| | Pence's successor, the conservative [[Mitch Daniels]], had been effective in boosting the state's economy, and Pence continued his policies. The Indiana economy continued to improve, and Pence cut taxes by $1.1 billion in 2013, which was the largest tax cut in state history.<ref name="Bio"/> In addition, Indiana has the seventh lowest tax burden or any state in 2013, and in 2014 Pence signed a law that will decrease the state corporate tax by 1.6 percent by 2021.<ref name="Eason10things"/> While liberals expect tax cuts to increase budget deficits, by 2016 Indiana actually had a $2 billion surplus,<ref name="Bio"/> and unemployment dropped by 3.4 percent since his term began.<ref name="Eason10things"/> | | Pence's successor, the conservative [[Mitch Daniels]], had been effective in boosting the state's economy, and Pence continued his policies. The Indiana economy continued to improve, and Pence cut taxes by $1.1 billion in 2013, which was the largest tax cut in state history.<ref name="Bio"/> In addition, Indiana has the seventh lowest tax burden or any state in 2013, and in 2014 Pence signed a law that will decrease the state corporate tax by 1.6 percent by 2021.<ref name="Eason10things"/> While liberals expect tax cuts to increase budget deficits, by 2016 Indiana actually had a $2 billion surplus,<ref name="Bio"/> and unemployment dropped by 3.4 percent since his term began.<ref name="Eason10things"/> |
| − | Pence became nationally famous in 2015 for initially defending a new religious freedom law for Indiana businesses that would have enabled them to decline supporting the [[homosexual agenda]], such as in being forced to bake a cake for [[Same-sex "marriage"|homosexual couples]].<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Eason10things"/> Ultimately Pence compromised based on intense pressure from the [[liberal media]], by adding protection for [[sexual orientation]] into Indiana law.<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Eason10things"/> While many conservatives considered Pence's move a betrayal, subsequent events showed that Pence did stand up more against the homosexual agenda than virtually any other governor, including other Republicans such as [[Greg Abbott]] and [[Chris Christie]]. | + | Pence became nationally famous in 2015 for initially defending a new religious freedom law for Indiana businesses that would have enabled them to decline supporting the [[homosexual agenda]], such as in being forced to bake a cake for [[Same-sex "marriage"|homosexual couples]].<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Eason10things"/> Ultimately Pence compromised based on intense pressure from the [[liberal media]], by adding protection for [[sexual orientation]] into Indiana law.<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Eason10things"/> While many conservatives considered Pence's move a betrayal, subsequent events showed that Pence did stand up more against the [[homosexual agenda]] than virtually any other governor, including other Republicans such as [[Greg Abbott]] and [[Chris Christie]]. |
| | In addition, Pence is [[pro-life]], and in 2016 he signed a bill into law that stops abortions when the [[Human being|unborn human being]] has a disability.<ref name="Bio"/> | | In addition, Pence is [[pro-life]], and in 2016 he signed a bill into law that stops abortions when the [[Human being|unborn human being]] has a disability.<ref name="Bio"/> |
| − | Soon after the election, the conservative Pence replaced the moderate Chris Christie, who is facing serious allegations in a scandal, as the head of Trump's transition team.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/11/pence-reportedly-taking-over-transition-effort-from-christie.html Pence replaces Christie in Trump transition team shuffle]. ''Fox News''. November 11, 2016.</ref> One of his first decisions as head was to remove every lobbyist, who had been appointed by Christie, from the team, in order to "drain the swamp" in [[Washington D.C.]]<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/16/pence-removing-lobbyists-from-trump-transition-team.html Pence removing lobbyists from Trump transition team]. ''Fox News''. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.</ref><ref>Jaffe, Alexandra (Novemer 16, 2016). [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/pence-removes-lobbyists-trump-transition-team-controversial-names-remain-n684836 Mike Pence Orders Lobbyists Be Removed From Transition Team]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved November 17, 2016.</ref> On the same day, the team announced that all [[Trump Administration]] officials would be placed under a five-year lobbying ban after leaving, which is much stricter than the ban by the transition team of the previous president, [[Barack Obama]].<ref>Arnsdorf, Isaac & Vogel, Kenneth P. (November 16, 2016). [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/donald-trump-lobbying-ban-231534 Trump team announces tough lobbying ban]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 17, 2016.</ref> The transition team under Pence's leadership reportedly completed its work on time and 20 percent under budget.<ref>Miller, S.A. (January 19, 2017). [http://washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/19/pence-trump-transition-finishing-time-under-budget/ Mike Pence: Trump transition finishing on time, under budget]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 8, 2017.</ref> | + | Soon after the election, the conservative Pence replaced the moderate [[Chris Christie]], who is facing serious allegations in a scandal, as the head of Trump's transition team.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/11/pence-reportedly-taking-over-transition-effort-from-christie.html Pence replaces Christie in Trump transition team shuffle]. ''Fox News''. November 11, 2016.</ref> One of his first decisions as head was to remove every lobbyist, who had been appointed by Christie, from the team, in order to "drain the swamp" in [[Washington D.C.]]<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/16/pence-removing-lobbyists-from-trump-transition-team.html Pence removing lobbyists from Trump transition team]. ''Fox News''. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.</ref><ref>Jaffe, Alexandra (Novemer 16, 2016). [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/pence-removes-lobbyists-trump-transition-team-controversial-names-remain-n684836 Mike Pence Orders Lobbyists Be Removed From Transition Team]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved November 17, 2016.</ref> On the same day, the team announced that all [[Trump Administration]] officials would be placed under a five-year lobbying ban after leaving, which is much stricter than the ban by the transition team of the previous president, [[Barack Obama]].<ref>Arnsdorf, Isaac & Vogel, Kenneth P. (November 16, 2016). [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/donald-trump-lobbying-ban-231534 Trump team announces tough lobbying ban]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 17, 2016.</ref> The transition team under Pence's leadership reportedly completed its work on time and 20 percent under budget.<ref>Miller, S.A. (January 19, 2017). [http://washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/19/pence-trump-transition-finishing-time-under-budget/ Mike Pence: Trump transition finishing on time, under budget]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 8, 2017.</ref> |
| | Vice President Pence became the first vice president in United States history to speak at the annual [[March for Life]] march in Washington D.C. in 2017.<ref>Sells, Heather (January 27, 2017). [http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2017/january/trump-administration-rallies-behind-march-for-life VP Mike Pence Making History at the March for Life]. ''CBN News''. Retrieved January 27, 2017.</ref><ref>Hickey, Jennifer (January 27, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/01/27/massive-attendance-at-march-for-life-could-extend-crowd-size-chatter.html 'Life is winning': Pence fired up March for Life crowd]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 27, 2017.</ref> | | Vice President Pence became the first vice president in United States history to speak at the annual [[March for Life]] march in Washington D.C. in 2017.<ref>Sells, Heather (January 27, 2017). [http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2017/january/trump-administration-rallies-behind-march-for-life VP Mike Pence Making History at the March for Life]. ''CBN News''. Retrieved January 27, 2017.</ref><ref>Hickey, Jennifer (January 27, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/01/27/massive-attendance-at-march-for-life-could-extend-crowd-size-chatter.html 'Life is winning': Pence fired up March for Life crowd]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 27, 2017.</ref> |