INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Rep. Mike Pence told a crowd of “tea party” supporters Monday that Democrats in Congress don’t have enough votes to pass President Barack Obama’s health care reform legislation — a bill that he warned would bring “job-killing taxes.”
The third-ranking House Republican addressed a crowd that filled the Indiana Statehouse’s south lawn for a “Kill the Bill” rally held by the Indianapolis Tea Party.
Pence told the crowd, estimated by state police at about 650 attendees, that people in his congressional district and across the state and nation are angry and don’t like the legislation. He said it would bring a “government takeover of health care.”
“We don’t want a massive government bureaucracy paid for by job-killing taxes during the worst economy in 25 years,” he told demonstrators as they loudly chanted, “Kill the bill.”
The hourlong rally began with “God Bless America” and other patriotic songs as some in the crowd waved American flags and signs such as “Obamacare is unconstitutional” and “Kill the bill, not the elderly.”
Pence said some Democrats are wrong in boasting that they have the votes to pass the bill.
“No matter what you see on TV, no matter the proud posturing and prognostication of the White House and Congress, I got news for you — they don’t have the votes,” he said to cheers.
As Democrats search for supporters on a crucial vote on health care legislation that could come this week, Pence said they’ve turned to Indiana’s congressional delegation. He said Democrats are wooing “a couple of holdouts” and urged demonstrators to tell their congressmen to vote against the bill.
“We gotta make sure our congressmen from Indiana don’t take the bait,” he said.
