Vice President Mike Pence returned to Indiana Friday to call for federal tax reform.  And, as expected, Pence asked all of Indiana’s Congressional delegation – including Indiana’s Democratic US Senator– to support the efforts.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Vice President Pence gave no details about specific ways to reform the federal tax code.  He said taxes would be lower for working families, small businesses and family farms – a line Hoosiers will remember from his term as Governor.  Pence said Trump will sign a tax cut by the end of the year, with a goal in mind.

“We’ll simplify the tax codes so that working Americans can file their own taxes on one sheet of paper.”

He also called on Democratic US Senator Joe Donnelly to support the reform.

Pence spoke under a large American flag at the Wylam Center of Flagship East, a building dedicated just two weeks ago. (Photo: Stephanie Wiechmann)

“President Trump has called on all the members of Congress in good faith to put partisan posturing behind us and come together as Americans to create a 21^st century tax code our people deserve.   And so I’m here in Indiana today, on the president’s behalf, to say to all of you: we need your help.  And Senator Donnelly, we need your help too.”

Donnelly did not answer questions after the speech.  In an email statement, he said tax reform should benefit middle class and working families.  Donnelly said he hopes the tax code reform effort is a bipartisan process, but pointed out that Trump’s administration has not yet released the details of their plan.

According to city officials, Pence’s visit to Anderson was the first by a president or vice president since 1952.  That’s when President Harry Truman spoke from the back of a rail car for five minutes, urging voters to support that year’s Democratic presidential candidate – Adlai Stevenson.