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Thursday, March 28, 2024

John Gregg talks Hoosier common sense in governor’s race

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Last week I brought you the Republican candidate for governor’s words. This week, it’s Democratic candidate for governor John Gregg’s turn.

Democrats have had a rough few years. Their shining star, Evan Bayh, quit and lives in Washington. The party lost legislative seats and mayoral races. The party needs reinvigoration and strong ideas to counter the Republican’s ideas.

Gregg now leads that Democratic rebuilding effort. He and the Democratic ticket are basing their comeback on staking out the middle ground this election.

Yes, Indiana is a state that leans conservative, but it’s a state where common sense usually prevails. John Gregg is reaching out to that Hoosier common sense while trying to explain who his opponent really is.

In his speech to Indiana’s Democratic Convention last Saturday in Fort Wayne, Gregg emphasized what he’d do as governor.

“First, second and third, we will focus on creating jobs and strengthening the economy,” Gregg said, emphasizing that Indiana should focus on its strengths by “further invest(ing) in energy, life sciences, transportation, advanced manufacturing and agriculture.”

Gregg urged promoting “safe, clean coal in Southwest Indiana,” and increased natural “gas production piped in steel pipes made in Gary.”

Gregg talked about transportation saying Indiana should invest in its ports along Lake Michigan and the Ohio River. And in a dig at Republicans, Gregg asked why does Indiana make “locomotives and huge diesel engines, but we don’t have a mass transit policy?”

Gregg talked a lot about education, saying Indiana must work with its universities “to promote the life science industry and research and development.”

He defined what public education in Indiana means. “It means investing in early childhood education. It means keeping the dream of a college education affordable for all Hoosiers. It means that we always make certain that education isn’t about bureaucracy. It is about the kids.”

Gregg challenged Republicans Mike Pence and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett saying that public education “means treating teachers like the professionals that they are, and giving them the tools they need to help prepare our children for the challenges ahead.”

Gregg didn’t spare Gov. Mitch Daniels’ eight years from criticism. He said, “Eight years ago, promises were made that quite simply, were not kept. We were promised that what Republicans call ‘right to work’ would not be pursued.”

Then Gregg blasted Republicans, “This war on unions and working men and women needs to stop. ‘Right to work’ doesn’t work and it hurts all workers.”

Gregg blasted Daniels’ toll road deal. “We were told that if we mortgaged our infrastructure, it would be the best deal in the history of government. What we got was a toll road that we will not control for another 65 years and no more money.”

And he came down hard on Daniels’ governance. “We were told that we would get better governance. What we got was a half a billion dollars that they recently found hidden in a couch somewhere in the Capitol. What we got was a $300 million cut to our public schools. What we got was government agencies not paying its bills on time, costing the taxpayers millions. We can do better and under our administration, Indiana will do better.”

Gregg also went after Republican candidate Pence for his lack of a record serving 12 years in Congress saying, “Mike Pence may be running for governor, but the one thing he can’t run from is his record.”

“You have a 12-year congressman,” Gregg declared, “who cares more about playing politics and scoring political points than doing what is right for Hoosiers; and who in 12 years in Washington passed exactly zero pieces of legislation.”

Gregg condemned Pence for a bit of showmanship during Pence’s speech two weeks ago in Indianapolis when Pence drove into the Republican convention driving a Chevy pickup truck.

Gregg remarked, “Congressman Pence, put on a show. He’s been in Washington too long, so he had to put on a big show so he could ‘play’ Indiana. Even having the audacity to drive a red Chevy pickup to the stage after voting against saving the American auto industry.”

Bottom line – Democrats and Gregg have an uphill battle. He challenged Democrats in Fort Wayne and throughout the state to get out and start talking to their neighbors, their fellow Hoosiers.

“Talk to someone who is unemployed or underemployed and share (our) vision of better jobs and a stronger economy. Talk to teachers and tell them that with us, the days of scapegoating them and other unions are over. Talk to students and tell them our vision for this great state that we all love,” he urged.

In four weeks John Gregg and Mike Pence are expected at Indiana Black Expo. Last week, Pence told me he attended Expo and taped a TV show when he was talk show host two decades ago. I don’t remember that, but Pence may be right. I’ll be watching for them at Black Expo to hear and see how serious they both are about our community’s vote Nov. 6.

See ‘ya next week.

You can email comments to Amos Brown at acbrown@aol.com.

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