Divided lawmakers agree on Daniels choice

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - If "My Man Mitch" becomes "My President Mitch" around campus, area lawmakers certainly have some thoughts on the matter.
    
Democratic State Representative Sheila Klinker and Republican Senators Ron Alting and Brandt Hershman disagree on many policy issues. However, one thing they agree on is if Governor Mitch Daniels is named Purdue's next president.

"Purdue is the most important issue here and how he will represent the University. So I think politics takes a back seat here," said Klinker.

"We have had differences and we have had kind of heated discussions but they have always been very good discussions. One thing about him is that you have to go in and prove to him in manner that if he's wrong with something, you've got to prove why he's wrong," said Alting.

"Experience with the federal government because that's where a lot of research funding comes from. He has that experience. Experience with state government because as a public university, the funding battles are fought down in Indianapolis. He knows those challenges," said Hershman.

"He'll have to come in front of the budget committees, and I hope I'm there at the time, on the Ways and Means committees to ask for dollars and cents for education," said Klinker.

"The citizens of Indiana should feel very proud because the area that he has always looked at, he is continuing to do his best to make it affordable within our Hoosier kids and our universities," said Alting.

Mitch Daniels is likely to complete his term as governor while Purdue appoints an interim president.