Congressman Pence Discusses Health Care on ABC’s This Week With George Stephanopoulos

Congressman Pence Discusses Health Care on ABC’s This Week With George Stephanopoulos

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

To view this clip, click here.  

Excerpts below:

"Republicans are ready to work for comprehensive health care reform. When I went home and did town hall meetings across the state of Indiana, I heard people saying ‘Look, we need health care reform. We need to do something to lower the cost of health insurance for families and small businesses and lower the cost of health care.' But I also heard people say that they don't want a government-run plan that is going to lead to a government takeover of health care in this country, paid for with $800 billion in higher taxes."
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 "I just saw Robert Gibbs, on the show, say that a public option introduced would not affect people in any way, shape or form. Look, the American people know better. I mean, when I get up in front of folks and I say ‘Look, in this economy - an economy that just swelled to 9.7% unemployment. We lost 1,000 Whirlpool jobs in Evansville, Indiana two weeks ago when I was there. In this economy, there's no small business or large business worth its salt that isn't going to take a hard look at sending all of their employees to the federal government for their health insurance the minute a public option is available.' Under the plan that has been proposed, businesses have to pay an 8% payroll tax and they can cancel all their coverage. The president says you can keep your health insurance if you like it. But it's awful hard to keep your health insurance if your employer cancels it."
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 "We have really seen this pattern from the beginning of the year. They passed a so-called ‘stimulus' bill that was without any Republican ideas. Budget busting budget. They passed cap and trade on virtually a partisan basis. Now they're driving through this government takeover of health care. You know, I really think the American people - at least at the town hall meetings that I had, George - many Americans feel that this federal government is spiraling out of control. They want to see us take a half step back and figure out how we can lower the cost of health insurance, lower the cost of health care, have a strategy for energy, put our fiscal house in order. Yet, what they see is - with all due respect to Maxine - what they hear is ‘Well, they're not working with us so we're just going to do it on our own.' That's not what the American people want."

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For additional information, contact:

The House Republican Conference Press Office at (202) 226-9000 or
Matt Lloyd (matt.lloyd@mail.house.gov)
Mary Vought (mary.vought@mail.house.gov)