Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today issued the following statement upon learning of the passing of Donald C. “Danny” Danielson, of New Castle.

“Karen and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend Danny Danielson, and we offer our deepest condolences to his beloved family and all who admired this remarkable man.

“In Danny Danielson’s passing, Indiana lost a great man who personified all that is best about the people of our state. He was the best of us, and I mark his passing with sadness but gratitude for having known this remarkable man of faith, family, community and civic involvement.”

Danielson devoted his life to service. He committed extensive time to Indiana University, serving on the university’s Board of Trustees from 1959 to 1980 and as chairman for eleven years. He led several key endowment campaigns for Indiana University including the School of Medicine Capital Campaign and the Wells Scholars Campaign committee. He was a long-time executive of City Securities, and he led a successful campaign to locate the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame Museum in New Castle. Danielson received a number of awards throughout his life including Indiana University’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award, the New Castle Chamber of Commerce’s “Citizen of the Year” award, and the state’s highest honor, the Sachem Award, from Governor Mitch Daniels.

Pence continued:

“Danny Danielson was a Hoosier through and through who loved his Lord, his wife Patty, his family, his hometown and Indiana University with a boundless heart. Danny’s influence on my small life began when I first stepped into politics in the 1980s and, like so many others he touched, his mentoring influence and example shaped my faith, my life and my career ever since.

“Upon the death of Abner, King David spoke words that are equally true of this day, ‘Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?’

“Karen and I pray that God will comfort his family and all who mourn his passing with the assurance that comes through our faith and the knowledge that the memory and example of Danny Danielson will live on and inspire all of us who were privileged to know him.”

Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today signed HEA 1403, the Regional Cities Initiative, which creates a framework for neighboring communities to work together to promote economic development on a regional basis in order to attract talent and investment. The bill, which was part of the Governor’s agenda for the 2015 legislative session, also creates the Regional Cities Fund that will help leverage public and private investment in areas that will drive economic development. The Governor signed the bill at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors’ meeting today.

“Indiana is the best place to grow a business in America. To continue to attract new investment and talent across our state, we must grow locally and think regionally,” said Governor Pence. “The Regional Cities Initiative will encourage collaboration among Hoosier communities to develop ways to bolster investment, attract talent, and continue Indiana on a pathway to economic growth and success. I appreciate the efforts of the Indiana legislature to achieve this important legislation for the benefit of both Hoosiers and our economy as a whole.”

The Governor also signed a number of other agenda bills that are geared toward strengthening Indiana’s economy:

• HEA 1303, which provides highly-skilled professionals a voluntary alternative to licensing, eliminates arbitrary barriers to employment, and reduces costs for consumers by giving them the information they need to make better choices about services they buy and people they hire.
• SEA 441, to simplify the tax code, which will reduce the paperwork burden for Hoosiers and incentivize investment in Indiana.
• SEA 412, which requires electric utilities to file energy efficiency plans with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in order to ensure more affordable and reliable energy for Hoosiers.

“As we look to the future of Indiana, it is imperative that we advance innovative ways to strengthen our state,” said Governor Pence. “The bills I signed today continue our work in this regard through less regulation, a simpler tax code, and more affordable energy for bothHoosiers and the businesses that operate in Indiana. I am grateful to the Indiana General Assembly for authoring and supporting these bills which will go far in growing Indiana’s economy.”

The Governor also signed non-agenda bill SEA 436, which establishes a statewide exemption of business personal property taxes for taxpayers with less than $20,000 in assessed value in a county, eliminating the tax for 50 percent of all filers.