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Gov. Mitch Daniels, (R-Ind.), on the need for the federal government to take on meaningful long-term spending reductions.
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Our next guest considered by many to be a front runner for the Republican presidential nomination until he decided not to Ron.
But he continues to be in the forefront of a number of critical issues.
As the governor of his state those issues include of course obamacare.
The deficit unions abortion education.
Joining us now -- very busy man governor of Indiana Mitch Daniels governor good to have you with us here.
Appreciate being invited.
The governor let's start first with the depth in the deficit.
That is at -- strike -- Washington DC you see a clear path forward that would be helpful through.
The vice president lead discussions to.
To the confrontation between speaker -- and and President Obama.
The path forward can be -- is not clear that.
What's not clear is whether administration prepared to take any meaningful path at all no that the time's a wasting here.
This is as the president's own.
Deficit commission leaders said the most predictable.
Catastrophe we've ever faced and yet they continue to act as though we can keep spending at these.
Unnecessarily high levels.
Indefinitely so.
Now I think that.
The suggestions that have been made so far -- not a bad down payment of dollar of reduction.
Over some period of years for every dollar of debt ceiling increase that's a great starting point.
Don't know why the administration will take them up on.
Governor the the issue of flowers and the debt ceiling -- itself.
Are you.
We are you prepared to counsel your fellow Republicans.
In congress and the senate.
To hold the -- Schilling exactly where it is unless they can find agreement on that commensurate reduction in federal spending.
Well would you know what I have to pay our debts everybody I think agrees with that but you know I really had.
They think that that's.
Unconscionable -- the Obama administration to be holding this thing hostage it.
Because they refuse to get serious about spending reductions that everyone knows must happen.
And we are facing terrifying deficits and and consequent debt levels the kind that.
Are bringing other countries right now to screeching halt the American dreams that risk right now and really.
They should be leading as opposed to fighting.
At every.
It's a step the the quest to find meaningful and I mean big.
Long term spending reduction.
Big long term spending reductions.
There's not even agreement on that and Vice President Biden President Obama both making it clear that so called revenues will be an important part of the calculus.
In any solution that things stand behind at least that's their position right now.
Tax increases would you support tax increases in any form.
We need more tax revenue there's only one place you gonna get it in its from a growing economy.
In -- you if you could assigned a team of and Nobel Prize winners to design an anti jobs anti growth strategy.
For America right now it could have done much better than what this administration's doing constantly talking about higher tax rates.
Piling up enormous sudden -- numbers of new regulations.
Those we already have seen in those that we.
-- are coming you just talking about the other huge threat which is the Obama care bill.
And -- all that and disruption and extra cost and extra debt that it's going to bring to the system so.
We need in a an absolute emergency program to kick this economy -- the higher gear you know.
But today Indiana it got its triple -- credit rating reaffirm our credit today's stronger than that of the governing United States of America -- you can imagine such a thing and yet.
Like many businesses we are being very very cautious we are not gonna spend one nickel we don't have to because I don't trust that this economy or the administration's policies.
To get into the kind of a high gear that we have to have but pay our bills -- it but at the same time I armored -- about.
You get the idea that Indiana isn't is -- moving smartly ahead you're investing in infrastructure.
Your driving for over the new education plan we talked with your superintendent of schools here.
Who -- from last week.
You are continuing to drive forward on a host of issues.
How are you are managing to do that when the rest of the country much of the rest of the country.
It is lagging behind and struggling mightily.
Because of who we we do it by written -- realizing that it's the growth of the private sector as opposed to government.
On which all else depends including government's own revenues we just discussed and every single moment of every day we are working to.
Expand the opportunities make Indiana the most inviting place in America for investment.
Down the hall behind me I have this sixty major business people right now -- were.
Thinking for the business they have brought the Indiana and the business they might bring and you know I'd like to see our entire country go on a pro growth -- like that the irony is that.
That that that sincere believers in big government have the biggest stake -- -- in a private sector that really begins to grow otherwise they'll never have the dollars that.
Spend on.
The government they would like to have.
And one day I guess they'll realize that.
Are right now you're pushing ahead on education that is long term.
Investment in the in the in the future obviously the residences and citizens of Indiana.
How Long Will it take before you see Indiana moved from where it is currently and that.
I -- the upper middle if you will of the states in this country and educational quality word you wanna be how Long Will it take you to get there.
Well we we -- not only be among the top here in America that the -- -- America's not good enough and you look at the rest the world and is a great question I don't know.
I don't know how long.
It will take all I know as we've built I think the best framework I've seen in any state.
From now on.
We will have teachers will be rewarded and protected and promoted and paid based on -- how well they do in the classroom how well their students learn.
Not just by how long they have served.
We will have much more choice available charter schools within the public system and even.
Vouchers for -- -- can't afford and non government option if that's what.
What they want.
But you know like -- -- some harsh things about the president and administration let me give credit here much of the reform we just -- they have also championed nationally and they they deserve I think.
Credit for that but.
It -- is implementation is everything and you know just because we passed great laws and have a great new.
Framework and education doesn't mean our kids will learn in the end that result -- all the matters.
It is absolutely as you say all that matters in the end and the measurement of those results -- also critical in the measurement is just beginning.
Your program for months -- we do give your credit for getting the process under way.
Don't understand it's good to see if.
