Democrats Are Trampling On Rules Of House And Senate To Pass Health Care

Statement

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence delivered the following remarks today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in opposition to the Democrats' government takeover of health care:

"The Democrat health care bill that's being brought through the Congress this week is nothing more than a government takeover of health care, and the American people know it. I know the administration doesn't like us to use that phrase, but come on. When you mandate that every American purchase health insurance whether they want it or need it or not, you mandate that every business provide it, you create a massive government-run bureaucracy exchange that mandates what's in insurance plans, you wrap that all in about $1 trillion worth of spending, that's a government takeover of health care.

"But what's really remarkable about this whole business is that not only the American people rejected this plan but Democrats are so desperate to pass it that they're willing to trample on the traditional rules of the House and Senate and even trample on the Constitution of the United States to get it done.

"The Constitution provides that a bill becomes a law if it's passed the House of Representatives and the Senate. Democrats actually don't have the votes to pass the Senate bill, so they've decided they're going to try and pass the bill without a vote.

"Well that would be news to the Founders of this country, and a betrayal of the commitment of every Member of this Congress to the American people. I urge the Speaker, if you have the votes for the Senate bill, bring it to the floor. If you don't, let's scrap the bill and start over for the American people."

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