John DuBois- New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Dore Gold, a former Isreali Diplomat, joined with Republican House members Wednesday to discuss the threat posed by a nuclear armed Iran.

“We are in a dangerous position with Iran,” said Gold. “The time is five minutes before midnight and we cannot drag this out,” Gold added, a reference to the symbolic doomsday clock that tracks the possibility of nuclear weapons use.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) stated that he feels concerned and “fears a policy of engagement with Iran will lead down a dangerous path.”

The speakers stated that the International Atomic Agency reports a steady growth in low enriched uraninium stocks linked with Iran and that the Islamic Republic is steadily working on the production of warheads.

“The time is now for Congress to in act the strongest sanctions against the regime in Iran,” Rep Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said, referring to the proposed Iran Petroleum Sanctions Act. Pence called upon Democrats to support the legislation.

Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Rep. David Camp (R-Mich.) claimed Tuesday that during the numerous town hall meetings held throughout the August recess, the focus was not just on health care reform. The top question being asked was: “Where are the jobs?”

Camp noted during a pen and pad session with reporters that only three counties in his district do not have a double digit unemployment rate, with one county nearing 16%.

The Congressmen touched upon health care reform, both reiterating their opposition to the public option.

“The American people don’t want another health care speech. They want another health care plan,” said Pence.

Camp added, “The public option is not the only concern,” but is “the most offensive part of the bill, because it will lead to many losing health insurance they already have.”

When asked how will President Obama’s joint address to Congress Wednesday will be received, Pence responded “The Republicans will welcome the President back into the Congress respectfully.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) issued a statement Friday calling for Van Jones, a member of President Barack Obama’s Council on Environmental Quality, to resign from his position, and urged the President to suspend future appointments of “Czars” pending a Congressional review.

“Given recent revelations concerning the associations and statements of the president’s green jobs czar, Van Jones should resign his position and if he is unwilling to do so, the president should demand his resignation. His extremist views and coarse rhetoric have no place in this Administration or the public debate,” said Pence, who is the Chairman of the House Republican Conference.

Jones, who declared himself a “communist” at one point in the 1990’s, apologized on Wednesday for signing a 2004 petition calling on former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and others to launch an investigation into evidence that suggests Bush administration officials may have knowingly allowed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to happen.

In the apology, Jones said, “I do not agree with this statement and it certainly does not reflect my views now or ever.”

Yesterday, Jones issued a second mea culpa, this time for disparaging remarks he made about the GOP prior to becoming a member of the Obama administration. Responding to a question following a lecture on energy he gave in Berkely, Calif. this past February, Jones called Republicans “assholes.”

“In recent days some in the news media have reported on past statements I made before I joined the administration…If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize,” stated Jones in his apology, adding that the remarks “do not reflect the views of this administration.”

In his statement, Pence called for additional oversight for the appointment of Czars, whose positions do not require Senate confirmation.

“In the wake of these recent revelations, the president should suspend any further appointments of so-called ‘czars’ until Congress has an opportunity to examine the background and responsibilities of these individuals and to determine the constitutionality of such appointments, which have spanned multiple administrations,” he said.

By Joseph Russell- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) decried what he describes as society’s “evolving attitude” on marriage Thursday.

“Take a hard look at what marriage means in society, in the law and in the culture,” Pence urged listeners during a speech to the Young America’s Foundation Conference.

Pence stressed that the marriage debate should focus on the traditional values, such as love and trust.

The Young America’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization that focuses on conservative education and advocacy for students around the country.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) says the country needs to reflect on the importance of marriage. (0:19).

 

 Standard Podcast [0:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) says that popular culture has made alternative lifestyles more tolerable, adding that views on marriage have become an “Evolving Attitude”. (0:15).

 

 Standard Podcast [0:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) says that Republicans and fiscally conscious Democrats are about to make history by opposing government-run health care, but they need the American public to help. He urges citizens to call Capitol Hill (0:37).

 

 Standard Podcast [0:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Joseph Russell- Talk Radio News Service

There are at least two things lawmakers agree upon in Washington regarding health care reform. First, it must be done. Second, it’s becoming a nightmare.

The nightmare for Democrats is being caused by growing bipartisan objection for a government run health care system. Republicans like House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), say the bill is a “bureaucratic nightmare” for the American public.

On Tuesday, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said that House Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats “are on the verge of an historic victory for the American taxpayers and the American health care economy” by opposing a government run health care system.

Said Pence, “Under the Democrat plan, according to independent analysis, you’ll probably lose your health insurance and you might just lose your job.”

Governor Haley Barbour from Mississippi pointed out that the current proposal is nothing more than a huge unfunded mandate for states, and will hurt senior citizens through sweeping Medicare cuts. Moreover, Barbour said that the inevitable cost and tax increases will cripple most small businesses in most states.

Nevertheless, congressional recess is set to begin Friday, and without a proposal for health care reform in sight, it’s unknown whether members of Congress will be able to leave for vacation on time.

By Sam Wechsler – Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) stated Monday that “when you look at the Democrat proposal [for health care reform], it’s clear that it’s going to drive the cost of health care even higher.”

A few minutes later, down the hall of the Capitol, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said, “I don’t think we ought to be talking about what it’s going to cost us to do this plan. What we should be talking about is what is it going to cost us if we don’t do this.”

The differing partisan opinions didn’t end there.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) pointed out that the CEO of a top insurance company earned $24 million in compensation this past year. “It’s time to add more competition and more choice,” he said.

“If the Democrats get their way on health care, you’ll probably lose your health insurance and you might just lose your job,” House Republican Chair Mike Pence said Monday (R-Ind.). Pence cited White House chief economic advisor Christina Romer in saying that the business tax hikes alone will kill up to 4.7 million jobs. Boehner added that the tax hikes will disproportionately hit small businesses the most.

Meanwhile, House Democratic Chair John Larson (D-Conn.) estimated that close to 16,000 small business employees in Boehner’s district would be able to get health insurance thanks to Democratic health care reform. Larson also claimed that 91,000 people would have access to health insurance in Pence’s district.

Said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), “This is about the American people. It’s about making them healthier, more economically secure, and to have more choices in their lives.”

Boehner, however, disagreed with the Speaker.

“At a time when most Americans are asking the question ‘where are the jobs?’ we don’t need to be instituting policies that will drive the cost of employment higher….and raise the unemployment rate,” he argued.

By Laura Woodhead – Talk Radio News Service

The energy and health care proposals currently being debated in Congress will be disastrous for the economy, House Republicans said at a press conference Tuesday. Speaking following the weekly House Republican conference, Rep. Mike Pence (R – Ind.) said that the Democrats seem determined to try and pass their bills despite the negative impact they’ll have on an already challenged economy. If it were to pass, the American Clean Energy Act and the Democrats’ health care plan would be a “disaster for this economy and a disaster for working Americans” he said.

“House Republicans are determined to step forward and demand that this Congress focus on putting this country back on its feet,” Pence added.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said that there is a strong bi-partisan coalition opposing the current health care proposals.

“Either this bill fails or it changes dramatically,” Cantor said. “If the bill fails it will be because of disagreement among the Democrats as to the proper direction to head as far as health care reform is concerned.”

“This administration, this President has no one else to blame,” he added. “What they ought to be doing is coming to work with us in order to reflect a much more reasoned approach to try and accomplish health care for the American people.”

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio.) said that the “President is going to begin his barnstorming” on bills that will kill jobs.

“The stimulus bill isnt working, they bring along this health care bill that will cost 5 million jobs, and they bring this cap and trade bill up last month that will cost us 2.5 million jobs each year for the next ten years. This is not what the American people want.”

Boehner called on President Obama to abandon current health care proposals and negotiate with Republicans in order to achieve economically feasible health care reform.

“Mr President, it’s time to scrap this bill. It’s time to start working in a bi-partisan way,” he said.