A Republican contender in 2011 – Mitch Daniels?
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Mitchell Elias “Mitch” Daniels, Jr., (born April 7, 1949) is the 49th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana. A Republican, he began his first four-year term as Indiana’s 49th Governor on January 10, 2005, and was elected to his second term by an 18-point margin on November 4, 2008. Previously, he was the Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget under George W. Bush and worked for Eli Lilly and Company. He has approval ratings hovering near 70%
In 2007, he began pressing for constitutional changes to cap State property taxes at 1-3% of value. The caps were approved by the Indiana General Assembly as statute, and the resulting drop in revenue was offset by an increase in the State sales tax. His support for the property tax limits, and its subsequent adoption, helped raise his popularity and secure his re-election bid. His second term saw a major drop in State revenues, leading to major spending cuts to maintain a balanced budget.
The Bush Years
In January 2001, Daniels accepted President George W. Bush’s invitation to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He served as Director from January 2001 through June 2003. In this role he was also a member of the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council.
During his time as the director of the OMB, Bush referred to him as “the Blade,” for his noted acumen at budget cutting. Daniels instituted a first-of-its-kind accountability system for all governmental entities. During Daniels’ 29-month tenure in the position, the projected federal budget surplus of $236 billion declined to a $400 billion deficit because of an economic downturn and concurrent tax cuts initiated by the Bush administration.
In 2002, Daniels was involved in a controversial attempt to discredit a report by Assistant to the President on Economic Policy Lawrence B. Lindsey estimating the cost of Operation Iraqi Freedom at between $100–$200 billion. Daniels called this estimate “very, very high” and stated that the costs would be between $50–$60 billion. As of 2007 the cost of the invasion and occupation of Iraq exceeded $400 billion, and the Congressional Budget Office in August 2007 estimated that appropriations would eventually reach $1 trillion and likely much more, depending on the duration of military operations. When Congress considered H.R. 1559, “Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003,” OMB was ordered to prepare an estimate for the defeat of the Iraqi Army and a six-month aftermath ending with the 2003 fiscal year on September 30. Daniels’ estimate was intended to only reflect this six month time period.
Speaking the language of Tea Partiers will certainly help Daniels if he decides to pursue his party’s nomination. He may not be thinking much about the culture wars, but his willingness to talk about the chief issues on everyone’s mind is sure to get him a look or two from conservatives looking for a leader who is strong enough to alter the country’s fiscal habits. Which for the rest of us means lots of cuts to government programs.
Mitch Daniels could get the ride of his life
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Good stuff.
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Daniels has done an outstanding job as governor of Indiana.The unemployment rate is well below the national average,they have a balanced budget,hes instituted very good eductional reforms and he enjoys an approval rating over 70%.
All that in a near depression economy.Pretty damn good.
The question is, who are the 70% who approve of him? He probably used stimulus money to his advantage.
Couple of things there Rusty. First, if Indiana is like most states he has no choice about the balanced budget. Is is most likely a matter of law. The real issue is who took the hits to balance it. Educational reform depends on what is meant by reform and what are the measuring rods. The unemployment rate is something that is dependent whether he was the primary reason it is down. As Holte indicated how much of the stimulus money was used and how. That isn’t to say he isn’t doing a good job but is it all him or was he just smart enough to use things afforded to him. Again, as Holte points out, who are the 70% plus if they are doing good economically then I am sure he would be popular.
Thanks Holte,hadn’t heard of this guy.Sounds like the “cut taxes/fiscal austerity for the poor” type that used to dominate the far right, but now in comparison to the TP is seen as reasonable.
We’ve got to keep in mind they are NOT reasonable demands that he will be making, rather it’s effectively Reaganomics revisited.
This guy is my tip to breakthrough into the media spotlight in the coming months. There is an “ordinary guy” look to him and he’s good with a paring knife.