Mike Pence: “House Republicans know we are in a serious recession. The American people are hurting, and despite the claims by some in…”

“House Republicans know we are in a serious recession. The American people are hurting, and despite the claims by some in the administration and some here on the House floor, House Republicans know that Congress must act and must act now to deal with this serious economic downturn affecting America's businesses and families. Despite the accusations of some that Republicans want to do nothing, because somehow a choice between one party that wants to do something and another party that wants to do nothing, I was struck, Mr. Speaker, this morning when even the Washington Post called that allegation a straw man. In fact, the choice before us here today is whether or not we will move the legislation that's now become a back-room deal that has the size and magnitude of the entire discretionary budget of the United States of America, whether we will move that bill without any input whatsoever from House Republicans. But this is not an argument about who had their say. This is an argument about what would be the best solution to deal with these challenging economic times. Republicans oppose this bill because this back-room deal is simply a long wish list of big government spending that won't work to put Americans back to work.”