Mike Pence: “I rise this evening grievously concerned about the direction this House may be going as it considers the bankruptcy…”

“I rise this evening grievously concerned about the direction this House may be going as it considers the bankruptcy conference report. G.K. Chesterton once said, the reformer is always right about what is wrong, and he is generally wrong about what is right. But we in this House may have the opportunity to do the work of reformers and the obligation to do what is right this week. The bankruptcy reform bill has languished in Congress, Mr. Speaker, since before many of us were Members, including me. Many Members of both houses labored tirelessly to reform the old law. I honor them for their outstanding work. I especially respect those from this House who worked so diligently and faithfully as conferees. They did produce a bill that will eliminate many of the abuses in the current system, encourage personal responsibility, reduce bogus filings, and will put spouses and children in a favored position in collecting obligations owed them by those who seek to hide behind our country's bankruptcy laws. Yet, Mr. Speaker, if this House sends this bankruptcy conference report to the President, without question we will have reformed the system, but we will not have done the right thing.”