Gov. Mike Pence's vision for Indiana this year seems to be one of long-held ideals but without lasting foresight, based on his State of the State speech Tuesday night.
He began his speech with a short history lesson, noting that Indiana began with 43 founders meeting in Corydon 200 years ago.
But it was more than midway through his talk that he came to his priorities: jobs, the economy, schools, roads and confronting drug abuse.
Concerning the Hoosier workforce, he is right to cite the 139,000 new jobs, a reduction in the unemployment rate to 4.4 percent, and having 34,000 fewer Hoosiers receiving unemployment claims.
He was also right to urge the Indiana General Assembly to fund the Regional Cities Initiative that is focusing on regional job growth. Cities and counties can't boost economic development on their own.
Education has been Pence's toughest ongoing battle since taking office. Nearly every Hoosier agrees that the state should, as Pence agrees, take a step back from ISTEP. But in doing so, Pence is risking his teacher reward plan, based on testing results.
Commendable is his emphasis on encouraging Hoosiers to pursue education careers. House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Marion) has authored a bill creating a Next Generation Scholarship fund that would award $7,500 a year to qualified applicants. The bill is in the House education committee but a fiscal analysis of the proposal has not been prepared.
His priorities generally resonate with residents across the state.
That is until he talks about federal and state constitutional rights.
In defending the Second Amendment's right to bear arms, he was proud, he said, to say that Indiana was among the first states to allow its National Guard to carry firearms at recruiting stations. This was done in the wake of the terrorist attack on a recruiting station in Chattanooga.
"Hoosiers know firearms in the hands of law abiding citizens ... makes our communities more safe not less safe."
He added, "Mr. President, please stop blaming our gun laws for violence in Chicago. Hoosiers are not the cause of crime in your hometown – criminals are."
That shows Pence's tunnel vision. He doesn't look out of his own Statehouse office window at the gun violence in Indianapolis.
Nor does his vision see the discrimination often experienced by Hoosiers in the LGBT community. He won't sign any bill that "diminishes the religious freedom" of those who choose not to sell services to gays. Pence doesn't realize how unfair that approach is nor does he realize that gay rights and religious freedom can co-exist.
Pence began his speech noting the state's bicentennial this year. Mention of the observance also ended his talk.
"If we will but keep faith with the vision, ideals, character and freedoms our founders built this state upon 200 years ago, I know our third century will be the greatest Indiana century yet."
Indiana founders had a unique vision that lasted 200 years. Judging by Tuesday's annual speech, Hoosiers are likely not sure that the current governor has such a long-lasting vision.