Pence Joins Forces With Bachmann, Tea Party Caucus

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) told reporters Monday that he intends to join forces with Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-Minn.) newly created Tea Party Caucus.

The Republican Conference Chairman only had two words to say when asked if he would join, “You Betchya!”

Pence said being a part of a caucus allows for that he hopes the Tea Party Caucus will shed light on what he has seen the American people want in Indiana and across the country.

Pence went on to blast the financial regulatory reform bill that is currently awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature. 

“This bill is nothing more than a permanent Wall Street bailout,” he said.

He continued to attack the Obama administration’s agenda by blasting the proposed extension for unemployment benefits that will be voted on by the Senate Tuesday, saying he expects legislation to return to the House.

“House Republicans believe that we can’t tax, spend or regulate ourselves back to prosperity,” Pence said. 

Boehner Says Barton Will Remain Ranking Member

Robert Hune-Kalter-Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) will continue to serve as Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee despite the Texas Republican’s widely criticized apology to BP.

“Joe Barton recanted his apology to BP last week, and apologized to colleagues today,” Boehner said during a press briefing at the Republican National Committee headquarters.

The White House had suggested that House Republicans reconsider Barton’s status, pointing out that it may be unwise to let somebody with the Congressman’s views to have such a prominent voice in shaping energy policy.

Boehener was joined at the briefing by House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Republican Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-Ind.). The Republican leaders blasted the Democrats’ for declining to submit a budget.

Barton’s apology came during BP CEO Tony Hayward’s Capitol Hill appearance last week. Barton described the White House’s attempt to have BP set up a $20 billion escrow account to handle claims arising from the Gulf Coast spill as a “shakedown.”

“I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong is subject to some sort of political pressure that … amounts to a shakedown. So I apologize,” Barton said.

Pence Criticizes Administration Over Its Response To Oil Spill

By Justine Rellosa
Talk Radio News Service

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) criticized President Barack Obama on Wednesday for not responding fast enough to the massive oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico two weeks ago. Pence also faulted the administration for not making enough equipment available to the federal response team.

“The American people deserve to know why the administration was slow to respond and why the necessary equipment was not immediately available to the region,” he told reporters.

In light of the spill, Pence said now is the time for Congress to focus on energy independence, including drilling for oil domestically, adding that House Republicans are hard at work on necessary legislation.

“The American people deserve a strategy for energy independence that is built on giving the American people access to all of our domestic resources.”

GOP Head Vows That Health Care Fight Is Not Over

By Chingyu Wang-Talk Radio News Service

House Republican Conference chair Mike Pence (R-Ind.) told reporters Tuesday that House Republicans will continue to fight against the health care legislation that was passed on Sunday and signed into law two days later.

“We are disappointed with the outcome of the vote on Sunday night; we are determined to continue to take our case against this government takeover of healthcare to the American people,” said Pence.

“This fight is not over,” Pence added.

House Republican Conference Vice Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wa.), who joined Pence, stressed that the legislation will place an economic burden on Americans.

“This bill is going to add more taxes, more requirements on our small businesses. Premiums are continuing to escalate; and CBO estimates that under the bill that just passed, premiums will increase between 10% -13%,” said Rodgers.

Stepping away from health care, Pence addressed the administration's relationship with Israel, notably the settlement issue.

“The time has come for this administration to stop bullying Israel. The whole suggestion that the construction of settlements in undisputed areas of Jerusalem is somehow an affront to the United States, or an affront to the peace process, is absurd,” said Pence.

House Approaches Historic Health Care Vote

The year-long debate over health care reform could enter its final stages Sunday as the House prepares to vote on the reform legislation passed by the Senate in December, coupled with a reconciliation bill to add key amendments.

Democrats expressed optimism Saturday that they will have the 216 votes needed to pass the legislation, despite wariness exhibited by a number of those within the party and virtually no Republican backing.

"We’re on the threshold," President Barack Obama told the Democratic Caucus during an afternoon trip to the Capitol to shore up support. "After a year of debate, after every argument has been made, by just about everybody, we’re 24 hours away." 

However, some Republicans are less convinced that Sunday's vote will favor Democrats.

"We still have yet to see an official whip count that they have the 216 needed to pass," a senior Republican aide told Talk Radio News. "Until [Democratic] leadership confirms the vote and/or the vote happens, it is still losing."

Republican Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-Ind.) conceded that the majority party may pass the controversial legislation, but argued that Republicans could still ultimately benefit.

"I don't know ... whether victory will come on the third Sunday in March or on the first Tuesday in November, but victory will come," Pence said, referencing November's mid-term elections.

If the legislation passes, the Senate health care legislation will become law. The upper-chamber will then hold a vote to approve the reconciliation bill.