, Pence unveiled a plan he describes as "no amnesty immigration reform" consisting of increased border security, followed by strict enforcement of laws against hiring illegal aliens, and a guest worker program. This guest worker program requires potential participants to apply from their home country to government-approved job placement agencies that match workers with employers who cannot find Americans for the job.[17] The plan has received support from conservative leaders such as Dick Armey.[18] Pat Buchanan described this as "stealth amnesty," claiming that it is merely a "one week vacation" for illegal immigrants to return to their home country to apply for jobs under the program.[19] Others (Phyllis Schlafly and Tom Tancredo) have criticized Pence's plan.[20][21]

Religious views

Pence attended Catholic schools in an Irish Catholic family. However, it was not until college that he had a spiritual awakening. There, Pence said he met young men and women who talked about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.[22] Congressman Pence describes himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order."[23] However, his views on the origin of species are "mixed" and "an open question." [24][25]

Marriage and family issues

Pence has referred to Harvard sociologist Pitirim Sorokin's findings that throughout history, societal collapse was brought about by the deterioration of marriage and family.[26] Based on Sorokin's findings and his faith, Pence supports the Defense of Marriage Act.

Foreign policy and national security

Iraq Resolution

Pence supported the joint resolution authorizing military action against Iraq, otherwise known as the Iraq Resolution.[27] The resolution cited factors including Iraq's noncompliance with the conditions of the 1991 ceasefire agreement, including interference with U.N. weapons inspectors, Iraq's "brutal repression of its civilian population," and Iraq's hostility towards the United States as demonstrated by the 1993 assassination attempt on former President George H. W. Bush and firing on coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones following the 1991 Gulf War as reasons for taking action.[28]

Visit to Iraq

During the Iraq War, he opposed setting a public withdrawal date from Iraq. During an April 2007 visit to Baghdad, Pence and John McCain visited Shorja market, the site of a deadly attack in February, 2007, that claimed the lives of 61 people. During the visit, Pence and Senator John McCain were accompanied by General David Petraeus. Pence and McCain described the visit as evidence that the security situation in Iraqi markets have improved. Pence said he was deeply moved by his ability to "mix and mingle unfettered among ordinary Iraqis" and to have tea and haggle over the price of a rug. The Shorja market, he said, was "like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summer time."[29] The visit was criticized by the New York Times as giving a false indication of how secure the area was due to the extremely heavy security forces McCain brought with him. The visit to the market took place under large security including helicopters overhead.[30]

Guantanamo Bay detention camp

Mike Pence is opposed to shutting down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and trying the suspected terrorists in the US. He believes that trying detainees inside the United States puts “international public relations ahead of public safety and makes a mockery of American justice”.[31] Pence believes that “the Obama administration must overturn this wrongheaded decision”.[31] As an alternative, Pence has said that the "enemy combatants" should be tried in a military tribunal.[31]

Controversial Statements

After the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Affordable Care Act on June 28, 2012 he was quoted by sources at a closed door meeting as likening the ruling upholding the Democratic health care law to the September 11 terrorist attacks.[32] He immediately apologized for making the statement.[33]

Political campaigns

Congressional campaigns

Pence ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1988 and 1990, losing to longtime Democratic incumbent Phil Sharp with the direct endorsement of President Ronald Reagan. Many[who?] considered Pence's political future dead at that point.

In 2000, Pence was elected after six-year incumbent David M. McIntosh opted to run for governor of Indiana. His first term in Congress began in January 2001. The 6th District comprises all or portions of 19 counties in eastern Indiana, and was numbered as the 2nd District during his first term in Congress. He has been reelected four more times by comfortable margins. In the 2006 House elections, he defeated Democrat Barry Welsh. He was listed as one of the top ten legislators by Esquire magazine in 2008.[34]

2010
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2010 § District 6

Pence had been encouraged by William Kristol of The Weekly Standard,[35] among others, to run in 2010 against incumbent Democratic Senator Evan Bayh.[36][37] Pence led Senator Bayh by a 3 point margin according to Rasmussen polling done on January 21 and 24, 2010.[38] On January 26, 2010, in an open letter to friends and supporters through Facebook, Pence announced his decision not to run for the Senate; he cited his role in the Republican leadership and the belief that Republicans would win back the House in 2010 as his reasons for staying in the House of Representatives.[39]

House Republican leadership campaigns

2006

On November 8, 2006, Mike Pence announced his candidacy for leader of the Republican Party (minority leader) in the United States House of Representatives.[40]

Pence's release announcing his run for minority leader focused on a "return to the values" of the 1994 Republican Revolution.[41] He said regarding the Contract with America: "Our opponents will say that the American people rejected our Republican vision. I say the American people didn't quit on the Contract with America, we did. And in so doing, we severed the bonds of trust between our party and millions of our most ardent supporters..."[41]

Some political analysts, such as Robert D. Novak, say Pence benefited in the long run from the endorsement of numerous organizations and individuals aligned with the party's base. Some of those include Human Events,[42] Laura Ingraham,[43] and Rush Limbaugh.[44] Ingraham stated on her show, "If there is a God in heaven, (Pence) will be the next House minority leader."[43] Pence also received support from the Club for Growth, The Wall Street Journal and David Keene from the American Conservative Union.

On November 17, Pence lost to Representative John Boehner of Ohio by a vote of 168-27-1 (the one vote went to Representative Joe Barton of Texas).[45]

2008

After defeating Reverend Barry Welsh in the 2008 House election, Pence was elected by his GOP colleagues to become the Republican Conference Chairman, the third-highest-ranking Republican leadership position. He ran unopposed and was elected unanimously. He is the first Representative from Indiana to hold a House leadership position since 1981.[1]

Potential presidential campaigns

Mike Pence was mentioned as a possible candidate for President in 2008, but he didn't run. In June 2009, an MSNBC political blog listed him as one of a dozen or so possible Republican candidates for President in 2012.[46] In September 2010, Pence was the top choice for President in a straw poll conducted by the Value Voters Summit.

Pence announced that he would not run for president in the 2012 elections on January 27, 2011. On May 5, 2011, he announced that he will be seeking the Republican nomination for Governor of Indiana in 2012.[47]

2012 gubernatorial campaign

Main article: Indiana gubernatorial election, 2012

Pence won the race for governor in 2012 against Democratic nominee John R. Gregg and Libertarian nominee Rupert Boneham. Incumbent Republican Governor Mitch Daniels is term-limited.

Electoral History

Election Results

2002

Indiana's 6th Congressional District Election (2002)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Pence 118,436 63.79
Democratic Melina Ann Fox 63,871 34.40
Libertarian Doris Robertson 3,346 1.80
Total votes 185,653 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2004

Indiana's 6th Congressional District Election (2004)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Pence* 182,529 67.09
Democratic Melina Ann Fox 85,123 31.29
Libertarian Chad (Wick) Roots 4,397 1.62
Total votes 272,049 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2006

Indiana's 6th Congressional District Election (2006)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Pence* 115,266 60.01
Democratic Barry A. Welsh 76,812 39.99
Total votes 192,078 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2008

Indiana's 6th Congressional District Election (2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Pence* 180,549 63.96
Democratic Barry A. Welsh 94,223 33.38
Libertarian George T. Holland 7,534 2.67
Total votes 282,306 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2010

Indiana's 6th Congressional District Election (2010)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Pence* 126,027 66.57
Democratic Barry A. Welsh 56,647 29.92
Libertarian Talmage "T.J." Thompson, Jr. 6,635 3.51
Total votes 189,309 100.00
Turnout   41
Republican hold

References

Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Mike Pence Official Biography

  1. ^ a b "U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana to get House GOP's No. 3 leadership job". TheIndyChannel.com. November 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-20. [dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Letter of Resignation from House Republican Caucus" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  3. ^ Camia, Catalina (January 27, 2011). "Rep. Pence to skip GOP race for president". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  4. ^ Muskal, Michael (5 May 2011). "Mike Pence to run for Indiana governor". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ http://www.indystar.com/relart/20121006/NEWS05/210060343
  7. ^ http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061115/15pencefacts.htm
  8. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07EEDC113EF93AA1575BC0A9609C8B63
  9. ^ "Hannover College: Mike Pence". Retrieved 2010-04-25. [dead link‍]
  10. ^ http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Full-Interview-With-Congressman-Mike-Pence-101202939.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ Amash, Justin. "H.J.RES.73 Proposing a spending limit amendment to the Constitution of the United State". Library of Congress. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  12. ^ Hulse, Carl (September 16, 2005). "STORM AND CRISIS - CONGRESS - G.O.P. Split Over Big Plans for Storm Spending". United States; New Orleans (La); Louisiana: New York Times. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  13. ^ Cohn, Peter (June 19, 2006). "Earmark foe collects a few for his district". CongressDaily. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  14. ^ "Pence Responds To Pelosi Plan To Restore Fairness Doctrine". Mikepence.house.gov. 2008-07-07. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  15. ^ "Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4411". Thomas.loc.gov. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  16. ^ "Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4777". Thomas.loc.gov. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  17. ^ U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana[dead link‍]
  18. ^ VandeHei, Jim; Babington, Charles (2006-07-25). "Immigration Proposal Aims to Bridge Republican Divide". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  19. ^ "WorldNetDaily: The stealth amnesty of Rep. Mike Pence". Wnd.com. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  20. ^ "Guest Workers Aren't Cheap; They're Expensive - July 2006 Phyllis Schlafly Report". Eagleforum.org. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  21. ^ http://tancredo.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1218
  22. ^ Wishon, Jennifer. "'It All Begins with Faith'". The Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  23. ^ Knight, Danielle. "And Now, Batting Right". US News. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  24. ^ "Interview with Eric Bradner (reporter)". Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  25. ^ "Interview with Eric Bradner (reporter)". Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  26. ^ Congressional Record--House Vol. 152 Pt. 11. Congress. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  27. ^ "Mike Pence". OpenCongress Wiki. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  28. ^ "Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq". White House: Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  29. ^ Raghavan, Sudarsan; al-Izzi, Saad (2007-04-02). "Visiting Iraq, McCain Cites Progress on Safety Issues". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  30. ^ Semple, Kirk (2007-04-03). "McCain Wrong on Iraq Security, Merchants Say - New York Times". Iraq: Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
  31. ^ a b c "Pence Urges President to Overturn "Wrongheaded Decision" Regarding Gitmo Detainees". Mikepence.house.gov. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  32. ^ "Rep. Mike Pence Compares Obamacare Ruling To 9/11". ThinkProgress. Retrieved 12 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "ThinkProgress" ignored (help)
  33. ^ "Health care ruling: Pence likens health care ruling to 9/11 - POLITICO.com". Politico. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  34. ^ "10:01 pm: Challengers face uphill battle". The Herald Bulletin. 2008-10-21. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  35. ^ "Kristol: Draft Pence!". The Weekly Standard. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  36. ^ "Is Pence inspired? - Josh Kraushaar". Politico.Com. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  37. ^ Norman Cox, Capitol Watchdog. "Bayh Criticizes 'Ultraliberal' Leanings After GOP Upset - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis". Theindychannel.com. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  38. ^ "Election 2010: Indiana Senate - Rasmussen Reports". Rasmussenreports.com. 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  39. ^ "Incompatible Browser". Facebook. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  40. ^ U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana[dead link‍]
  41. ^ a b U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana[dead link‍]
  42. ^ "Our View: Mike Pence for Minority Leader". Human Events. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  43. ^ a b The article requested can not be found! (B2,20061117,NEWS02,61117003,AR)[dead link‍]
  44. ^ The article requested can not be found! (B2,20061117,NEWS02,61117003,AR)[dead link‍]
  45. ^ "Boehner elected as Republican leader: Succeeds Hastert in top GOP role in Democratic-controlled House", Associated Press, November 17, 2006
  46. ^ "Curse of the 2012 GOP candidate?". MSNBC. June 24, 2009.
  47. ^ Montopoli, Brian (January 27, 2011). "Mike Pence Says he Won't Run for President". CBS News. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 2nd congressional district
2001–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 6th congressional district
2003–2013 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairperson of the Republican Study Committee
2005–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairperson the House Republican Conference
2009–2011
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Indiana
2012 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Indiana
Elect
2013–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
183rd 		Succeeded by

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