Pence hails fellow GOP governors in weekly address
(CNN) - While Washington lawmakers are mired in stalemate, Republican governors are pushing through laws that "preserve freedom," Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said in Saturday's weekly GOP address.
The first-term Republican, who began the remarks by blasting President Barack Obama's health care law, said that those governors provide an alternative to waiting on lawmakers in Washington to achieve meaningful change.
The fight over Obama's health law will has persisted over the summer, with some Republicans arguing for a plan that would tie funding the federal government to stripping Obamacare of its financing.
Read the full GOP weekly address below:
"Hello, I'm Indiana Governor Mike Pence."These are difficult days for too many Americans. Our economy isn't growing as fast as we would like, and businesses aren't creating as many jobs as we need. In states like Indiana, we're working every day to give people more freedom to grow their businesses, but the over-regulation, higher taxes and new mandates coming from Washington, D.C. are stifling our economy and hurting efforts being made in states across the country.
"Everywhere I go in Indiana, I meet business owners and workers who are in survival mode. They're trying to figure out how to survive the new normal of more regulations, higher taxes and the impending costs and mandates of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
"As implementation of this law gets closer, we are learning more about the burdens it will place on hardworking Americans. In Indiana, the Affordable Care Act will raise the average cost of health insurance in the individual market by an unaffordable 72 percent.
"In addition, the Obama Administration is creating confusion in the marketplace, from its suspension of the cap on out-of-pocket expenses, to providing subsidies without verifying income, to a one-year suspension of the employer mandate, this health care law is weighing down our economy. It's costing jobs, discouraging investment and making the future bleak for too many families.
"But there is an alternative to waiting on Washington, D.C. to come to its senses and more Americans are realizing every day that the cure for what ails this country is starting to emerge… not in our nation's capital but in our nation's state capitals.
"All across this country, 30 Republican governors are working hard to push back and preserve freedom. While Washington raises taxes, Republicans governors are cutting them. As Washington stifles job growth by adding new regulations, Republican governors are adding jobs by eliminating unneeded regulations and bringing fresh approaches to some of the nation's greatest challenges.
"Nowhere is this more true than in health care. Here in Indiana, we run a nationally-recognized program called the Healthy Indiana Plan. The Healthy Indiana Plan offers the uninsured an affordable health care plan with savings accounts that they control. Giving people in Indiana more freedom and more responsibility over their health care has improved outcomes and now 95 percent our plan's enrollees are satisfied with their coverage. This is a perfect example of the truth that by letting freedom and personal responsibility work together, you reduce the need for government. Republican governors understand this truth, and the proof is in our results. In balanced budgets, lower taxes and less regulation that's promoting job growth.
"These are tough times, and this health care law may make them tougher still. That's why we should always remember on whose shoulders we stand– and never forget as President Reagan reminded us, that 'the states that created the federal government, the federal government didn't create the states.' Our founders insisted that protecting the states' power to govern themselves was vital to limit the power of Washington and preserve freedom. They were right then, and as Republican governors are proving every day, they are even more right now. More freedom and flexibility for the principled leadership emerging in states across this nation can and will promote good healthcare and a healthy economy.
"Thanks for listening."
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What is it about universal access to health care that Republicans hate?
It's working in the rest of the world and actually works well in an economy that mirrors our own – Canada. Where countries are in trouble economically, it is not the people trying to stay healthy that is hurting them.
The only explanation is greed and mean-spiritedness by those who think going to church once or twice a week makes them followers of Jesus.
Blast health care, when it was a copy of their own plan to begin with. Blast the economy, which they destroyed to begin with (on a world wide basis). Blast gun control, which they banned assult weapons to begin with (remember W). Blast job creation, which they destroyed to begin with (the President can not make jobs but congress can). Blast everything and take no responsibility for it, but it still comes down too one thing. The GOTP has become the American Fascist Party, bent on destruction of this country. The only way to stop them peacefully is to vote them out of office.
'the states that created the federal government, the federal government didn't create the states.' Our founders insisted that protecting the states' power to govern themselves was vital to limit the power of Washington and preserve freedom. They were right then,
Guess there should not have been a Civil War after all.
Mr. Pence you and your GOP cronies have done nothing to help the economy over the past several years and the American people know it. The group of people you are preaching to in your pity letter is getting smaller and smaller. You GOP have had several opportunity to make Obamacare better but you chose not to, so deal with it.
Yours truly ex-Republican voter.
I'm disappointed in the GOP/Tea party. They continue the madness without any real solutions, just animous towards anything government. I just don't know how anyone that could call themselves GOP/Conservative can support this constant barrage of misguided policies in an attempt to gain power.
Repub governors are "preserving" the "freedom" of their base to oppress the rights of others (anyone who doesn't share their narrow version of Christianity, gays, minorities and women).
This is the legacy of losing the 2010 elections to these hateful, vindictive, ignorant Repubs – and why Dems need to turn out to vote in DROVES in November 2014.
If Repubs knew how to "promote good healthcare and a healthy economy," then where are their proposals?
Obamacare is based on the individual mandate designed by the Heritage Foundation and successfully implemented in Mass under Romney.
Trickle-down economics, tax cuts for the rich, deregulation – all tried and failed.
So again, if Repubs know so much – and have a track record of success to point to – then WHERE IS IT? All they've got is restricting the rights of women, gays, minorities, workers so they can coddle their rich, multinational patrons.
Repubs and their policies are failures. All they've got to offer is social restrictions that make their self-centered, intolerant, low-information voting base somehow feel superior to everyone else who isn't like them. Anything to keep their base from realizing the GOP is screwing them over ...
Wow,
Old Gunderson not believe what he read here. So why you blame someone else for you failure? Like or not, it still a do-it-yourself-world. You wait for Dum-Dum in White House do for you, you never get ahead. You in driver's seat. Take reins and start driving! When you get flat tire you no know how to change? Time you learn. Country go hell in hand basket. You like? You got.
Republicans, suppressing the people of the USA in the greatest numbers and they call that freedom. They have twisted minds.
The only path for freedom and getting back our rights is to DEFEAT the REPUBLICANS, in every state. DEFEAT through voting, if you can vote.
Preserve freedom? Binding is not freedom. Anti-choice, anti-free will, dividing American's is not freedom, it is the work of evil. It's deceit.
Have to love these politicians who throw around the word "Freedom" as if they actually cared about it. All the GOP wants to do is take your freedom away.
More point and blame by el blameo and his blogger brown nosers, enjoy what you voted for.
I'm sorry but how does closing women's health centers and making it harder to vote preserve freedom? This seems to be stifling freedom. Many Republicans go nuts when they talk about taking away their second amendment rights. How about taking away your 15th amendment rights? Can you say hypocrisy?
"preserve freedom," Indiana Gov. Mike Pence ?
Do you remember his arrogance of Pence during the election .
Romney / Pence ?
Cold somebody tell this fool that health care law was a rethug idea embraced by them until our first Black President made it happened then it was a bad idea? Does he know that Hawaii and Massachusetts (under their twit) have helthcard laws and I can attest to it because my brother in law has been lucky enough to use it and not go bankrupt?
As far as preserving freedom please look in the mirror and you will see that those freedoms that are being take away for women, gays, seniors, veterans and pretty much every American with the right to vote but they now have to jump through hoops?
I Amrit sure hitler called what h was doing in Germany/Europe freedom too. His sick twisted Gestapo freedom. The new rethugs/teatrolls/McCarthy crowd.
Pinhead Pence and the other ALEC puppet govenors are controlled by the Koch Brothers. They don't care about Americans
These people are amazing ....They want power back and planned to achieve that by keeping people from voting against their stupid ideas. You can can't make this up. Vote out anything that looks or smells like the GOP/Tea party from any aspect of our government.
The stock market is at near or history highs.
Q. What have Republicans done to make this happen?
A. Absolutely nothing.
We get it. Duly noted. Now what can you do to get this country back to working again? Hint: Fighting with President Obama is not working. Try something a bit original – like actually caring for ALL of the people in this country, not just the almighty 1%.
–Americans pay more for health care then anyone else in the world
–Americans receive the worst quality treatment of almost every industrialized nation
I have to wonder if Pence and the rest of the GOTP put on their aluminum foil hats before the recite the NitWit Pledge, or are those only reserved for The Village Idiot meetings (otherwise known as TeaParty Meetings).
@nothingatall: Well, i am quite an empathizer. True, that republicans have done nothing, but everything takes 2 to tango. How is the 40+ budget plans sent from the republican controlled house going through the Democratically controlled Senate? i guess other people here live in democratic areas and need this support system from the Government, but i make more then $20k, and i dont qualify for even going to a local foodshelf, cash assistance, or housing assistance, soo
The GOP is going down in 2014!!!!! Believe it, just vote their own voters won't vote for them!!!!!
Question: Why does the GOP want to dismantle the Affordable Healthcare Law? Very simple answer: They do not want to help poor Americans and those that are uninsured. They spew untruths about the law. And the American people watch Fox news and listen to others instead of looking at the law an d realize it will help them. But unfortunately we are not a very intelligent society. And they do not like the Black President in the White House. They did not like him from day one. Regardless what he does for America (and he has accomplished a lot for the American people: how about ending an unjust war for one) it is not right because he is Black.....Unfortunate but those who are not haters will overcome those who hate and only care about themselves!
The Republcian Party: Another century of opposing progress, obstructing reforms, denying benefits to people, and waging war on women, minorites, justice, equality and common sense. Calling on all voters to shoot themselves on the foot, believe their lies and work harder for corporate America's benefit. Business as usual.