TERRE HAUTE —
Gov. Mike Pence ended his day in Terre Haute on Thursday by speaking to a large group of Republican Party faithful during the Lincoln Day dinner.
He was joined by his wife, Karen, and state officeholders Connie Lawson, secretary of state, and Richard Mourdock, state treasurer.
Also attending were 8th District Congressman Larry Bucshon and Indiana Republican Party Chairman Eric Holcomb.
“We’ve had a great day here in Vigo County,” Pence said as he spoke at the Meadows Banquet Center. “We just feel so at home in Terre Haute and West Central Indiana.”
When Pence recognized Mayor Duke Bennett, he joked, “I didn’t think mayors were supposed to be re-elected in Terre Haute. I thought there was like a law against it. And I sure didn’t think Republican mayors were supposed to be re-elected, especially by such a wide margin. But it’s because Duke Bennett is an extraordinary leader,” Pence said.
During his speech, Pence again made a strong pitch for his proposal to lower the personal income tax rate to Hoosiers through a permanent 10-percent cut.
Because of Indiana’s record surplus, the state can pass a balanced budget, increase funding for priorities “and still have more than enough to give every Hoosier an across-the-board permanent cut in income taxes,” Pence said.
He also addressed another priority, career and vocational education.
“Our schools need to work for all of our kids, regardless of where they start in life and regardless of where they want to start in life,” he said.
Pence said he was raised to believe that all honest work is honorable work.
“The reality is that in the last 30 years, our schools have drifted into a pattern where more often than not all of our kids are put into a pathway that is essentially a college preparatory education,” he said.
Yet the reality also is that throughout Indiana, including the Wabash Valley, there are many good-paying jobs available — yet they go unfilled because high school graduates and other adults don’t have the skills and background to fill them, Pence said.
While students should be encouraged to attend college, if they choose, “for any young person ready to get a job after high school rather than a degree, I think our high schools need to work for them, too,” he said.
In an interview after his speech, he said he is “very encouraged that we are getting overwhelming bipartisan support to make career and vocational education a priority.”
Vigo County is an example of a community where business and education have come together to promote career and vocational education, he said.
Throughout the state, he wants business people and educators working together on a regional basis to develop career pathways that will lead to jobs in the community.
While he’s proposed some funding for vocational education, he believes the first step is getting businesses and educators together.
“I’m convinced that while there will be a role for the state of Indiana to play in education spending, I’m convinced businesses are ready, willing and able to be more effective partners with our local high schools when we will better connect that career education in high school with the businesses that are in that community,” Pence said.
Asked about the high cost of equipment and technology in some of the career-technical programs, he said, “We want to encourage businesses to be retiring equipment to our high schools, donating it to our high schools,” and also helping to develop curriculum to better prepare students for the jobs that are out there.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
News
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Pleased: Indiana governor Mike Pence meets Abbie Gentry, daughter of Vigo County Republican Party chairman Randy Gentry, second from left. Also pictured is Abbie's bother Aaron. Pence was arriving at the annual Lincoln Day dinner.
Discussion
Gov. Pence ends Terre Haute visit at Lincoln Day Dinner
- News
-
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Is it regulation that doesn’t make sense or evening the playing field?
I’m not much of a drinker, so I haven’t spent much time thinking about how Indiana’s alcohol laws personally impact me, but that changed last fall when my daughter got married.
-
For Piper: Annual ‘Rush the Punter’ event dedicated to Dixie Bee student who died Wednesday after a short illness
Steve Weatherford’s “Rush the Punter” fundraiser at Fairbanks Park on Saturday was dedicated to a little girl who lost her life unexpectedly to pneumonia.
-
Vigo schools prepare to tighten belts
State funding for the Vigo County School Corp. will remain “pretty flat” for the next two years, said Donna Wilson, chief financial officer.
-
Veterans take to the trees
Cristal Bednar took photos of her husband, Justin, as he laboriously climbed his way up a “Dangle-Duo” to get to a zipline at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Outdoor Center.
-
Property owner seeks halt to Hulman Lake dam project
A Terre Haute property owner is seeking an injunction that would at least temporarily halt the city’s work on the Hulman Lake dam project.
-
Tornado veterans balance preparedness, practicality
Few things in nature are less predictable than a tornado. They can form quickly. They strike weirdly, leveling one building while leaving its neighbor untouched. They can fling a car a half-mile and turn a piece of lumber into a wall-piercing missile.
-
ISU unveils interactive Bayh Family Legacy Wall at school
A who’s who of Indiana Democrats paid tribute to Evan Bayh and several generations of the Bayh family Friday during a dedication of a new interactive display at Indiana State University.
-
Can you smell me now?
A contraband cell phone has been discovered by the Vigo County Jail’s youngest and most unique officer.
-
GIVING BACK: Steve Weatherford buys shoes for kids day before charity run
Terre Haute’s Steve Weatherford, punter for the 2012 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, showed once again his generosity Friday by donating new athletic shoes to more than two dozen Vigo County kids.
- More News Headlines
-
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Today in History May 22
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
