Congressman Pence Takes Tough Questions From Students, Like "What Are Family Gatherings Like With Veep?"

Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 7:23 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

Indiana 6th District Congressman Greg Pence met with teachers and students at South Ripley Junior High School on Wednesday.

(Left to right) South Ripley Junior High School Principal Destiny Rutzel, Indiana 6th District Congressman Greg Pence, and South Ripley Community Schools Superintendent Rob Moorhead with students. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

(Versailles, Ind.) - Students at South Ripley Junior High School had a visitor with a well-known last name.

Principal Destiny Rutzel had met with Indiana 6th District Congressman Greg Pence in June during a trip to Washington to accept the school’s latest recognition being named by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform as a “School to Watch” in 2019. She invited him to visit the school in Versailles.

Pence took up Rutzel on the offer and walked the halls of the 2016 National Blue Ribbon Award-winning school Wednesday. Rutzel and a couple of students showed the Republican congressman South Ripley’s technology and special education classrooms.

“It’s important for our congressman to be a part of our schools and see what’s going on so that when they are voting on things, they know where we are at in the trenches with our kids,” said Rutzel, the the Indiana Association of School Principals’ Middle School Principal of the Year.

Rutzel and South Ripley Junior High School students chat with Pence in the hallway. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

Pence, the older brother of Vice President Mike Pence, then took some time for a question and answer session with students in the gymnasium. Naturally, a few of the questions from the 7th and 8th graders related to Pence’s VP brother. Such as, what are family gatherings like with a Veep in the family?

“They are like yours. We tease each other,” Pence said, kidding that he is the smarter Pence brother.

Another student asked if the congressman has ever met President Donald Trump. He has on a couple occasions.

“He’s a funny guy. He can be very comical if he wants,” shared Pence.

Pence, a retired Marine, also offered some advice to students: value your education.

“Study hard. Get out and learn some skills and abilities. If you decide to get into public life, you’ll be able to bring something to the table,” he shared.

We are pleased to welcome US Congressman @GregPenceIN to @SR_Raiders today. Congressman Pence spoke to our JH students and some of our HS social studies students. We appreciate the visit! pic.twitter.com/lbtTZcVILL
— Rob Moorhead (@RobMoorhead01) August 21, 2019

Rutzel said the congressman’s visit had value for the students giving them some social studies and history education. While Wednesday’s visit was focused on the kids, Rutzel asked Pence to support education during their June meeting on Capitol Hill.

“We talked a lot about budgeting and budget cuts to education and how he can support that to help get more funding our way to support our programs,” Rutzel said.

After lunch with students, Pence traveled to Batesville to meet and discuss a number of local infrastructure projects with Mayor Mike Bettice. They also discussed the importance of passing the USMCA.

“It's important to keep in close touch with local officials across the District to ensure I'm serving our constituents the best I can,” said Pence. “We had a great discussion with Mayor Bettice, where I reiterated my top priority of constituent relations and staying in tuned with the District's concerns."

Bettice called the meeting productive.

“We appreciate Congressman Pence for providing us with a legislative update and for taking the time to meet with us,” said Bettice.