Pence Challenges House Democrats On 'Do Nothing' Charge

Pence Challenges House Democrats On "Do Nothing" Charge

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, responded to charges from House Democrats on the House floor today that House Republicans think Congress would be better off doing nothing in response to economic problems facing the country. The following is the transcript:

House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI): "Madam Speaker, the last people in the world I will take lectures from on fiscal responsibility are those members of this House who voted for the Bush economic programs that borrowed $1.2 trillion and then took us into a war which, before it's over, will cost us another, at least, a trillion and a half dollars. Secondly, I would simply answer the gentleman's question, when he asked who is going to pay? I would ask who is going to pay if we do nothing and do not implement this package?"

Congressman Pence:  "Thank you. And I thank the gentleman for yielding.  I take a second chair to no one in this Conference in my respect for the integrity of the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee.  Mr. Obey is a man with whom I differ on a broad range of issues, but he is a man of integrity, Madam Speaker, and I come to this floor in part to acknowledge that.  But let me - and let me say also how much I appreciate that the Chairman said that he has no objection to the motion to instruct - H.R.1 - that's before the body today that would require that before any vote the House shall record its final approval the conference agreement, that the text of the agreement shall be made available in a manner in electronic, searchable and downloadable form for at least 48 hours. I commend the Chairman for that.
 
"I respectfully disagree with a statement that the Chairman just made, Madam Speaker. And it's a statement that we heard the President of the United States make last night. And, maybe it was inadvertent by the Chairman, but it is this contrast between-that somehow this debate is between people that want to do something and people that want to do nothing. That is, with great respect to the Chairman, that is not an accurate articulation of the competing positions on this bill.

"House Republicans know that we're in a recession. This is a very serious time in the life of American families and in the life of our economy.

"At the President's invitation, House Republicans brought forward a series of proposals that would bring fast-acting tax relief to working families and small businesses and family farms. And, despite President Obama's laudable call for bipartisanship, those House Republican proposals were completely excluded from this bill.

"And so to hear last night on national television and to hear today that there are those of us in the body that would do nothing, I would say respectfully to my Democratic colleagues and to this Administration: ‘Who are you talking about?' I know of no Republican in the House or the Senate who believes in these challenging economic times that we should do nothing.

"House Republicans believe simply we should do the right thing. And millions of Americans stand with us, that a massive spending bill that's nothing more than a tired wish list of leftover liberal spending priorities is the answer. We simply believe that we can do better.

"And by requiring this legislation be on the internet for 48 hours before final vote, we believe we're going to have a better opportunity to get the American people even more into that conversation than they are today. I still believe that we can achieve a bipartisan result.  I believe in the goodwill of the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and I believe in his integrity. I believe in the goodwill of a great number of my colleagues on the Democratic side, and I believe my President is sincere in saying that in these difficult economic times we ought to be coming together and bringing the best ideas from both sides of the aisle to confront this very serious recession. But, let's bring the American people into this debate.  Let's pass this motion and ensure that this bill is open to the public for 48 hours, and we'll hear what they have to say."

NOTE: To watch the video, click here.

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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)