According to GovTrack, Rep. Mike Pence just celebrated his 11th year in Congress, in which time he has sponsored 63 bills and been successful in getting exactly none of them passed; and only gotten three of them out of committee. This is an incredible record of futility. One might conclude that big talk and controversial, unworkable legislation hold much more interest for Rep. Pence than the actual drudgery of governance. That’s not really a big deal when you are lumped in with 434 other people (534 others if you count the Senate), some of whom do have an interest in crafting legislation that keeps the country going.
But, when you’re seeking to be the chief executive of the state, that’s a problem. I don’t know anything about Jim Wallace, and the first thing that jumps out at me is that he seems to have served a stint with Mitt Romney’s Bain and Company. That said, it looks like he’s actually done some stuff; which might be a good quality in someone who wants to be governor of Indiana.
What did Rep. Pence do before Congress? Looks like he had some sort of talk show and worked with the conservative think tank, “The Indiana Policy Review.” Did he have a normal job somewhere in the 80s; between 81 and 83 which I think is the gap between college and law school – between 86 and 90 which I think is the gap between law school and being a professional conservative with the Indiana Policy Review.
I know Rep. Pence is good at saying the kinds of things conservatives like to hear, but I hope the state Republicans give some thought to nominating someone who can function in a somewhat normal capacity outside of the conservative media complex.
I am by no means a fan of Pence. But it is not at all unusual to serve for several years and have few or no bills originate with you that get passed.
The nature of the beast is that it is really hard to get stuff passed.
That’s the problem with these Congresscritters going on to run for other offices. Their voting records can be spun 20 different ways.
Perhaps we already have too many federal laws, and we really don’t need more laws, sponsored by Pence, or otherwise?
Federal laws have expiration dates, even if legislators don’t see the need to create bills there is constant need to maintain the laws on the books.
Maintaining federal statutes is only a part of the legislative duties. Budget issues and other issues constantly arise. I think Doug shows his lack of vision and makes a good case as to why this would be a bad quality for the chief executive of Indiana to possess.
Paul – we certainly do not need any laws sponsored by Pence – that should be a given. But I think Doug is hoping beyond the possible. What Pence shows is that he can get elected.. which means he can peel 51% of the electorate his way.. which isn’t hard in a hard R district. Probably won’t be hard in Indiana with the given climate.
Let’s take a look at what he’s taken a shot at:
2001 – 2002:
#34 bills to suspend tariffs on various chemicals — used in agriculture, if I’m not mistaken
#one bill to criminalize the use of domain names to attract kids to look at dirty pictures (again in 2003-2004); and
#one to posthumously give a promotion to an admiral.
2003 – 2004
#A bill to allow an illegal immigrant named Fatuka Kaikumba Flake to remain in the country. She was apparently a Muncie woman, originally from Sierra Leone, who had become a nurse at Ball Memorial.
#A bill to reduce individual capital gains taxes to 10%
#A bill to eliminate the requirement that health insurance issuers offering health insurance coverage in the small group market in a State to accept every small employer that applies for such coverage. (again in 2005-2006)
#A farm bill that would allow acres used to plant fruits and vegetables to be counted the same as oilseeds.
2005 – 2006
#Campaign finance legislation made it out of committee — would relax contribution limits and restrictions.
#A capital gains tax bill that would allow an inflation adjustment for determining capital gains (again in 2007)
#A child pornography bill.
#A journalist shield bill, the timing and content of which seems to have been designed to protect Judith Miller and Matthew Cooper from giving up Scooter Libby for leaking CIA information in the Plame affair. (I believe he introduced a similar bill in 2011).
2007 – 2008:
#A bill to prevent family grants to be given to an entity that provides abortions (Planned Parenthood defunding, I’m guessing) (a similar bill in 2009-2010, 2011-2012).
#An anti-Fairness Doctrine bill that would prevent the FCC from requiring broadcasters to air opposing viewpoints. (again in 2009-2010 and 2011-2012)
#An election law seeking to repeal disclosure requirements about disbursements for electioneering communications.
2009 – 2010:
#A bill seeking to restrict U.S. loans to the IMF where money would be used to support European countries with debt to GDP rations in excess of 60%.
2011-2012:
#A bill seeking to repeal the sunset of certain tax cuts.
#A bill seeking to remove maximum employment as one of the goals of the Federal Reserve (stable prices and moderate interest rates would be the two remaining goals.)
But Doug he’s such a nice and articulate guy! ;) Pretty sad record but considering the American public elected a guy with a limited number of accomplishments out of Illinois for President just proves you can fool half of the people most of the time! Just to let you know I used to listen to Mike’s radio show and it was thoughtful and he presented both sides fairly. Geez what happened????
The Senator from Illinois carried Indiana.
I went to law school with Pence. I have no recollection of Pence, except that he wrote an insipid cartoon for the Dictum, the student paper. I must have overlooked his nascent brilliance.
Pence is an empty suit with perfect hair. Wallace seems to now how to run a business. Pence does not.The big issue is that Obama will get elected and Pence will run in 2016 leaving our state once again for greener pastures.Pence has become a multi Millionaire because of his position in DC.Our state is nothing but a stepping stone for this egomaniac.
Somebody is running against Pence? I think that you’re mistaken.
Pence is a juggernaut, and Indiana IS a “conservative media complex”, in case you haven’t noticed.
If he were to win would he appoint Mark Souder as his Chief
“Domestic Affairs” adviser?
I can’t find the THREE (3) bills that made it out of committee. Any ideas?
I can find only H.R. 1316 passing out of committee in 2005 which would have allowed bigger political contributions and reduced the campaign finance restrictions.
While I don’t care for Pence, I don’t hold things getting out of committee against him.
To me, your success rate in getting things out of committee is directly proportional to your level of backroom dealing at best, or corruption at worst.
How about his failure to introduce anything of much value?
That’s a feature, not a bug.
Not even a bill to repeal the bad stuff.
Have you learned nothing from your two posts on professional regulation? It is much easier to do no harm than to try to undo bad legislation. Yeah, I wish he would repeal the bad stuff, but this ain’t heaven. I’ll take just not having so many new laws.
How can you say that, Doug?
I’m fairly sure that he increased his own personal “value” (or would “wealth” be a better word here?), promoted his own political “value” (to a distinct, special interest minority), and certainly increased the “value” of his own intellectual prowess (at least in his own mind).
Goodness, one might think that you attach little or no significance to his “real” accomplishments over the last 25 years (or so).
I really am interested in the non-school work experience in the 80s when he wasn’t with the think tank or talking on the radio. I think it says he was a lawyer; so I’m curious what kind of work he was doing.
IIRC, he was scraping by in a private practice while attempting to run for national office on the southside of Indy. That failed run provided him the springboard to the radio gig, then the “think tank” (both being political payoff jobs). His Wiki “bio” seems to skip over all that stuff, but he ran against incumbent Phil Sharp, who he had no chance against (hence the “payoff” jobs for being a good little trooper).