Look Back at Mitch Daniels' Eight Years as Indiana Governor (Part 2)
By: Chris Veech
Updated: January 1, 2013
"Creating one of the best business climates," said Governor Mitch McDaniel, "if we keep it, is what it's all about and more jobs and opportunity for the future."
Governor Daniels has garnished national attention for his sound fiscal policy and has drawn harsh criticism from opponents for his conservative views and his outside of the box style governing. But Daniels says during a candid sit down interview that bi-partisan corporation is the key to good government.
"We said, from the beginning," said Daniels, "never ran for any office before, don't have any intention of running for another one. Just going to try to do a good job in the interest of the whole state. I hope what people are noticing is that we just ask ourselves every day, what's in the long-term interest of indiana and what is in the interest of us all?"
During the last days of his administration, Daniels keeps a watchful eye on developments in Washington over the fiscal cliff.
"Just remember this so-called cliff was the remedy," said Daniels. "It was supposed to force them to deal with the real problems, and the real problems are social security, medicare, medicade. Not today, but tomorrow, we're going to bankrupt this country. We've got to do something about that."
Early in the Presidential election, it was rumored the Republican governor would make a run for the White House. But, in the end, Daniels decided not to run citing family reasons. A decision he doesn't regret.
"Yes, it was the right decision," said Daniels. "And, no, I don't think you'll see me again in an elective roll. I'd said to you and many other folks over the years that I had no other ambition. I had no other agenda. I wasn't on the make for any other office. I just wanted to try to serve four, maybe eight years and make this a better state any way we could. It really meant a lot of me to keep that committment."
Mitch Daniels, Indiana's 49th Governor. He will be remembered for many things. His push for state adoption of daylight saving time (a very controversial move), property tax reform, education overhauls, right to work. But he'll likely be most remembered for being one of the few governors in the country that kept their state in the black during the recession. Now, a new chapter in Indiana politics begins.
