Area groups, mothers react to Mike Pence's "success equation"

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - People in Fort Wayne are reacting to Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence's most recent policy announcement. The Congressman's 12th policy announcement, in his Roadmap For Indiana , says marriage is the best way to end the cycle of poverty for children.

Pence said he wants family impact statements to be attached to new regulations if he's governor, and added all state policies should help support what he calls a three-step "success equation": graduate from high school, work full time or go to college, and get married before having children.

“The family is the underpinning of a child’s success in life," Pence said in a press release Tuesday. "To change the sad fact that one out of every five children in Indiana lives in poverty, we have to recognize and support the role of the family. Strong families will mean a strong economy."

According to Andy Downs, the director of the Mike Downs Center For Indiana Politics, the policy is a way for Pence is discuss a social issue, from an economic point of view.

"For those who were concerned about him and his social leanings, this is him actually getting into that social stuff that we told you he would talk about," he said. "For people who are fans of issues like traditional marriage, they'll say thank goodness he is finally talking about an issue we care about."

Democratic governor candidate John Gregg's running mate, Vi Simpson doesn't agree with Pence's policy.

"Congressman Pence seems to be wanting to force his own social agenda down everyone's throat," Simpson, who is an Indiana State Senator, said. "Instead of focusing on jobs and the economy."

Mothers in Fort Wayne have also shared their thoughts on Pence's plan.

"You're going to be more successful in life if you are surrounded by people who care for you," Megan Grable, a mother of two, who is married, said. "A lot of times obviously that is going to be your mother and father."

"I made it work with support of family and friends," said Jennifer Parks, who raised a girl for more than two years on her own. "I think there are plenty of resources out there for women, who if they want to be single mothers, or need to be single mothers, they can."

Parks has never been married, but is engaged and will be married in three weeks.

"I don't think that having a husband and wife is necessarily the end all of doing well in life," Nikki Fultz, the director of Fort Wayne Pride , said. "There's many exceptions to that rule, and there's many exceptions to people who are husband and wife and married, and not doing so well and living in poverty."

Pence has said marriage is between one man and one woman.

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Pence opposes same-sex marriage, as does his opponent, Democratic candidate John Gregg.

Indiana law prohibits same-sex marriage, but Downs said lawmakers passed a resolution last session to amend the constitution to define marriage between a man and a woman.

"That will come up this session, guaranteed," Downs said. "We may be voting on that in 2014 in the state of Indiana, to amend the constitution."