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Pence Discusses Health Care Reform With FOX News’ Sean Hannity |
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Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following remarks last night regarding the Democrats' plan for a government takeover of health care with FOX News' Sean Hannity:
(Excerpts Below)
On The American People Expressing Distaste on Health Care Takeover:
"The people I met with out across Indiana and then today at the State House in Indianapolis, if they expressed one frustration, it's that they were getting a busy signal. I think an awful lot of Americans, particularly in the key states, and your viewers ought to know that list that you're producing is enormously helpful, but if they want the shorthand version, this issue is probably going to be resolved mostly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and my beloved Indiana. The Congressional delegations from those three states need to be hearing from people. Emails are the surest way to get through, but working the phones - people are doing it, Sean. And I really do believe that Democrats at this hour don't have the votes. The American people are expressing themselves. I think they're going to continue to mount up opposition to this government takeover of health care, and I'm hopeful that we're going to turn this thing back, scrap the bill and be able to start over with legislation that will focus on reducing the cost of health insurance rather than growing the size of government. "
On Backroom Deals:
"I saw a press report tonight that the trading window was closed, if you will. We ought to be finding out what backroom deals beyond what we already know about have been made to try and push this through. But I have to tell you, I love to tell people a minority in Congress plus the American people equals a majority. I have a lot of respect for Bob, and under ordinary circumstances, he's right. You've got three votes to go. It's like being on the three yard line. You can probably do a quarterback keep and go up the middle, but this is really different.
"I have to tell you, if Members of Congress went home this weekend, especially across the Midwest, and saw a fraction of what I saw, there's an awful lot of Democrats who got off the plane today and were having second thoughts. And we're hearing some word that Democrats that were on the bubble are sliding into the ‘No' category, so you know, I really do believe the American people are in charge here. Rank and file Democrats know that, and the more folks can continue to articulate that, the more we have a shot at scrapping this bill and starting over with legislation right away that will focus on cost."
On Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI):
"Bart's a lot more liberal than I'll ever live to be, but I really admire the way Bart Stupak and other pro-life Democrats stood firm in the House of Representatives. They worked with Republicans to get some strong, pro-life protections, and then they agree to go along with passing this massive version of ObamaCare out of the House. And now I can't imagine how much they feel like they've been rolled here. But the fact that he's dug in, he's hanging tough against what I know is a withering amount of pressure from his leadership and the White House, I think Bart Stupak is to be commended."
On Whether Health Care is Dead:
"If we stop it this week, I think the government takeover of health care is dead, but we've got to keep working on health care reform that focuses on lowering the cost of health insurance, but we don't have to grow the size of government to do that."
NOTE: To watch the interview online, click here.