Pence Calls Senate Health Care Bill 'Washington At Its Worst'

Pence Calls Senate Health Care Bill "Washington At Its Worst"

Urges Senators to reconsider partisan approach to health care reform

DECEMBER 21, 2009

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Senate voted to advance debate over a government takeover of health care:


"The American people should be appalled. In the dead of the night, when families are immersed in travel and events around the Christmas holiday, Senate Democrats advanced their latest plan for a government takeover of health care. Government-run insurance and tax increases passed by cutting backroom deals for certain states and special interests is a disappointment to millions of Americans and betrayal of their trust.

"This is not the change the American people were promised, this is Washington at its worst. Horse trading in Congress is always distasteful but it is especially repugnant when legislators trade away our values. Reports suggest that one backroom deal was enough to win support for federal funding of abortion. It is incomprehensible to think that so-called pro-life Democrats in the Senate would abandon longstanding protections for pro-life taxpayers when pro-life Democrats in the House fought successfully to prevent federal funding of abortion in their bill.

"A 2,700 page, $2.5 trillion bill that will increase taxes, raise health care costs, mandate insurance and fund abortion coverage is not what American families want to wake up to on Christmas morning. This bill and this process are Washington at its worst and, on behalf of the American people, House Republicans will continue to oppose it.

"I urge every Senator to reconsider this misguided and partisan approach to legislation that will impact the lives of every American. And I especially urge those Senators with the privilege of representing the great state of Indiana, to give special consideration to Hoosier families and their values and reject this bill.  The American people and the people of Indiana will remember which Senator stood for freedom and our values by opposing this legislation and which Senator followed the party line in support of a government takeover of health care." 

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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)