By Meagan Wiseley – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) told reporters at a pen and pad session Monday that U.S. President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress should be focused on jobs and the economic recession, not climate change.

“House Republicans continue to believe that…jobs are the number one priority of the American people, and should be the number one priority of this Congress,” Pence said.

According to a press release from Pence’s office, the Republican leader believes President Obama should “address serious concerns before traveling to Copenhagen” for the United Nations global climate change summit.

“At the time of double-digit unemployment, the last thing our country needs is a jobs-killing cap and trade scheme on our families and small businesses by bureaucrats at the United Nations,” the statement added.

In his remarks before reporters, Pence also said that if Obama enters the U.S. into a political agreement to reduce carbon emissions, U.S. small businesses would be at a “competitive disadvantage to those developing countries who have pledged to protect their growing economies from international carbon caps.”

Natural Resources Defense Council Policy Director Jake Schmidt says many countries have agreed to concessions as a result of the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, but says the United States still needs to become a player. (0:21)

 

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U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) says the United States has two options when it comes to climate change: Voluntarily pass climate protection legislation now, or face federal regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency later. (0:27)

 

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