"The American people are starting to get wise to the Democrat plan here. They understand the Democrat agenda is nothing more than more government, more debt, more spending, a national energy tax, and a government takeover of health care."

Contact: Matt Lloyd; Mary Vought; 202-226-9000

WASHINGTON, July 9 /Standard Newswire/ -- U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following statement on the House floor today regarding President Obama's recent statement that the economic stimulus "has done its job": 

"At the close of last year it was obvious America was sliding into a serious recession, and to this very day the American people are struggling in this difficult economy. 

"In February, this Democratic Congress passed a $1 trillion stimulus bill and the results are starting to come in.  There have been 1.96 million jobs lost since the stimulus bill was signed. Unemployment was 12.4 million, it's 14.7 million today. The unemployment rate was 7.5 percent; it's 9.5 percent today, the highest in 26 years. And remarkably, the President last week said that the recovery bill had 'done its job.' Done its job?

"The American people are starting to get wise to the Democrat plan here. They understand the Democrat agenda is nothing more than more government, more debt, more spending, a national energy tax and a government takeover of health care. 

"The Republican plan is fiscal discipline for Washington, D.C. and tax relief for working families, small businesses and family farms.  The American people are hurting.  They deserve a real plan for a real recovery, not more spending, more taxes, more debt and more unemployment."

Note: To view this speech, click here.