Is John Gregg’s Latest TV Ad All Wet or Running Dry?
Democratic candidate for Governor John Gregg’s latest TV shows signs his campaign is likely either all wet or running dry. As you can see below, Gregg uses his hometown of Sandborn and an umbrella to make the case that Republican Mike Pence would raid the state rainy day fund and leave Hoosiers high and dry. Unfortunately for Gregg, the facts don’t back that up.
On Pence’s own website he calls for reserves to stay at least 12.5% of state appropriations, current estimates have that number at 14%. In addition, WISH-TV’s Jim Shella cites the following inconsistency from Gregg’s ad.
Supporting documentation for the ad references a story in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette in which Pence says, “My inclination would be to spend past our reserves.” I’m not sure what that means but the article also says that Pence “believes that a 10 percent reserve is a good minimum target.” 10 percent has long been considered the logical standard in Statehouse money circles. Plus, Gregg won’t commit to a reserve target.
Throw in the fact that several of Gregg’s tax proposals come with a hefty price tag. For example, his repeal of the gas tax would cost at least $520 million which he says he would pay for by cutting “fraud, waste and abuse”.
There are seven weeks left in the campaign.
