Pence Discusses Health Care Reform on FOX News’ “On the Record, With Greta Van Susteren”

Pence Discusses Health Care Reform on FOX News’ “On the Record, With Greta Van Susteren”

“I think the American people deserve to know that despite a lot of blow and bluster and posturing, Democrats don't have the votes to pass the Senate bill.”

MARCH 12, 2010

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following remarks last night regarding the Democrats' latest plan for a government takeover, as well as the House Republican unilateral ban on earmarks, on FOX News' "On the Record, With Greta Van Susteren":
 
(Excerpts Below)
 
Where health care reform currently stands
 
Congressman Mike Pence: "Well, they don't have the votes. I mean, I think the American people deserve to know that despite a lot of blow and bluster and posturing, Democrats don't have the votes to pass the Senate bill.
...
 
"I think it's very difficult because the bill that passed the United States Senate on Christmas Eve, filled with the ‘Cornhusker Kickback' and the ‘Gator Aid' and the ‘Louisiana Purchase' I think is deeply offensive to the American people. This country doesn't want a government takeover of health care paid for with hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes and mandates and bureaucracy.
 
"And a very serious problem is that the Senate bill does provide public funding for elective abortion, which is a departure from American policy over the last several decades. We've never provided public systems or public funding for elective abortion in this country.
 
"I think they've got a real problem. I don't think they have the votes to pass the bill. And I think if the American people continue to raise their voices on a broad range of these issues that we can stop this bill in House of Representatives."
 
The timetable for a vote
 
Congressman Mike Pence:  "Remember, in the minority, you're the little boy on the sidewalk looking in the department store window."
...
 
"We're getting some indications. They're talking about changing committee schedules and trying to clear the deck. But some of that can just be posturing. You know, the truth is, if they had the votes, we'd be voting right now on this bill.
 
"And the American people deserve to know that. They don't have the votes to pass the Senate bill in the House. And I think if the American people, those that oppose a government takeover of health care, continue to let their voice be heard we can stop this bill."
 
 
The recent ruling by the Senate parliamentarian and abortion
 
Congressman Mike Pence:  "I think it changes it immensely.
 
"Now you're talking about at least a dozen pro-life Democrats who held out for some strong pro-life protections in the House version of the bill. Now you're asking them to vote for the most pro-abortion piece of legislation to come before Congress since Roe vs. Wade, and to vote for that bill knowing that it's going to be signed by the president before you even have an opportunity to fix it.
 
"And the other piece of it is, too, this bill can't be fixed. I mean, the Hyde amendment language, the language that was included in the Stupak- Pitts amendment on the right to life, only got 45 votes in the Senate. Whatever they promise pro-life Democrats, whatever pro-life Americans may think can be done to fix the Senate bill, it can't be fixed. Once the president's signature goes on that Senate bill, that's the law."
 
Fox News Host Van Susteren: "So I guess it comes to the point that the House Democrats who are in favor of the so-called Stupak language, or something similar, would have to hope that when the bill comes back to the House and the Senate, that the Senate suddenly says, ‘Look, OK, we're going to go your way and change the language.' Is that essentially what they have to do is sort of hope for best at that point?"
 
Congressman Mike Pence:  "The parliamentarian's decision says what House members would have to do, even those that object to the sordid backroom deals that are included in the Senate bill, even those that object to the abortion coverage included in the bill, would have to vote for it and see it signed into law and accept a promise that some reconciliation bill would be accepted by the Senate."
...
 
Fox News Host Van Susteren: "We were talking to Senator Kyl yesterday, and they have 41 Republican senators who've signed a letter basically saying, you know, they're not going to change things."
 
Congressman Mike Pence:  "Well, that's exactly right because the language that is necessary to protect American taxpayers from seeing their money used to provide coverage for elective abortions covers the entire bill, and therefore, it's subject to a procedural motion in the Senate that would require 60 votes. This Senate bill cannot be fixed with a separate bill. The American people deserve to know that."
...
 
Fox News Host Van Susteren: "But can she corral her votes? Are there enough votes..."
 
Congressman Mike Pence:  "If she can't somehow get the 12 pro-life Democrats to go along with some kind of an arrangement, I think they can't pass the bill. And so, you know, it's imperative that people understand, people who cherish that long-standing tradition of not using taxpayer dollars or government systems to provide coverage for elective abortions -- it's important to know that the Senate bill can't be fixed. The proper position is just to reject the Senate bill. Let's scrap the bill, and then we can start over on the kind of commonsense incremental reforms that will respect the common sense and the values of the American people."
 
NOTE:  To watch the interview online, click here.