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Fate of Boehner, Reid Debt Limit Plans UnclearBoehner rewriting plan; Reid plan saves $2.2 trillion says CBO Washington, DCWednesday, July 27, 2011 Debate and a vote on House Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) debt reduction legislation was postponed at least one day as the Speaker rewrites his bill.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis of his plan. It says it cuts $850 billion over ten years, less than the $1.2 trillion Boehner claimed it would save.  Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also postponed debate of his debt ceiling proposal until at least Thursday. Media reports say he is...

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Mike Pence is coming back to Indiana to fight Washington, D.C. Pence launched his campaign for governor Saturday with a promise to fight health care reform and federal climate change legislation. Pence also said in prepared remarks that he is running to build on many of the changes set by term-limited Gov. Mitch Daniels. Pence is vacating his congressional seat to run for governor. While he has yet to outline any specific proposals, Pence sounded a lot in his campaign kickoff like he has for the last ten years in Washington. Pence is expected to face Fishers...

Indiana GOP Rep. Mike Pence says he is not likely to support the compromise brokered Friday between Congress and the President Barack Obama, Politico reports. “From what I know, it sounds like John Boehner got a good deal,” Pence said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” adding that the cuts were “probably not good enough for me to support it.”

The rumored field of 2012 presidential hopefuls is uniting behind a plan to cut all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, aligning them with a group of House conservatives who are insisting that any final budget deal includes a policy rider to defund the organization. With less than week left for congressional leaders to reach a budget deal and avert a government shutdown, the proposed rider that would end all federal funding for Planned Parenthood remains one of the thorniest issues in the budget standoff. Some House conservatives, led by Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), have indicated they're unwilling to compromise on...

I was listening to Sean Hannity's program and Mike Pence was on the show. Hannity asked him about the media reports about GOP battling its own right wing. Pence took the side of those NOT supporting the members who want to get rid of the $105B funding of Obamacare. That is, he does not support Bachmann's proposal. He claimed he wanted to pick a fight, and that in 3 weeks he would be among those delivering the goods. Hannity specifically asked him if he would defund Obamacare in 3 weeks by opposing the $105 billion funding it has now. At...

The third time was the charm for Indiana Rep. Mike Pence’s legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, which passed the House this February and now goes to the Senate as part of a complicated continuing resolution discussion. “We’ve had staff level contact with a number of members of the United States Senate,” said Pence when asked about any discussions he’s had with the other elected chamber on whether his amendment will remain in the Senate or conference version of the final legislation. Pence said he knew when introducing that first piece of legislation to defund Planned Parenthood that it was going...

o beat Obama, Republicans must field their best candidates — now. At the approach of an election that’s likely America’s most important since 1864, many Republicans are acting as if they’re content to conduct tryouts for the jayvee. One wonders: where is the sense of urgency, the recognition of the acute need to get the best possible candidates into this defining presidential race?The comparison with 1864 is not overwrought. Then, victory in the Civil War, and hence the fate of the Union, hung in the balance. This time around, the fate of ObamaCare and, with it, the fate of limited...

Conservative insiders were not surprised by Indiana Republican Mike Pence’s decision not to run for president in 2012, but all agree his bowing out leaves the GOP nomination — in the phrase used again and again — “wide open.” One source familiar with the effort to recruit Pence tells National Review Online that while Pence “could have united the conservative movement,” his departure leaves a Republican field that “is never going to be as wide-open again.” “In six years or ten years it’s going to be an incredibly full field: The 2012 field is the Washington Nationals. Subsequent fields will...

Sen. Jim DeMint released the following statement: Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana) and U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) introduced the Tax Relief Certainty Act, a bill that would permanently extend the current individual income tax rates, which will expire on January 1, 2013, and permanently repeal the death tax. “Uncertainty is the enemy of prosperity,” said Congressman Pence. “By enacting a two-year extension on current tax rates, Congress merely extended the uncertainty that has stifled our economic growth. To encourage growth and job creation, Congress should act now to make all previous tax rates permanent and passing the...

Thanks to the persistent investigative work of young pro-life journalists, Planned Parenthood’s ruthless, money-grubbing colors are on full, fresh YouTube display. But as shocking as the illicit new videos from Live Action Films are, the routine, parental-authority-sabotaging advice the taxpayer-funded abortion racket gives teens every day deserves more front-page headline news, too. Live Action is a California-based “new media, investigative and educational organization committed to the protection and respect of all human life” led by Internet undercover pioneer Lila Rose. The group’s latest video footage at abortion clinics in Perth Amboy, N.J., the Bronx, and four cities in Virginia shows...

A Philadelphia judge Wednesday ordered an immediate trial for abortion clinic doctor Kermit Gosnell, his wife and eight employees on murder, conspiracy and other charges, saying a 300-page grand jury investigation detailing the filthy conditions and brutal practices at the clinic made a preliminary hearing unnecessary. With Dr. Gosnell appearing in court in a T-shirt and jeans, Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes cited testimony to a grand jury by some 62 witnesses about the conditions at the now-closed Women's Medical Society, where federal investigators say the illegal clinic’s practices left two women dead and routinely killed late-term babies by creating an...

In a new Republican effort to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, a new spending proposal announced Wednesday would strip away all Title X family planning funds for low-income individuals. The seven-month continuing resolution offered by House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) would remove all $327 million from the Title X program as the GOP pushes a bill that would block such funding to Planned Parenthood and other groups that offer abortion services. Planned Parenthood called it an "extreme proposal." “Unbelievably, the House Leadership has set its sights on abolishing a program that provides lifesaving and preventive care to millions...

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence delivered the following statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today regarding the need to deny federal funding to Planned Parenthood: “Mr. Speaker, it comes as a surprise to most Americans to learn that the largest abortion provider in America is also the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X. It’s heartbreaking news this morning that Planned Parenthood of America has now been the subject of one more undercover video showing someone posing as a pimp being facilitated by employees at Planned Parenthood in how to secure secret abortions, STD testing and...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- U.S. Congressman Mike Pence released the following statement today regarding an undercover video that showed potential criminal activity at a Planned Parenthood clinic in New Jersey: "The recent release of an undercover video exposing duplicity and potential criminality by an employee of Planned Parenthood is an outrage. "Every American should be shocked that an employee of the largest recipient of federal funds under Title X has been recorded aiding and abetting underage sex trafficking. "The time to deny any and all funding to Planned Parenthood is now. In the wake of yet another...

My Christmas list this year: (3) New iPad with two, count ‘em, two cameras; (2) field-level tickets to the Pro Bowl, natch; (1) Palin/DeMint primary showdown. Winner gets the nomination, loser gets the keynote address at RINOcon. Let’s do this. But the ground may be shifting in DeMint-world, and several of his closest advisers and political confidantes are now telling CNN that he is at least open to a presidential bid if a suitably conservative candidate fails to emerge from the early and wide-open GOP field… “He hasn’t completely shut the door on running, and if there is a massive...

He broke the news to supporters in a letter. Pence ended months of public speculation with a letter to supporters that he shared with the Indianapolis Star. In the choice between seeking national office and serving Indiana in some capacity, we choose Indiana,” the six-term House member wrote. I’ve worked with Rep. Pence a couple of times. He is exactly as he seems: genuine, humble, fair, smart, strongly patriotic and deeply committed to conservatism. He’ll make a great governor, and hopefully before long, a great president.

Three sources close to Republican Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana tell CNN they are told he will announce he is not running for president in 2012 and will instead begin exploring a run for governor. These sources say he has been flattered by the efforts to nudge him into the GOP presidential race but, as one of the sources put it, "he is a realist and kept coming back to questions about the fund-raising." The second source said some around Pence also have reminded him of the difficulty of mounting a presidential campaign from the House, and noted that, at...

There’s been a lot of chatter about Mike Pence and a potential Presidential bid by him. From National Review to the Washington Examiner, to George Will to others at the Washington Post, even to Erick’s post here on RedState, people are wondering will he or won’t he. Supposedly he’s making his decision this weekend about whether he will run for President or Governor of Indiana. I think he should run. While not denigrating the other potential GOP candidates for President in 2012, ask yourself: do any of them really excite you? That should clear out half the field right there,...

Rep. Mike Pence addressed the anti-abortion March for Life on Monday, Rep. Michele Bachmann is set to keynote the event’s dinner tonight, and former Sen. Rick Santorum joined marchers in the cold—the only three potential Republican 2012 presidential hopefuls to appear at the annual gathering. “Our economy is struggling and our national government is awash in a sea of debt. Amidst these struggles, some would have us focus our energies on jobs and spending,” Pence, an Indiana Republican, told the thousands of activists who gathered in Washington to march to the Supreme Court to protest the 38th anniversary of Roe...

Any conservative who is flirting with the idea of supporting Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels for President should read this Politico puff piece on the potential presidential aspirant.  Jonathan Martin of Politico, in a piece titled, "Mitch Daniels: Heartthrob of the Elites", cites elitist columnists and publications that heap praise upon Mitch Daniels for his "gold-plated resume".  After discerning the type of pundits who admire Mitch Daniels, I am more certain than ever that he is not the man with the temerity, grit, or passion to battle the left.  Here is the opening of the article: If pundits and columnists represented...

Did you hear that Mike Pence is deciding whether to run for President? I urge everyone to come to www.TheConservativeChampion.org to find out more and sign our declaration cheering him on to get into the Most Important Presidential elections of our Lifetimes against Pres. Obama! Pence is the MAN who was the first -- and one of the few -- Congressman to stand up to Karl Rove's big government plans and ardently oppose the 2008 Wall Street bailout, back when it was the unpopular thing-to-do and you got attacked by the New York Times. Pence stood up against Rove's big...

# This Politico story about the group drafting Indiania Congressman Mike Pence to run for the GOP presidential nomination is full of interesting tidbits about Republicans' dissatisfaction with the rest of the field: An Indiana congressman with just five terms in public office, Pence is currently the subject of a draft movement—but he may well pick a gubernatorial run over a White House bid. . . . . The pro-Pence crowd consists of a group of traditional conservatives who, while sympathizing with her, don’t view Sarah Palin as a serious presidential candidate. They doubt Mike Huckabee will run again or...

To understand the dissatisfaction on the right with the current crop of Republican presidential hopefuls, look no further than Mike Pence. An Indiana congressman with just five terms in public office, Pence is currently the subject of a draft movement — but he may well pick a gubernatorial run over a White House bid. Nevertheless, a group of longtime Republicans — including former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and former Rep. Jim Ryun — are working with a well-connected conservative public relations firm to urge the congressman to head to Des Moines and Manchester instead of Indianapolis and Muncie. Their...

It sounds like the name of a barber shop quartet, doesn’t it? Anyway, as we reported on Tuesday a group of S.C. lawmakers led by Rep. Kris Crawford and Sen. Kevin Bryant are mounting an effort to “draft” U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) into running for president in 2012. (To read our original story, click here). These lawmakers gathered on the steps of the S.C. State House on Wednesday to announce the formation of their group – and its Facebook and Twitter pages. “America is facing a serious crisis and we need a serious president,” said Crawford. “In order to...

Less than two weeks before Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., is expected to make an announcement about his political future, conservative leaders are urging him to jump into the 2012 presidential race. Within the last week, at least two draft Mike Pence groups have sprung up, including an effort spearheaded by former Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kan., and former Reagan administration official Ralph Benko. "Seize this moment, Mike," Ryun, along with conservative leaders L. Brent Bozell, Dick Armey and Morton Blackwell, wrote in a letter they sent to Pence on Thursday. "Now is the time for you, as one of this generation's...

Mike Pence could become the “Madonna” of 2012. Remember the 1980s movie “Desperately Seeking Susan?” starring the pop icon? (Oy, I may be dating myself.) Well, there is a political movement out there that we might want to start calling, “Desperately Seeking Pence” There’s a “Draft Mike Pence” for president petition that has been put together and is circulating out there. (more on that here) and now there is a separate movement down in South Carolina to get Pence to run. More here. Watch the video below of some South Carolina legislators announcing their support for Pence. We should know...

Here’s an excellent read by Professor Jacobson at Legal Insurrection. He’s calling the Lamestream Media’s efforts on the part of the Left “Operation Demoralize”, which is the game plan for re-electing Obama president. It essentially boils down to what I call Eeyore-breeding, which is easier than propagating rabbits in Republican ranks. I have never understood why, but conservative people in general just seem to be a naturally pessimistic lot who believe almost everything they see on TV if it’s negative news about a Republican. ”We’re doomed!”, “Woe is us!”, and “We might as well just give up, or not even...

House Republicans will vote to repeal the healthcare law "lock, stock and barrel," Rep. Mike Pence said Wednesday. The remarks by the Indiana Republican, who is thought to be mulling a White House run, shows not all lawmakers shying away from colorful rhetoric in the wake of the Arizona shootings earlier this month. Pence is also a conservative favorite, and the remarks could be seen as a play for the base. Pence made the comments as the House moved toward a vote Wednesday to repeal the healthcare law. “Today House Republicans are going to stand with the American people and...

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels may not be the only Hoosier seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2012. The rumors started swirling over the weekend that Rep. Mike Pence could be throwing his hat in the ring as well. Conservative leaders are certainly beating the drum for a Pence run. This week, Mr. Pence will receive a letter of support for a presidential bid from, among others, Dick Armey, a former Republican House majority leader; Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center; and Morton Blackwell, president of the Leadership Institute. There is also a petition circulating on the Internet...

The America’s President Committee wants Indiana congressman Mike Pence to run for president. The group — which is made up of former Republican congressman Jim Ryun and Ralph Benko, a former Reagan-administration aide and author of the book The Websters’ Dictionary: How to Use the Web to Transform the World — has set up a new site, The Conservative Champion, dedicated to the concept of Pence for President. Benko spoke to NRO about the motivation behind the site. NRO: Why Mike Pence? BENKO: Mike Pence is extraordinary. He is across-the-board rock solid: He is pro-growth in a way I haven’t...

Former House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) said today that he would soon reintroduce the Broadcaster Freedom Act, and that Congress should reject the idea of regulating political speech in the wake of the Arizona shooting over the weekend. Pence, who spoke on C-SPAN this morning, said his bill would prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from regulating content on the airwaves. In the last Congress, Pence introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009, which would have prevented the FCC from requiring broadcasters to present opposing points of view, a concept known as the Fairness Doctrine.

Domenico Montanaro writes: A group of conservatives are pushing Indiana Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) to run for president in 2012. America's President Committee kicks off today with a signature drive to get Pence, who's popular with social conservatives, to launch a 2012 White House bid. Behind the group are former Kansas Congressman Jim Ryun and is coordinated by Ralph Benko, a former Reagan deputy counsel, who worked with the Bush administration's White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. “Throughout his distinguished career, Mike Pence has demonstrated the ability to enthusiastically advance the cause of conservatives and constitutional, limited government...

Two prominent conservatives have joined forces in an attempt to get Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) into the race for president. A Draft Pence for President movement launched Monday, led by conservative former Rep. Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) and Ralph Benko, who served as an adviser to President Reagan. The pair founded the American President’s Committee, a political action committee dedicated to promoting a Pence presidential bid through the website www.theconservativechampion.org.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee enjoys the highest net-favorable impression with Republicans among potential candidates for president, a new poll said Monday. Huckabee is the Republican candidate with the largest margin between Republicans' favorable and unfavorable impression of him, a Gallup poll found, while other candidates struggled with low recognition rates. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich enjoys a 24 percent net-favorable rating at 24 percent, the poll found, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 23 percent, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at 22 percent, Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.) at 19 percent, Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) at 18 percent, former...

I am not a prophet nor do I play one on television. Nevertheless, here is my take on possible announcement dates by the candidates most likely to run for President in 2012. All of them would be wise to get in by the time the Reagan Library debate in May, 2011 is held. Tim Pawlenty:  Expected in Iowa to close his book tour the last two days of January.  Perhaps while he is still in Iowa on February 1st, he will make his plans known (or make a short trip back home to tell us from his home in Minnesota)....

House Republicans introduced legislation Friday that would prohibit abortion providers from receiving federal funds. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana introduced the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act rounding up the GOP's pro-life agenda for this coming week. The bill has 122 co-sponsors. "I am grateful for the support of more than 122 original co-sponsors of this important legislation and look forward to voting to enact the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act," Pence announced in a statement. Title X is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing family planning services such as screenings and preventative services such as...

Pence introduces Planned Parenthood defunding bill I wrote yesterday that in the coming days and weeks, House pro-lifers would be introducing 4 important bills.The 1st, a bill to repeal Obamacare, is already in motion, starting yesterday.And today, Congressman Mike Pence introduced our 2nd bill, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, which would cut off Title X funding to organizations that commit abortion. The most obvious target is Planned Parenthood, which Congressman Pence spotlighted in his statement: It is morally wrong to end an unborn human life by abortion.  It is also morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of...

Pence Drops Bill to De-Fund Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz Washington, DC -- Congressman Mike Pence dropped a bill in the hopper today in the House of Representatives that would revoke federal taxpayer funding for the Planned Parenthood abortion business. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/01/07/pence-drops-bill-to-de-fund-planned-parenthood-abortion-biz/

Pundits have been speculating regarding the plans of my favorite Congressman, Mike Pence, after he won the straw poll for President at the Values Voter conference a few months ago and when he resigned as the Chairman of the Republican Conference late last year -citing plans that would detract from his being able to fulfill the duties of that leadership position. Late last year, he told inquiring minds that he would be making his decision regarding his plans early this year. But now the signs are indicating that he intends to run for the governor's office opening up in Indiana...

Could the serious 2012 contenders please stand? Some folks in the media are actually suggesting Jon Huntsman for the 2012 Republican nomination, while RedState, one of the most influential political blogs on the internet, practically endorsed Mike Pence yesterday afternoon. The only thing left is for Senator Olympia Snowe to run for the Presidency. I couldn't imagine another unrealistic candidacy at this time, nor do I want to. I am not anti-dark horse candidates (I supported Sarah Palin for the 2008 GOP Vice-Presidential nomination in July '08), but I am for realistic candidates being touted... However, candidates to the left...

I wasn’t so much disturbed by Erick Erickson’s selection of Mike Pence as his candidate for president as much as I was disturbed by his reasoning for why he didn’t go with Sarah Palin. “… as much as I love Sarah Palin, I am adamantly convinced that she cannot win given the ridiculous smears and hate thrown her way by Democrats and, frankly, by a lot of Republicans,” Erickson writes on RedState. “She has been made radioactive.” In essence, it’s an admission that the media and the Establishment are winning in their effort to stop Sarah Palin. The media and...

FRANKLIN - U.S. Rep. Mike Pence is scheduling Republican Lincoln Days Dinner all over Indiana, Howey Politics Indiana has learned. It is the best clue yet that he is preparing to launch a 2012 Indiana gubernatorial campaign, as opposed to seeking the presidency. "He is scheduling larger counties," a Republican source told HPI on Monday. "If he is running for President, it would be an interesting and novel strategy. We could call it the Win Indiana Strategy!" If Pence were to launch a presidential campaign, he would be more likely to spend this winter and spring in Iowa, New Hampshire...

If confession is good for the soul, let me pour out my soul for you. As I stood at the beginning of 2008, I find myself in the same position here as we now begin the very real discussions of who should be the candidate for the GOP in 2012. Let me be clear: I will support the nominee, whoever she or he may be. But right now I am not excited by or inspired by any of them save Sarah Palin and, as much as I love Sarah Palin, I am adamantly convinced that she cannot win given the...

Caffeinated Thoughts is presenting its 3rd Annual Caffeinated Conservative Award.  The contributors there offer nominations and then our readers get the opportunity to vote.  Our nominees this year (in no particular order) are: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal South Carolina Governor-Elect Nikki Haley Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) Senator-Elect Rand Paul (R-KY) Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Senator-Elect Marco Rubio (R-FL) Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) You can read our rationale and vote here – voting is open until 11:00p on 12/30/10.

Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana excites social and fiscal conservatives alike and will reportedly decide next month whether he will run for president or governor of his home state. Pence energizes pro-life advocates with his consistent pro-life push — including his drumbeat for revoking taxpayer funding for the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Although members of Congress don’t normally rise to national prominence and just one has ever ascended to the presidency, Pence is defying the odds by building a solid national reputation that has him as one of the potential dark horse candidates who could vie for support against the...

Ron Brownstein has a very interesting article out today for National Journal about how the field of candidates is shaping up for 2012. He posits that the field is shaping up to be between managers like Mitt Romney and populists like Sarah Palin. I think that is, largely, a false dichotomy, but if you change what he means by “manager” I think he is on to something. I’d use a word like “establishment” or even “conventional” to describe the end of the field Brownstein calls “managerial.” But there is a relevant point here that I think needs to be explored,...

This is the first time I’ve thought the whole deal really might collapse in the House. “At the end of the day, I’ve just come to the conclusion: the American people did not vote for more stimulus,” Pence said on conservative talker Sean Hannity’s radio show. “Therefore, I will not vote for this tax deal when it comes to the floor of the House of Representatives.” Pence joins the ranks of conservatives, many of whom have ties to the Tea Party movement, who have opposed the deal. The Indiana Republican echoed their arguments against the bill; Pence said the 13-month...

Indiana Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh has decided against a run for governor in 2012, robbing Democrats of their top recruit in the Hoosier State. "After careful consideration, I have concluded that the appropriate decision is not to be a candidate for governor of Indiana in 2012," Bayh said in a statement released to the Fix. ""The principle reason for my decision is the welfare of my twin sons." Bayh's decision leaves the Democratic field wide open. Reps. Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill, both of whom lost races this fall, are likely to consider the Bayh-less contest. Others mentioned include Rep....

On a midweek afternoon in February 2009, a month into the Obama presidency, Republican Rep. Mike Pence arrived at Columbus in his east-central Indiana district for a town hall meeting, the sort of event that usually attracted a few dozen constituents. Surprised to see the hallway outside the room crowded with people, "their arms folded and brows furrowed," Pence shouted down the hall to an aide, asking him to get a janitor to open the room. The aide shouted back that the room was open — and overflowing. Congress had just passed the stimulus (Pence voted no), and Hoosiers were...

On Sean Hannity’s radio show this afternoon, Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) and Rep. Mike Pence (R., Indiana) said they hoped that the Pence-DeMint bill, which would extend all the Bush tax cuts permanently, would receive an up or down vote in both the House and Senate. On the Obama-GOP tax compromise, DeMint said, “I know our leadership probably did make the best deal they could,” but added that “we cannot continue to pass bills that add to the deficit,” and that because of that, he “would not support the current bill.” Pence also expressed dismay over the compromise, saying...