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BizVoice
/Indiana Chamber –
September/October 2012
economic development entity at the University of Southern
Indiana.
Referencing the dynamic and creative culture driver in the
Indiana Vision 2025
economic development plan being led by
the Indiana Chamber, Ellspermann says, “I’m thrilled to hear
the Chamber speak as much to small business and entrepreneurship.
Why not have a renaissance of entrepreneurship in Indiana?
Why not here? We have a lot of the beginnings of it. We have
great companies. We have great research institutions. We have
the business climate. Let’s do it.”
In 2011, Ellspermann authored legislation regarding young
entrepreneurs. Implementation is the next step, she explains.
“Until that time, we didn’t have a mechanism for young
entrepreneurs coming out of our universities, getting degrees
in entrepreneurship, to be linked with communities that
wanted them. So the vast majority historically have taken jobs
in existing organizations instead of going out and starting the
business they built a business plan for.”
Roads and coal
When the topic is infrastructure, a common question is
where is the money going to come from to meet upcoming
needs. Pence believes an initial step must take place first.
“I’m someone who has always believed roads mean jobs.
But the challenge Indiana faces right now is that at the time
Major Moves came along, there was a lot in the cupboard.
INDOT (Indiana Department of Transportation) and a lot of
stakeholders had done a lot of thinking and a lot of planning
about what needed to be done.
“What I’m been told now,” he continues, “is that we have
somewhat of the opposite situation … that while Major Moves
has a foreseeable end to it, the five-year, 10-year, 20-year plan
for Indiana could use some work. Before we talk about how
we fund the next generation of infrastructure in Indiana, I
think we need to pull all the stakeholders in Indiana together
and ask what needs to be done.
Pence affirms a commitment to completing Interstate 69 from
Evansville to Indianapolis as well as other identified priorities.
Ellspermann adds that public-private partnerships (legislation
establishing authority for additional P3s was passed in 2011)
need to be part of the mix in order to help leverage additional
funding.
When the topic turns to federal efforts to stymie coal,
Pence is blunt. “I think we’re in need of new management in
Washington, D.C., especially in the administration and EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency). He repeated his assertion
when cap and trade legislation was trying to
be moved through Congress that it (and
subsequent regulatory actions against coal) is
“nothing short of an economic declaration of
war on the Midwest.”
The solution: “Indiana needs to continue
to lead the effort to stand for environmentally
responsible uses for our traditional sources
of energy – coal, but oil and natural gas as
well. I’m also pleased to see Indiana be on
the leading edge of alternative sources of energy,” he contends.
“I’ve always said my view of energy is I’m an ‘all of the above’
person. As Daniel Webster wrote in the last century, ‘Let us
develop the natural resources of our land, call forth our powers …’ ”
Bridging gaps
Pence has never been shy to express his views on the
so-called social issues. Supporters praise him; opponents attack
him. He won’t change his opinions, but defines how such
topics would be addressed in his administration.
“It comes down to a difference between the urgent and
the important. For me, a respect for life and the importance of
traditional family are foundational. But I think this election is
about jobs and schools,” he states. “Because the reality is for all
the progress Indiana has made, we’ve still got more than
quarter million Hoosiers out of work and we still have thousands
of young people that drop out of high school every year. We’ve
The Pence-Ellspermann team is joined by family at the Indiana GOP State Convention. At
left is Jim Mehling, Ellspermann’s husband, with Karen Pence and son Michael (at right).
Pence speaks with employees at Damon Products in Mishawaka, while
Ellspermann joins volunteers at the Linton Freedom Festival Parade.