Pence is a Daniels 2.0

Gov. Mike Pence is another, weaker form of former Gov. Mitch Daniels.

With few groundbreaking efforts made in his first nine months in office, I’m not looking forward to his next three years.

Pence’s first line of duty once inaugurated into office Jan. 14 was to veto or sign legislation of the 2013 General Assembly.

He vetoed all of three bills — an anesthesiologist assistant licensure, diabetes educators licensure and tax administration. Two vetoes were upheld and the third on tax administration was overridden by a vote of the General Assembly.

With a Republican supermajority in both the House and Senate of the assembly, Pence had ample opportunity to spearhead legislation, to veto any “liberal” bills or to make a political statement for his future governance.

But no, he simply won’t allow anesthesiologist assistants or diabetes educators to become licensed.

The vetoes might make a difference to those in the elite medical community, but to the everyday Joe, it doesn’t mean anything at all.

Continuing down the path of mediocrity, Pence has decided to take a stab at executive orders. Executive orders are a governor’s declaration that have the force of law, usually based on existing statutory powers and requiring no action by the state legislature.

Pence has put forward 21 executive orders thus far. Former governor Daniels averaged 22 executive orders a year during his eight years in office.

Twelve of the 22 had nothing to do with his policies or a political statement — nine were mere continuations of the previous administration’s executive orders, one was a retraction of a 2011 executive order, another declared a flood disaster and one renamed a bridge. 

So, in all reality, he had 10 executive orders to call his own, only one of which caused any political debate.

Executive order 13-21 created the Center for Education and Career Innovation, which is a new agency that will work to prepare students to face the Indiana economy. As many know, Daniels was known for his controversial educational plans. Pence trying to do the same is no shock.

If I were a Republican, I would be worried for the governor of Indiana.

Without much more than one true political act to better education, voters lose interest and reelection could be a struggle.

If I were a Democrat, I’d be slightly fearful.

With Daniels 2.0, who has blatant disregard for Superintendent Glenda Ritz, educational matters could go haywire and the legislative supermajority could spiral out of control.

Thankfully for Indiana, Pence has another three years to impress us and to work to better our state.

Let’s hope during the remaining time in office, he can break away from the Daniels namesake and forge his own political path. 

With a quarter of his first term almost over and not much to show for it, I’m not holding my breath.

­— andlzimm@indiana.ed
Follow columnist Andrea Zimmerman on Twitter @andreaLZimm.