With all the focus on the election and President-elect Trump, I think it’s important to bring up our elected vice-president Mike Pence and his views. Pence has been the governor of Indiana since 2012 and has caused several controversies, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He tends to maintain a very conservative stance on most issues he discusses.
Pence promises to enforce the laws in place now to end illegal immigration. After ending this, as a nation, he says we can "give consideration to how we resolve issues around those that remain." He has supported increased border security, stricter enforcement of work laws, among others. Pence also attempted to bar the resettlement of Syrian Refugees in Indiana. In difference from Trump, Pence said this about Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering this country:
Pence has stood firm on his ideology involving LGBT rights. While he announces his belief that no one should be mistreated because of who they are, who they love, or what they believe, he also won't support legislature that reduces religious freedom. Religion is a big influence on Pence's stands; he describes himself as "a Christian, conservative, Republican—in that order" . During his run in Congress, he expressed concerns over gay rights affecting religious freedoms of others.
When the federal Defense of Marriage Act was overturned, Pence expressed his disappointment. Pence called for an amendment to ban same sex marriage in Indiana's state constitution.
Religion plays a large role in his beliefs and stances.
Many, if not the majority, of Pence's stances are directly related to his religious beliefs. He previously would cite Bible verses when defending or discussing policies; this ended around the time he ran for governor of Indiana. More on this here.
Pence signed laws regulating women's access to abortions and outlawed them in certain circumstances where the abortion was being performed due to gender, race, or disability of the fetus. Pence has often said that he is against Roe v. Wade , which allowed the decision to have an abortion to be up to the woman involved.
Pence initiated an investigation into Planned Parenthood when abortion rights opponents leaked footage. (This footage was later discovered to be altered.)
So what do you think of our vice-president? There are of course plenty of other areas to research, and I invite you to offer your thoughts and opinions through facts as well as your own experiences.
