This just in: Gov. Mike Pence has pulled the plug on the state-run news service that has drawn ridicule and criticism from all over the nation and both sides of the political aisle.
If you missed it, the Indianapolis Star earlier this week broke the news after receiving planning documents that spoke of having press secretaries write “stories” and having the “news service,” dubbed Just IN, compete with other independent media outlets on stories.
The plan quickly escalated into a debacle, and after becoming an object of ridicule, being compared to North Korea and China, Pence withdrew the idea.
But we’re starting to see a pattern here.
Earlier this month, a proposal was brought up in the General Assembly that would allow Pence to run for president and governor on the same ticket.
Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, submitted legislation that would let Pence seek both offices in 2016. His focus, Delph said, was clearing “obstacles” to a potential Pence White House run, to draw national attention to the state.
Pence called a proposal that would allow him to seek the White House without having to sacrifice the governor’s office “well-intentioned,” but would not dismiss the controversial measure. In fact, he told the Star, “Well, it seems like a well-intentioned distraction. It’s not on our agenda. It’s not our focus.”
That proposal, too, was dropped.
But we must ask what is Pence’s focus?
His health care proposal, Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0, was met with accolades. It expands on the federal Medicaid program by injecting personal responsibility into the health care system, which is aimed at assisting those in need.
He has also sent correspondence to Washington, D.C., over President Barack Obama’s immigration policy, even going as far as threatening to sue Obama over the plan until the suit was nixed by Attorney General Greg Zoeller.
In fact, it appears much of Pence’s focus has been on what’s happening on the federal level.
Meanwhile, he’s said very little on the education problems facing Indiana, nor has he offered up much on the methamphetamine battle and what it will take to curb the manufacturing of that drug within Indiana’s borders. He’s also staying mum on the new costs associated with the revamped criminal justice system.
Perhaps he was waiting to talk about those issues when it could be spun through Just IN?
Here’s some advice for the governor: Enough with the distractions. Indiana is important enough to warrant your entire focus. Despite a solid financial state created by your predecessor, our Hoosier state still faces many serious challenges. Now isn’t the time for politicking; it’s the time to take serious the job Hoosiers entrusted you with when they elected you governor of Indiana. Yes, Indiana, and we deserve nothing but your full, undivided attention.