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Russian officials have protested strongly against comments by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in which he mentioned Russia as a threat to global stability on a par with Iran.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 6 Moscow "regrets" the comments and called on the United States to "clarify its position."

"Obviously, President [Donald] Trump's position is the main thing that Moscow takes into consideration," Peskov said.

Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington on June 5, Pence strongly reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to NATO as "unwavering."

"A strong NATO is vitally important, especially in these trying times," Pence said. "From Russia's efforts to redraw international borders by force, to Iran's attempts to destabilize the Middle East, to the global menace of terrorism that can strike anywhere at any time, it seems that the world is more dangerous today than at any point since the fall of communism a quarter century ago."

Pence's comments come after some observers criticized Trump for insufficiently backing the alliance during a recent NATO summit in Brussels.

Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, said Pence's comments "sum up dozens and hundreds of anti-Russian speeches" that have been heard in the United States since Trump was elected last November.

Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the Federation Council's International Affairs Committee, said Pence's remarks were "the pinnacle of absurdity," adding that Russia and Iran are only "dangerous to the [U.S.-dominated] unipolar world."

Earlier on June 6, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said President Donald Trump told him to "begin a reengagement process" aimed at rebuilding relations with Moscow, and not to let the turmoil in Washington over possible Russian ties to Trump's inner circle get in the way.

The FBI and the U.S. Congress are investigating the contacts between Russians and the Trump campaign and transition team, including a search for any signs of collusion by associates of Trump with what U.S. intelligence officials say were Russia's aims in the election.

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Moscow Bristles At Pence's Claim That Russia Is A Threat - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

President Donald J. Trump participates in the signing ceremony of a decision memo and letter transmitting ideas on air traffic control reform to Congress, beside US Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on June 5.(Photo: MICHAEL REYNOLDS, EPA)

WASHINGTON Vice President Pence hadapersonal reason for applauding President Trumps push on Monday to privatize the nation's air traffic control system.

As I can attest from first-hand experience, having more precise landings in America is a good thing, Pence said before introducing Trump for his East Room announcement.

Pence was referring to a campaign trip last October whenhis charter flight skidded off the runway at New York's LaGuardiaAirport.

My career just ended, one of the planes pilots said after the rough landing, according to a transcript of the cockpit voice recording released last week by federal investigators.

The board hasnt determined what caused the plane to touch down more than 4,000 feet down the runway before it skidded off the end of the runway.

The captain said put it down, put it down as the first officer flew the Boeing 737-700 charter flight by EasternAir Lines,according to a report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Both pilots applied maximum brakes as they approached the end of the runway in a rainstorm, according to the report. But the plane came to rest 200 feet beyond the runway after skidding onto pavement that is meant to crumble and slow the wheels down like sand for a runaway truck.

None of the nine crew members or 39 passengers,includingPence, wasinjured in the incident. There wasn't an emergency evacuation because there was no fire.Pence, who was the governor of Indiana at the time, tweeted at the time he was grateful nobody was hurt.

The administration is kicking off a week focusing on infrastructure with Trumps long-shot plan to put the nations air traffic control system in private hands.The plan calls for creatinga private, nonprofit corporation,with airlines contributing fees rather than the taxes they now pay the government to cover the approximately $10 billion annual cost for air-traffic control.

Airlines hope the change would bring more predictable funding than provided by annual spending fights in Congress that have led to furloughs and shutdowns in recent years. Backers of the proposal also contend that a private corporation would modernize equipment and training faster than the Federal Aviation Administration. Government watchdogs have criticized FAA for slow progress on shifting controllers from directing planes by ground-based radar to satellite-based GPS.

But the proposal has critics among some airlines, general-aviation groups and in Congress.

Republican Rep. Todd Rokita of Indiana, a general aviation pilot who serves on the House Transportation Committee, has said privatizing the air traffic control system is trying to solve a problem when we dont think really one exists.

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Vice President Pence has reasons for wanting safer flights - USA TODAY

Police officers from several area communities were involved in providing traffic control and security for Vice President Mike Pence's stop in Palos Heights on Saturday to attend a funeral.

The effort involved briefly shutting 127th Street between Harlem Avenue and the Tri-State Tollway as the vice president's motorcade traveled between St. Alexander Church and Midway Airport, Dave Delaney, Palos Heights deputy police chief, said Monday.

Pence was at the church for the funeral of A. Raymond Schwaller.

Delaney said that Palos Heights had about 30 police personnel involved, and officers from communities including Alsip, Crestwood, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Palos Hills and Palos Park also took part.

He said the section of 127th Street was closed for about 10 minutes at approximately 9:30 a.m. as the motorcade made its way from the airport to the church, and again at about 11 a.m. as the vice president headed back to Midway.

The effort involved closing off access from all side streets and driveways from businesses along the route, Delaney said.

"It was very manpower-intensive," he said. "It's the first time we've had to do something like this in the 27 years (he has been with the department)."

Delaney said the department was notified Wednesday afternoon about the vice president coming to the city and met with Secret Service personnel Thursday and Friday to work out the security details.

At the church, supplementing the Secret Service detail, Palos Heights had several officers posted inside and outside the building while the vice president was inside. Because the parish school is attached to the church, "there are many entrances" that had to be secured, Delaney said.

Local fire departments and other first responders were notified about the 127th Street closures in order to reroute ambulances or fire engines, he said. He said there was one instance were an ambulance had to get through, which was cleared by the Secret Service.

"It went unbelievably smoothly," Delaney said of the traffic control and security work.

He said he was uncertain how many police were involved overall in the effort. Delaney said he was unsure the city would be eligible to be reimbursed for the costs associated with the vice president's business, but that the department wouldn't seek to recoup the expenses regardless.

He said the vice president spoke with some officers at Midway before leaving the Chicago area. Although born and raised in southern Indiana, Pence's parents grew up on Chicago's South Side. He told officers that his uncle, Bob Pence, was a Chicago police officer assigned to former Mayor Harold Washington's security detail, Delaney said.

"He spoke with us for about five or 10 minutes," Delaney said. "He was very gracious. He said he supports the police."

Schwaller had founded Schwaller Insurance Agency in 1954, and was a supporter of the DePaul University Athletic Foundation, Notre Dame Athletics and the Leo Alumni Association, according to his obituary. He served on the board of trustees for Mother McAuley High School, according to the obit.

The Palos Heights resident, who was 89, continued to come into the insurance office each day until well past his 87th birthday, according to the obit.

mnolan@tribpub.com

Twitter @mnolan_J

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Pence visit to Palos Heights requires hefty local police involvement - Chicago Tribune

Houston Business Journal

Vice President Pence to visit NASA's Johnson Space Center Houston Business Journal Vice President Mike Pence will be in Houston this week to help celebrate NASA's next class of astronaut candidates. He will visit NASA's Johnson Space Center to welcome the candidates chosen from more than 18,000 applications in an event that ... and more »

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Vice President Pence to visit NASA's Johnson Space Center - Houston Business Journal

Mike Pence 48th Vice President of the United States Assumed office January 20, 2017 President Donald Trump Preceded by Joe Biden 50th Governor of Indiana In office January 14, 2013 January 9, 2017 Lieutenant Sue Ellspermann Eric Holcomb Preceded by Mitch Daniels Succeeded by Eric Holcomb Chair of the House Republican Conference In office January 3, 2009 January 3, 2011 Leader John Boehner Preceded by Adam Putnam Succeeded by Jeb Hensarling Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 6th district In office January 3, 2003 January 3, 2013 Preceded by Dan Burton Succeeded by Luke Messer Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd district In office January 3, 2001 January 3, 2003 Preceded by David McIntosh Succeeded by Chris Chocola Personal details Born Michael Richard Pence June 7, 1959 (1959-06-07) (age57) Columbus, Indiana, U.S. Political party Republican Spouse(s) Karen Batten (1985present) Children 3 Residence Number One Observatory Circle Alma mater Hanover College (BA) Indiana University, Indianapolis (JD) Religion Christianity (Evangelical) Website Campaign site

Michael Richard "Mike" Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician. He is the 48th and current Vice President of the United States since being elected in November 2016 and inaugurated on January 20, 2017. He was the 50th Governor of Indiana from 2013[1] until 2017. A Republican, Pence previously was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. Pence served as Chairman of the House Republican Conference from 2009 to 2011. Pence is a longtime supporter of the Tea Party movement.[2][3]

On July 14, 2016, Donald Trump's campaign signaled that Pence would be Trump's choice for running mate in the 2016 presidential election.[4] On July 15, 2016, Trump officially announced on his Twitter that Pence would be his running mate. The Trump-Pence campaign would go on to defeat the Clinton-Kaine campaign in the general elections on November 9, 2017. He was inaugurated as Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2017.

Pence was born in Columbus, Indiana, one of six children of Nancy Jane (ne Cawley) and Edward J. Pence, Jr..[5][6] His family were Irish Catholic Democrats.[7]

Pence graduated from Columbus North High School in 1977. He earned a B.A. in History from Hanover College in 1981 and a J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1986.

After graduating from law school in 1986, Pence worked as an attorney in private practice.[8] He continued to practice law following his second unsuccessful run for Congress.

In November 2000, Pence was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Indiana's 2nd Congressional District after six-year incumbent David M. McIntosh (19952001) opted to run for governor of Indiana.

On November 8, 2006, Pence announced his candidacy for leader of the Republican Party (minority leader) in the United States House of Representatives.[9] Pence's release announcing his run for minority leader focused on a "return to the values" of the 1994 Republican Revolution.[10] On November 17, Pence lost to Representative John Boehner of Ohio by a vote of 168271 (the one vote went to Representative Joe Barton of Texas).[11]

Pence served for a time as the chairman of the Republican Study Committee. His Committee assignments in the U.S. House included: Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia (Vice Chair); Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution (Vice Chair), and Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet.

While in Congress, Pence belonged to the Tea Party Caucus.[12] Pence also belonged to the Congressional Internet Caucus, International Conservation Caucus, and Sportsmen's Caucus.

After the November 2010 election, Pence announced that he would not run for re-election as the Republican Conference Chairman.[13] On May 5, 2011, Pence announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for Governor of Indiana in 2012.[14][15]

On November 6, 2012, Pence won the gubernatorial election,[16] defeating Democratic nominee John R. Gregg and Libertarian nominee Rupert Boneham.

Pence became the 50th Governor of Indiana on January 14, 2013.

Pence made tax reform, namely a 10% income-tax rate cut, a priority for 2013.[17]

On March 26, 2015, Pence signed Indiana Senate Bill 101, also known as the Indiana "religious objections" bill (RFRA), into law.[18] The law's signing was met with widespread criticism by people and groups who felt the law was carefully worded in a way that would permit discrimination against LGBT persons.[19][20]

As of March 2016, Pence has attempted unsuccessfully to prevent Syrian refugees from being resettled in Indiana.[21]

Pence is running for a second term as governor. He was unopposed in the May 3, 2016, Republican primary for governor. He faces Democrat John Gregg, former Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, in a rematch of the 2012 race. Early reports on July 14 suggest Pence is likely to be announced as the VP candidate on July 15.[22] If he becomes Trump's running mate, Pence said he would drop out of the governor race.

In July 2016, Trump said that there was three people on his running mate shortlist: Chris Christie, Newt Gingrich and Pence himself. On July 14, 2016, it was reported that Trump selected Pence as his running mate.[23] On July 15, 2016, Trump announced on his Twitter that Pence would be his running mate. He made a formal announcement in New York City on July 16, 2016.

Trump would go on to defeat Clinton in the general election making Pence the Vice President-elect of the United States.

Pence was inaugurated as the 48th Vice President of the United States after being sworn in by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas on January 20, 2017.

On January 27, 2017, Pence spoke at the March for Life in Washington D.C., becoming the first vice president and the highest ranking United States official to ever speak at the annual event.[24][25]

Pence and his wife Karen Pence have been married since 1985. They have three children: Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey. Pence is a born-again Christian.

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Mike Pence - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia