Gregg meets with farmers, responds to Pence's "9/11" comment

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Indiana gubernatorial Democratic candidate John Gregg visited a local farm in West Lafayette Tuesday to see how the drought is affecting business.

Gregg met with Steve and Deb Kerkhove of West Lafayette to discuss how the dry weather is affecting their crop yield and how he plans to alleviate these problems if elected governor.

Gregg said the drought can create crop shortages that ultimately affect food prices and mentioned corn prices have increased nearly 17 percent in the past month and a half.

The Kerkhoves said it's a matter of being able to prepare ahead of time for these types of situations and Gregg said he plans to do just that.

“The governor can't declare, but the governor can seek from the federal government that it be declared a disaster area, and so I think it's being in touch with the farm and farming community,” said Gregg.

Gregg said if he were elected Indiana's governor creating a level playing field for small businesses in Indiana, like farms, by allowing certain tax breaks, will be a priority.

Also while there, Gregg responded to a controversial comment made by Indiana congressman and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence.

The comment, which was made privately in a closed door GOP meeting, made national headlines in comparing the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act to the events of 9/11.

"I think the comments were totally inappropriate," said Gregg. 

Pence later apologized for the comments, which he called thoughtless.  However, Gregg said the comments are revealing.

"We've tried to tell people for the last year and a half that he's extreme and not mainstream but he's managed to get by with it.  Hopefully, this will cause people to take a look and see what he's been saying and see what he's really about," Gregg said.

Gregg and Pence will face off in November.  They will also be challenged by Libertarian candidate and reality TV star Rupert Boneham.