Daniels visits fair, talks politics

CAYUGA, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels called on the U.S. Justice Department and the President Obama’s administration to “butt out” of the debate over state funding for Planned Parenthood in Indiana during a visit to the Vermillion County fair Wednesday.

The Justice Department had filed a brief calling for the Indiana Supreme Court to strike down a law Daniels signed which, among other things, ended state funding for organizations that provide abortion services.

Daniels rejected the Justice Department’s contention that cutting Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood is illegal, and the Governor also rejected claims by advocates of Planned Parenthood that the cuts would leave women without needed healthcare.

“It’s not the Federal government’s job to tell a state through whom to deliver these services,” Daniels said. “Our job is to make sure not a single person, woman or otherwise, misses a single appointment or a single service. There’s no reason for that to happen. We have 800 alternative providers in this state.”

Speaking with reporters, Daniels also discussed the Republican Presidential race, a race he chose to stay out of earlier this year.

“I think there are some really good people there,” Daniels said of the race. “I don’t know who the strongest will be, and I’m very eager to see how much they level with the American people about our problems and how we can fix them.”

Daniels also spent part of Wednesday afternoon touring the Vermillion County fairgrounds, led by a group of 4-H’ers.

“It’s always fun, but it’s also uplifting: the young people, the purpose, the character that you see in our 4-H’ers,” Daniels said. “If you ever worry about the future of the country, come to a county fair.”

Several of the students said they were glad to show Daniels around their fair … if not a little nervous.

“There’s a place for everyone,” said Sarah Cohen, president of the Highland Go-Getters 4-H Club. “Everyone has a place in 4-H.”

“We’re a small county, but we’re a proud county,” said fair queen Trisha Musall. “Just having him here and showing him around and letting him see all our hard work … it’s just an honor.”