Indiana Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence stumped for his running mate, Donald Trump while in Salt Lake City Thursday. Utah Senator Mike Lee invited Pence to speak at his annual Utah Solutions Summit.
Senator Mike Lee brought Pence to Salt Lake to speak about Indiana’s public education system. Lee, who has not endorsed Donald Trump for president said he’s a huge fan of Pence.
“But his presence here does not involve his status as Donald Trump’s running mate,” Lee said. “It involves his status as the governor of Indiana and as a former Congressman.”
Lee said he’s withholding his endorsement because he doesn’t know where Trump stands on federalism and separation of powers.
Pence said it was his own belief in the principal of federalism that prompted him to vote against No Child Left Behind as a freshman Congressman.
“Donald Trump and I both believe that education is a state and local function that should be controlled by parents and by teachers and by administrators in our local communities and our local states,” Pence said.
Indiana has one of the largest school voucher programs in the country. Pence said expanding choices for parents in education is at the center of what he and Donald Trump believe will reinvigorate education.
“Every parent in America should be able to choose where their children go to school regardless of their income, regardless of their area code,” Pence said. “And public, private, parochial and faith-based schools on the list.
Pence praised Utah for its balanced budget, business friendly environment and commitment to education reform. Utah Governor Gary Herbert has endorsed Donald Trump for president. He said Thursday Pence’s values are in line with the people of Utah.
