Mike Pence Disagrees With Mitch McConnell: Health Care Repeal Is Possible Before 2012

WASHINGTON -- Highlighting what may be a sign of coming disagreements over strategy between House and Senate Republican leaders, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) insisted that he remains "hopeful" that Congress will be able to repeal health care reform -- regardless of whether President Obama is re-elected in 2012 and in contrast to comments by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

In a recent speech at the conservative Heritage Foundation, McConnell said that although Republicans will hold a vote on repealing health care reform, "the only way to do all these things it is to put someone in the White House who won't veto any of these things." Speaking to the Federalist Society's annual conference on Thursday, McConnell added that they will be counting on the courts to declare the law unconstitutional.

"Look, the House Republicans will not rest until we repeal Obamacare lock, stock and barrel," said Pence when asked by The Huffington Post about McConnell's remarks. The congressman was a featured speaker at the conservative group's conference on Friday.

"I wouldn't deign to question the evaluation of any peer, but oftentimes people leave the American people out of the equation," he continued. "House Republicans are going to work tirelessly to repeal Obamacare and start over with health care reform that focuses on lowering the cost of health insurance without growing the size of government. Assuming we pass that legislation, we'll take that case not only to the Senate and to the White House, but we'll take it to the American people. I think the American people don't want a government takeover of health care. They want Congress to scrap Obamacare and start over, and I continue to be hopeful that as we step forward and aggressively move toward repealing Obamacare that you'll see public sentiment build in such a way that what may not seem possible today in Washington, D.C., could become possible even before the next election."

In an interview with Fox News this week, Pence also took what the blog GOP 12 called a "swipe" at McConnell. Fox News host Bret Baier asked whether the Republican leadership "gets it." When Pence replied that House Republicans sure do, Baier followed up, "Are you distinguishing between Senate Republicans?"

"I think House Republicans get it," repeated Pence. "I think that the opportunity for Republicans in the House of Representatives to provide that check on the big government liberalism of this administration is very real."

"And you'd say that to Mitch McConnell, as well?" asked Baier. Smiling, Pence again replied, "I think House Republicans get it."

Comments

[ArbitorA]

03:43 AM on 12/16/2010

Why should I or anyone else continue to pay higher premiums and taxes because slackers supporting Pence and Repugnants like him want others to pay for their health care? What a bunch of dead weight.

If they repeal the individual mandate and we are back to square one, then draconian measures need to be introduced to collect from these leaches!!. Impound all of their assets (e.g., home, cars, wages, social security) until we the medical debt is paid in full -- with interest!!!

This mindset is a drag on our economy, our health, and our future as a great nation.

[Billyguitar]

01:07 PM on 11/30/2010

Too bad there isn't an intelligence test before being allowed to be seated. Pence would surely fail.

[BookmanIIII]

09:24 PM on 11/30/2010

Pence almost makes me ashamed of being a citizen of Indiana, but this too shall pass. If people get smart about what he really stands for, they'll vote him out of office.

[jodieez]

07:20 PM on 11/23/2010

These rethugliklans will only cause misery. The represent the most heatless people on the planet

[Dellany Hall]

05:22 PM on 11/21/2010

It shows just exactly how much the middle class and poor Americans are not very important to them(repubs) if all they can think about with all that is going on here in America right now, is trying to make sure that Obama is a one term president. There are many, many, things that they need to concentrate on and making sure Obama is a one term president is NOT among them. This would be a novel idea to any of them but they should try to concentrate on how to fix the problems faced by a good portion of the citizens of this country, as in JOB creation, UI extensions, bringing back the outsourced jobs, etc., like I said this might be considered "RADICAL" by the republicans but they could start by trying to help the very people that put them in office instead of concentrating on their HATE for our president. Even the republicans should be able to accomplish this little feat as it is not rocket science. As far as McConnell he needs to either LEAD, FOLLOW or just plain get the F out of the way so someone else can. I don't like McConnell and don't know of many people that do which in and of itself is a big statement. This man is not happy and it shows in his character or lack thereof.

[Grant Morrison]

10:55 AM on 11/21/2010

..

PLEASE.

WHAT is "get it"?

Do these people KNOW what a NOUN is? What "is" is?

Painful.

.

[moneyman1]

10:24 AM on 11/21/2010

"Birthers" need to check on citizenship of Elaine Chao - former labor sec'y under G. Bush and wife of Seantor Mitch McConnell.

[Paul Russell]

03:45 PM on 11/20/2010

Sounds about right. Republicans are absolutely clueless with policy matters and will get embarrassed trying to repeal Health Care

[Dellany Hall]

03:31 PM on 11/21/2010

They are an embarrasement anyway even without trying to repeal the healthcare. They meaning all of our congressmen and senators whether dem or repub. are so clueless that you would think they are from another planet. In my opinion I think they need to be ON another planet for what little good they do us here on this one.

[ThatsTheTheWayItIs]

11:04 AM on 11/20/2010

There is no "mandate" to buy insurance, just a tax on the uninsured, it is absolutely Constitutional.

There is no mandate that you have children but you pay less tax if you do. This is the same, essentially a deduction or tax credit for having health insurance, a tax increase on the uninsured. But since more credits will be given to help buy insurance than penalties assessed, overall it is not a tax increase.

That's how it works here in MA with Romney Care. I'm not insured, I am not breaking the law.

[KathyinCT]

10:21 AM on 11/20/2010

If House Republicans are going to "WORK TIRELESSLY" to repeal healthcare legislation . . . . .

what happened to "We LISTENED to the American people, WE HEARD YOU -- we know your priorities are JOBS, JOBS, JOBS . . . . . ."

Putting more people back into the "no coverage" pool, leaving more sick people with nowhere to turn, will NOT CREATE JOBS -- it will ONLY CREATE MISERY.

And if fewer people seek care because they have no coverage, it will result in JOB CUTS -- fewer workers needed. Hospitals across the country are ALREADY cutting jobs.

Reflecting on this situatio -- we listened, we know, jobs jobs jobs, NOW let's go take down NPR. We listened, we know, jobs jobs jobs, NOW let's work TIRELESSLY to take down healthcare . . . .. ..

One is forced to concluded that the Republicans are either:

1) NOT LISTENING at all, just mouthing words they think people want to hear, OR

2) LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH, with no intention of doing anything about jobs, while following their secret take down Obama agenda, OR

3) CLUELESS -- they don't have a single, solitary idea about what to do to create jobs (they never create, they only say no and tear down).

Let us pray that Obama, Pelosi, Reid and a united Democratic front can stop them from finishing the havoc started by President Bush, and truly destroying what's left of America.

GOP are the anti-American people, anti-patriots out to

[justan olnamvet]

10:57 AM on 11/20/2010

The GOP has no idea what the American people say or think,nor would they care.

[Grant Morrison]

10:56 AM on 11/21/2010

..

Repulican'ts think "the American people" are Corporations.

.

[philss]

10:10 AM on 11/20/2010

this idiot just wants to run for president
bah humbug

[TruepatriotinRI]

10:06 AM on 11/20/2010

"I wouldn't deign to question the evaluation of any peer, but oftentimes people leave the American people out of the equation," he continued...................................Which "people" would do such a thing? Oh right, the party of SATAN!

[justan olnamvet]

09:58 AM on 11/20/2010

Looks like Spence is politicking for the Chairmanship of the national Death Panel.

[comicpro]

09:52 AM on 11/20/2010

Another GOP with Presidential aspirations who will destruct and repeal just to pander to people who are voting against their own interests. I heard this clown call the President the "boy who wanted to be President" and I aughed in his face and then proceeded to call him out for his hypocrisy. He is a Government employee! So i asked him does he have HC and of course he said yes. He is all for repealing the HC Bill so I told him to give up his HC and make sure he tells his family why he is doing it!!! His wife was so angry with him she left! I am still laughing and of course he is ex-military who tend to vote GOP. So he is getting a GOVERNMENT retirement check,is a Government civilian with Government funded HC!!!!

[justan olnamvet]

10:02 AM on 11/20/2010

"boy"? His racism is showing.

[firewmn]

09:52 AM on 11/20/2010

you watch.. Mike Pence is gainf steam and power. He WILL make a run in 2012.

Gleams of Power distorts the brain.. just ask Palin..

[firewmn]

09:55 AM on 11/20/2010

gaining...

[thekid360]

09:51 AM on 11/20/2010

GOP party of " no",so if anyone else wants to do something, anything. These guys come along and say Oh NO we will not do anything, and will undue anything that you do. What a concept, unbelievable. However they did not get the power to do nothing by themselves, they got this power by voters who did nothing,the most glaring was the "NON Voters" on Nov. 2. So they had help with their agenda. I think I'll go get treatment for something why I still have something.