"It doesn't matter where you sit, it matters where you stand and today House Republicans will stand with the American people"

Contact: Matt Lloyd, 202-226-4379 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2011 /Standard Newswire/ -- U.S. Congressman Mike Pence gave the following speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today regarding the vote to repeal the government takeover of health care:

"You know there is a lot of talk these days around here about where Members of Congress are going to sit during the State of the Union Address.  Well, I've been in Congress for ten years and I learned a long time ago it doesn't really matter where you sit.  It matters where you stand.  And today House Republicans are going to stand with the American people and vote to repeal their government takeover of health care lock, stock and barrel. 

"Now I know the other side and some liberals in the media don't like us using that term-government takeover of health care-but let me break it down for you: When you mandate that every American purchase health insurance whether they want it or need it or not, you mandate that every business provide health insurance, you send people to a government-run exchange, you pay for it with hundreds of billions of dollars in higher taxes and mandates and you throw in public funding of abortion against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the American people, that's a government takeover of health care and the American people know it. 

"I urge all of my colleagues in both political parties to join us today as we keep our promise to the American people, as we scrap this health care reform bill of last year and start over with health care reform that will lower the cost of health insurance without growing the size of government."