U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following statement today in advance of the president’s address to a Joint Session of Congress:

“After a tumultuous month of town hall meetings across the nation, the American people have spoken, and House Republicans are on the side of the American people.

“As the President comes into this well of Congress tonight to deliver a speech on health care reform, one thing is clear: the American people don’t want just another speech on health care, they want another health care plan.

“What I heard back home is that the folks want us to take action here in Washington that will lower the cost of health insurance and lower the cost of health care in the long term. But the American people don’t want us to launch a new government-run insurance plan that will lead to a government takeover of health care, paid for with $800 billion in higher taxes.

“As the president knows, House Republicans have a broad range of legislative ideas and we hope to hear him reflect on some of them tonight. Why not let Americans purchase health insurance the way Members of Congress can across state lines? Why not bring about reasonable restrictions and limits on medical malpractice claims to end the era of defensive medicine?

“House Republicans will welcome the President of the United States respectfully to the well of Congress tonight, and we stand ready to work with the Democrat majority to solve our health care challenges.

“The American people have spoken. Tonight we’ll see if Washington is listening.”

NOTE:  To watch the Congressman’s remarks, click here.