Pence: Congress Must Come Together to Repeal Obamacare

Vice President Mike Pence reassured Iowans President Donald Trump “is a man of his word” and “a man of action” as he pressured skittish GOP senators to move on passing a partial repeal of Obamacare. He spoke during a speech Saturday at the state’s third annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser.

After cruising alongside Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on his own motorcycle to the Central Iowa Expo, Pence cast aside his helmet and thanked Ernst for her “motorcycle lessons.” The vice president then called upon voters to hold their elected officials accountable and urged them to push forward Trump’s “America first” legislative agenda.”

“As the president said, this administration was elected to represent the people of Pittsburgh, not Paris. How great is it to have a president who is more concerned with Des Moines than Denmark?”

“President Trump has been working tirelessly with Iowa’s conservative leaders in Washington every single day to keep the promises he’s made to the American people,” Pence said. “President Donald Trump is a man of his word. He’s a man of action. And President Donald Trump has brought America back, and the world knows it.”

Trump snatched Iowa away from former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s grasp by nine percentage points on Election Day — even though Democratic former President Barack Obama carried the state in both 2008 and 2012. But with the fate of Obamacare hanging in the balance as the House’s bill languishes in the Senate for consideration, many Iowans have grown nervous.

Pence sought to encourage Iowans by reminding them of all that Trump has accomplished this far in just four months in office after the state helped give Trump and Pence their “historic victory.”

“Since day one of this administration, President Trump has been fighting tirelessly to make America safe again, to make America prosperous again,” Pence said. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, American businesses are growing again. They’re investing in America again. They’re creating jobs here in Iowa and all across this country instead of shipping jobs overseas. In fact, thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the strong support we have from Iowa in Congress, over 600,000 new private-sector jobs have been created this year, and unemployment is at its lowest level in 16 years.”

Noting that Trump has been “reigning in big government” and “repealing senseless policies in Washington, D.C.,” such as the Waters of the United States rule, Pence said the president has been “restoring access to foreign markets for American farmers.” In addition, he said, Trump has “been busy securing our borders, ending illegal immigration, removing dangerous criminals off the streets of our cities, and, in fact, illegal immigration on our southern border is already down more than 60 percent this year alone.”

And most recently, Pence championed Trump’s Thursday announcement that he was withdrawing the U.S. from the Obama-era Paris Agreement on climate change.

“He put America first. You know, as the president explained, the Paris accord punished the United States, no doubt about it,” Pence said. “As the president said, this administration was elected to represent the people of Pittsburgh, not Paris. How great is it to have a president who is more concerned with Des Moines than Denmark?”

“And I just couldn’t have been more proud this week to be standing with a president who chose to put American workers and American jobs first, who chose to put American energy and American industry first,” Pence added. “I want to submit to you that by withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, President Donald Trump chose to put the forgotten men and women of America first, and he always will.”

Although Pence expressed his unfailing optimism and pride in the work Trump and his administration have been doing, he recognized Iowans’ fears and concerns about the legislative aspect of the president’s agenda.

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“But men and women of Iowa, we’ve got more work to do. And first and foremost, this summer this Congress must come together and heed the president’s leadership, and we must repeal and replace Obamacare,” Pence said. “And working with Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. Chuck Grassley, and all the members of Congress, I know we will. The Obamacare nightmare is about to end. And it’s high time.”

Noting that Iowa is “facing a health care crisis under Obamacare,” Pence called upon Congress to “take action” and unite under Trump’s leadership and his example.

“And once we repeal and replace Obamacare, we’re going to roll our sleeves up, and working with these great leaders in Congress, we’re going to pass one of the largest tax cuts in American history,” Pence promised.

Saying that “it’s the greatest privilege of my life to serve as vice president to a president who is so committed to restoring an America of freedom, prosperity and security,” Pence vowed that “there are better days ahead” in “these challenging and divided times.”

“So just pray for America. Pray for this country,” Pence said. “I truly do believe that words that were spoken and recorded millennia ago are every bit as true today as they were then — the words that Americans have repaired to throughout much more challenging times in the life of this nation — that if His people who are called by His Name will humble themselves and pray, He’ll hear from heaven and He’ll heal this land, this ‘one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'”

“I leave you today with gratitude in my heart,” Pence concluded. “On behalf of our president, I say I’m confident that with the great support of the people of Iowa, with great leadership you’ve sent to Washington, D.C., with President Donald Trump in the White House, and with God’s help, we will make American safe again. We will make America prosperous again. And to borrow a phrase, we will make America great again.”