Roe: The American People Cannot Afford More Empty Rhetoric

Statement

Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) released the following statement on the claim that President Obama would sit down with House Republicans:

"Today, President Obama repeated his claim that he would be happy to go over ObamaCare with House Republicans. You're going to have to forgive me if I am skeptical that will happen.

"In July 2009, the president said he'd be happy to go over the bill line-by-line at a public rally in Virginia. I wrote him and asked to go over it with him. Despite then-White House press secretary Robert Gibbs' public statement at a news briefing that he would "forward the request to scheduling to get it done,' I have yet to hear back from the White House about scheduling this meeting.

"In September 2009, I was joined by Representatives Price, Scalise, Cassidy and Chaffetz when I reiterated my request to meet after the president said in his speech to Congress, "If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open.' I have yet to hear back in response to that request.

"In December 2009, I reiterated my request in a letter, but did not hear back.

"In January 2010, at a meeting with the House Republican Conference, the president was asked by Rep. Chaffetz about our request to meet, but again he declined to take us up on our offer.

"In June 2011, I personally spoke with the president after a meeting with the House Republican Conference and asked him to meet with the GOP Doctors Caucus to discuss our concerns with his law. He and his staff did not respond to my requests.

"After declining five good-faith offers to sit down and discuss our differences, it's hard for me to believe that the president's offer today is anything more than a smokescreen designed to make him appear reasonable while refusing to negotiate on anything.

"Simply put, the American people cannot afford more empty rhetoric. We're very fortunate to live in a country where we have the opportunity to elect leaders to Washington who can negotiate on our behalf. My constituents didn't send me to Washington to shut down the government; they sent me to Washington to fight for conservative principles, to cut spending, and to lower taxes. They also elected me to push back against a deeply flawed law the American people do not want. Negotiating with Congress may be inconvenient for the president, but it's part of his job. It's time we sit down, talk about these differences and find a path forward. I stand ready to work with the president."

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