Summary
Pence opposed the Affordable Care Act and voted for its full or partial repeal at least 23 times. He also opposed setting up a state-run health exchange in Indiana.
2010: Pence Voted Against The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act. In March 2010, Pence voted against the Senate-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, the bill “overhaul[ed] the nation's health insurance system and require[d] most individuals to buy health insurance by 2014. It […] create[d] a system of national private insurance plans supervised by the Office of Personnel Management and create[d] state-run marketplaces for purchasing health insurance. Those who do not obtain coverage would be subject to an excise tax. Excluded from the mandate [were] those exempt from filing income tax and others with a hardship waiver, religious objection or those who cannot afford coverage. Employers with more than 50 workers […] ha[d] to provide coverage or pay a fine if any employee gets a subsidized plan on the exchange. Certain small businesses [got] tax credits for providing coverage, and those with low incomes, excluding illegal immigrants, [got] subsidies. It […] bar[red] the use of federal funds to pay for abortions in the new programs, except in the cases of rape or incest or if the woman's life is in danger. Insurance companies could not deny coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions beginning in 2014, and could not drop coverage of people who become ill. It […] expand[ed] eligibility for Medicaid, shrunk the coverage gap under the Medicare Part D prescription drug program and create[d] an advisory board to reduce the per capita growth rate in Medicare spending.” The vote was on agreeing to the Senate bill, which was packaged as a Senate amendment to another, unrelated House bill. The House agreed to the Senate amendment by a vote of 219 to 212, sending the amended bill to the president, who signed it into law. [House Vote 165, 3/21/10; Congressional Quarterly, 3/21/10; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3590]
2014: Pence Claimed He Led The Fight To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. According to the transcript of a Mike Pence interview with MSNBC obtained via Financial Markets Regulatory Wire, “PENCE: Well, look, you know, back in the day that I was in Congress, I helped lead the opposition to Obamacare.” [Financial Markets Regulatory Wire, 2/21/14]
| Year | Summary | Citation |
| 2010 | ACA Business Reporting Requirement | House Vote 514, 7/30/10; Congressional Quarterly, 7/30/10 |
| 2010 | Repeal Individual Mandate | House Vote 362, 6/15/10; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5486; Congressional Quarterly, 6/15/10 |
| 2011 | Repeal Funding For ACA Funds For School Health Centers | House Vote 290, 5/4/11; Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1214 |
| 2011 | Repeal Funding For State Insurance Exchanges | House Vote 285, 5/3/11; Congressional Quarterly, 5/3/11; New Haven Register, 5/8/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1213 |
| 2011 | FY12 Budget: Repealed ACA | House Vote 277, 4/15/11; House Budget Committee, 4/5/11 |
| 2011 | Full ACA Repeal | House Vote 276, 4/15/11; Congressional Record, 4/15/11 |
| 2011 | Full ACA Repeal | House Vote 275, 4/15/11; Republican Study Committee, 4/7/11; Huffington Post, 4/15/11 |
| 2011 | Defund ACA | House Vote 270, 4/14/11; Congressional Quarterly, 4/14/11; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 35 |
| 2011 | Repeal Funding For Prevention Programs | House Vote 264, 4/13/11; Congressional Quarterly, 4/13/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1217 |
| 2011 | Block Salary Funding For HHS Employees At Center For Consumer Information And Insurance Oversight | House Vote 138, 2/19/11; Congressional Quarterly, 2/19/11; HR 1, 12/28/12; Congressional Actions, H.R.1 |
| 2011 | Block ACA Implementation | House Vote 147, 2/19/11; Tulsa World, 2/27/11; Roll Call, 4/18/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1 |
| 2011 | Block Enforcement Of Individual Mandate | House Vote 100, 2/18/11; Congressional Quarterly, 2/18/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1 |
| 2011 | Defund ACA | House Vote 99, 2/18/11; Congressional Quarterly, 2/18/11; Congressional Actions, H.R.1 |
| 2011 | Barred Use Of Funds To Implement ACA | House Vote 98, 2/18/11; Congressional Quarterly, 2/18/11; Congressional Actions, H.R.1 |
| 2011 | Defund ACA | House Vote 97, 2/18/11; Congressional Quarterly, 2/18/11; Congressional Actions, H.R.1 |
| 2011 | Instructed House Committees to Report Legislation To Replace ACA | House Vote 16, 1/20/11; Congressional Quarterly, 1/20/11; Congressional Actions, H.RES.9 |
| 2011 | Full ACA Repeal | House Vote 14, 1/19/11; Congressional Quarterly, 1/19/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2 |
| 2012 | Implemented Moratorium On Significant Rule Making Related To ACA | House Vote 522, 7/26/12; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/12; CRS Summary of H.R. 4078, 7/26/12 |
| 2012 | Full ACA Repeal | House Vote 460, 7/11/12; Congressional Quarterly, 7/11/12; Congressional Actions, 7/16/12 |
| 2012 | Partial ACA Repeal | House Vote 247, 5/10/12; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5652; Congressional Quarterly, 5/10/12 |
| 2012 | Full ACA Repeal | House Vote 149, 3/29/12; Republican Study Committee, 3/12 |
| 2012 | Voted Against FY13 Democratic Budget Stating ACA Should Not Be Repealed | House Vote 150, 3/29/12; House Budget Committee Democrats, 3/26/12 |
| 2012 | FY13 Ryan Budget: Full ACA Repeal | House Vote 151, 3/16/12; House Budget Committee, 3/20/12; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res. 112 |
| 2012 | Repealed CLASS Program | House Vote 18, 2/1/12; Congressional Quarterly, 1/30/12; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1173 |
2000: Pence Called For Passage Of The Faircare For The Uninsured Act Of 1999. According to Mike Pence For Congress, “• Congress should address the 44 million uninsured working Americans by enacting the Faircare for the Uninsured Act of 1999 (H.R. 2362). Under the Faircare credit, each working adult (excepting those already covered by an employer plan, those on Medicaid or Medicare) would receive $1000 each year, tax free, to buy health insurance and an additional $500 for each child up to a $1000 for two or more children. The average family would receive $3000 per year from the government to purchase health insurance coverage.” [Mike Pence For Congress via Wayback Machine, 2000]
Pence On The Proposition Of Indiana Setting Up Its Own Health Exchange: “This Would Reduce The State Of Indiana To A Branch Office Of The Department Of Health And Human Services.” Accordingto Evansville Courier & Press, “PENCE, Democratic former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg and Libertarian Rupert Boneham are all expected to lay out their positions for Daniels. He asked for their input because Indiana has to tell federal officials by Nov. 16 whether it will set up its own exchange. That deadline is after the Nov. 6 election but before the next governor takes office. ‘Operating our own exchange might seem like a way around the health care law’s onerous regulations right now, but the way the regulations are written, the federal government will be hyper-regulating state-based exchanges,’ PENCE wrote to Daniels. ‘This would reduce the state of Indiana to a branch office of the Department of Health and Human Ser-vices, and leave Indiana lawmakers to blame for the price increases that will occur and for market-related decisions that are largely outside their control. All told, this is entirely too much regulatory uncertainty to justify moving forward at this time.’” [Evansville Courier & Press, 8/22/12]
2015: Pence Said He Would Not Want Indiana To Take Over The Health Insurance Market If The Supreme Court Ruled Insurances Subsidies Were Available Only In States That Run Their Own Insurance Exchanges. According to The Indianapolis Star, “If the Supreme Court rules this year that insurance subsidies are available only in states that run their own health exchanges, Gov. Mike Pence would not want Indiana to take over the state’s market, the Indiana Republican said Saturday. Instead, Pence said, he hopes that Congress would give states ‘the ability to offer alternative health care solutions, crafted to the unique circumstances in their states.’ ‘We’ll be supporting those efforts,’ Pence said during an interview while in Washington for a National Governors Association meeting.” [Indianapolis Star, 2/22/15]
2004: Pence Voted Against Prohibiting Employers From Joining An Association Health Insurance Plan If It Allowed For Reduced Coverage For Women’s Health, Including Breast Cancer. In May 2004, Pence effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “prohibit[ed] employers from joining a health plan if it [allowed] for a reduction in breast cancer coverage.” The underlying bill, according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “permit[ted] the creation of association health plans under which small businesses could band together through associations to purchase health insurance for their employees. […] The association health plans [AHPs] created by the measure would be exempt from state health insurance regulations,” including “any state-mandated benefit package, such as a requirement that treatment for a certain disease or a certain medical screening procedure be covered. However, the plan would be required to comply with state laws in which it is domiciled that require coverage of specific diseases.” The vote was on a motion to recommit the bill with instructions to report the bill back with the specified amendment. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 196 to 218. [House Vote 173, 5/13/04; Congressional Quarterly, 5/13/04; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4281; Congressional Record, 5/13/04]
2005: Pence Voted Against Allowing States To Require Small Business Group Multi-State Health Plans To Cover Pregnancy, Childbirth, Child Care, Screenings And Physician-Recommended Tests For Breast And Cervical Cancer, Mental Illness, And Diabetes. In July 2005, Pence effectively voted against an amendment that, according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “maintain[ed] state health coverage for pregnancy, childbirth, child care, breast and cervical cancer screening and tests recommended by a physician, mental illness and diabetes.” The underlying bill, according to Congressional Quarterly, created association health plans (AHPs), which enabled groups of small businesses to collectively purchase health insurance for their employees; the plans would be exempt from state health insurance regulations, including coverage requirements. The vote was on a motion to recommit the bill with instructions that it be reported back with the specified amendment. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 198 to 230. [House Vote 425, 7/26/05; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/05; Congressional Actions, H.R. 525; Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/05]
2001: Pence Voted Against The FY 2002 Foreign Operations Appropriations Conference Report, Which Appropriated $475 Million For International HIV/AIDS Programs. In December 2001, Pence voted against legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “appropriate[d] $15.4 billion in fiscal 2002 for foreign operations, $403 million more than fiscal 2001. The agreement would [have] include[d] $625 million for the Andean Initiative, a Latin American counter-narcotics program, and $475 million for international HIV/AIDS programs. The bill also would [have] continue[d] a Bush administration policy blocking federal funds to groups that use their own money to offer abortion services overseas.” The vote was on the conference report. The House adopted the legislation by a vote of 357 to 66. The Senate then passed the bill by unanimous consent, and the president then signed it into law. [House Vote 505, 12/19/01; Congressional Quarterly, 12/19/01; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2506]
In March 2015, Pence Said He Would Veto A Broad-Based Needle Exchange Program, Saying He Didn’t Believe Such Programs Were Effective Drug Policy. According to the Indianapolis Star, “Pence said, however, that his actions Thursday did not change his overall view of needle exchange programs, which have been endorsed by the CDC as an effective way to halt the spread of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. ‘I don't believe effective anti-drug policy involves handing out drug paraphernalia,’ Pence said, adding that if the legislature sends him a broad-based needle exchange program bill, he will veto it.” [Indianapolis Star, 3/27/15]
South Bend Tribune Editorial: Pence Did Not Believe “Effective Anti-Drug Policy Involves Handing Out Drug Paraphernalia.” In an editorial South Bend Tribune wrote, “The outbreak in Scott County, which typically sees about five such cases in a year, demanded action. To his credit, the governor acted despite his longstanding opposition to needle exchange programs, which he has made clear hasn’t changed. ‘I don’t believe effective anti-drug policy involves handing out drug paraphernalia,’ Pence said.” [South Bend Tribune, 4/8/15]
May 2015: Pence Signed A Law Allowing For Statewide Needle Exchange Programs. According to The Statehouse File, Gov. Mike Pence signed legislation Tuesday that will make it easier for other counties to launch needle exchange programs to combat diseases passed through intravenous drug use. The law takes effect immediately. [The Statehouse File, 5/5/15]
March 2015: Pence Signed An Emergency Order To Implement A Temporary 30 Day Needle Exchange In Scott County. According to The Atlantic, “In late March, Pence signed an emergency order to implement a temporary needle-exchange program in Scott County, which had seen nearly 80 cases of HIV linked to intravenous drug users who had shared dirty needles. Poverty-stricken areas had simultaneously experienced a high number of positive tests for hepatitis C. Just last week, with the number of HIV cases topping 130, Pence extended the program for another 30 days, and he plans to sign a bill passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature that would allow other counties hit by the epidemic to start needle exchanges.” [The Atlantic, 4/30/15]
2015: Rural Scott County Faced An Outbreak Of HIV, With Officials Diagnosing As Many As 22 Cases A Week. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, “At the height of Indiana’s worst HIV outbreak, centered on the tiny rural town of Austin, health officials diagnosed as many as 22 new cases a week. Fueled by a rural intravenous drug epidemic, the number of cases more than doubled to 153 between late March and mid-May. And many involved in combating the outbreak said they feared it could reach well into the hundreds. But in recent weeks, the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases has dropped sharply, to two or fewer a week. And with 175 confirmed cases currently, public health officials say the outbreak in Scott County appears to be reaching it limits.” [Louisville Courier-Journal, 7/22/15]
2016: 190 People In Scott County Were Diagnosed With HIV. According to the Indianapolis Star, “From the start of the HIV outbreak, health officials emphasized that nothing set Scott County apart from many other rural communities where opioid drug use had become an epidemic. This could happen anywhere, people were told. Many people had viewed HIV as a big-city disease, something that might afflict people in San Francisco or New York. But not in Austin, a small city of about 4,000 people 80 miles south of Indianapolis. Then, in February 2015, the first 30 cases of HIV were reported. By mid-March, the number had climbed to 55. State health officials, the governor and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were looking for answers. Few public health crises have unfolded so rapidly. Now, a year later, the outbreak is at 190 cases. But the sickness runs deeper.” [Indianapolis Star, 4/11/16]
The Atlantic: “Had Pence Relied On Science Instead Of His Gut,” And Approved A Broader Needle Exchange Program At The Outset Of The HIV Outbreak, “Some Of The Reported 89-Odd Recent Infections In Scott County Might Well Have Been Prevented.” According to The Atlantic, Indeed, there is strong evidence that needle exchanges help prevent the spread of HIV and can help get users into drug treatment. Such programs are also cost effective. Had Pence relied on science instead of his gut, some of the reported 89-odd recent infections in Scott County might well have been prevented. [The Atlantic, 4/6/15]
The Atlantic: “The Temporary Nature Of Scott County's Needle Exchange Program Also Has Public Health Officials Concerned. After The 30-Day Period Expires, More Lives Will Presumably Once Again Be On The Line.” According to The Atlantic, “The temporary nature of Scott County's needle exchange program also has public health officials concerned. After the 30-day period expires, more lives will presumably once again be on the line—just as they are currently at risk in the 91 Indiana counties where such programs remain unauthorized.” [The Atlantic, 4/6/15]
Terre Haute Tribune Star Editorial: Pence Led From Behind On Temporary Needle Exchange Programs. According to an editorial from the Terre Haute Tribune Star, “The clean-needles program comes because of a new state law that passed in April by a combined bipartisan vote of 117-31 in the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives and that was signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence, who earlier had said he would veto such a law. Scott County is the first county in Indiana to take advantage of the new law, after its officials submitted a convincing application, which Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams approved. The year-long program comes after two 30-day executive orders under which Pence allowed temporary needle programs. The second of those 30-day periods expired on May 24. And while the approval of the needle program for Scott County was a positive and needed development, it is born from a display, as one wag has called it, of Pence leading from behind on a crisis that became worse as he failed to act positively enough, soon enough.” [Editorial – Terre Haute Tribune Star, 6/8/15]
Pence Voted Against Budgets Or Missed Votes That Allocated Funding To NIH
| Year | Bill |
| 2007 | House Vote 1075, 11/8/07; Congressional Quarterly, 11/6/07; Congressional Quarterly, 11/8/07; Congressional Quarterly, 11/5/07; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3043 |
| 2007 | House Vote 1050, 11/6/07; Congressional Quarterly, 11/6/07; Congressional Quarterly, 11/6/07; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3043 |
| 2007 | House Vote 686, 7/19/07; Congressional Quarterly, 7/19/07; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3043 |
| 2009 (missed vote) | House Vote 646, 7/24/09; Congressional Quarterly, 7/24/09; Congressional Actions, 8/4/09 |
| 2011 | House Vote 941, 12/16/11; Congressional Quarterly, 12/16/11; Congressional Quarterly Today, 12/17/11; Public Law 112-74, 12/23/11 |
SCHIP Was A Program To Extend Health Insurance To Uninsured Children Not Eligible For Medicaid. According to the National Conference Of State Legislators, “The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP, formerly the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)) was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, enacted Title XXI of the Social Security Act. It has allocated about $20 billion over 10 years to help states insure low-income children who are ineligible for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. States receive an enhanced federal match (greater than the state's Medicaid match) to provide for this coverage.” [National Conference Of State Legislatures, 4/17/15]
2013: Approximately 8.1 Million Children Received Insurance Through SCHIP. According to the National Conference Of State Legislators, “In 2013, 8.1 million children were enrolled in CHIP, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.” [National Conference Of State Legislatures, 4/17/15]
Bills To Expand SCHIP And Fund Through Taxes On Tobacco Sales
| Year | Bill |
| 2007 | House Vote 982, 10/18/07; Congressional Quarterly, 10/18/07; Congressional Actions, H.R. 976 |
| 2007 | House Vote 22, 1/23/08; Congressional Quarterly, 10/25/07; Congressional Quarterly, 1/23/08; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3963 |
| 2007 | House Vote 982, 10/18/07; Congressional Quarterly, 10/18/07; Congressional Actions, H.R. 976 |
| 2009 | House Vote 50, 2/4/09; Public Law 111-3, 2/4/09; Congressional Quarterly, 2/25/09 |
| 2009 | House Vote 16, 1/14/09; Congressional Quarterly, 1/14/09; Congressional Quarterly, 1/29/09; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2 |
August 2007: Pence Opposed Expanding SCHIP Because The Legislation Eliminated A Requirement That Recipients Prove They Are U.S. Citizens. According to a Mike Pence press release obtained via Congressional Press Releases, “U.S. Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) today announced his opposition to a major expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), highlighting a provision in the bill that eliminates a requirement that anyone applying for Medicaid and SCHIP services provide proof of U.S. citizenship.” [Congressional Press Releases, 8/1/07]
January 2009: Pence: Democratic SCHIP Proposal “Taxes The Poor To Benefit The Middle Class” And “Pay For Expanding SCHIP Eligibility To Higher-Income Families.” According to a press release obtained via Office Of Rep. Mike Pence, “The Democrats’ SCHIP bill taxes the poor to benefit the middle class. The bill uses the funding gained from taxing the poor to pay for expanding SCHIP eligibility to higher- income families. The Democrats’ SCHIP bill focuses on enrolling higher-income kids instead of low-income, uninsured kids.” [Office Of Rep. Mike Pence, 01/14/09]
January 2009: Pence: “It Is Irresponsible To Fund A Children’s Health Program, Particularly One Targeted At Vulnerable Children, With A Declining Revenue Stream.” According to a press release obtained via Office Of Rep. Mike Pence, “It is irresponsible to fund a children’s health program, particularly one targeted at vulnerable children, with a declining revenue stream. ‘The revenue to fund this expansion will soon disappear, causing all of us to pay more in taxes.” [Office Of Rep. Mike Pence, 01/14/09]
2011: Pence Voted To Freeze State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Funding At $5.7 Billion. In April 2011, Pence voted to support converting Medicaid to a block grant, as part of the Republican Study Committee’s proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2012 to 2021. According to the Republican Study Committee, “The RSC budget repeals this expansion in entitlement spending by freezing SCHIP funding at $5.7 billion annually. This saves $3 billion in FY 2012 and $18 billion over ten years.” The vote was on an amendment to the House budget resolution replacing the entire budget with the RSC’s proposed budget; the amendment failed by a vote of 119 to 136. In a tactical move, 172 Democrats voted “present” in order to force Republicans to either vote against their own proposal or else it would superseded Paul Ryan’s budget. According to the Huffington Post, “After time for the vote expired, Republicans held it open so that enough of them could switch their votes to prevent the RSC budget from passing.” [House Vote 275, 4/15/11; Republican Study Committee, 4/7/11; Huffington Post, 4/15/11]
2012: Pence Voted To Freeze State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Funding At FY2012 Levels. In March, 2012, Pence voted to support converting Medicaid to a block grant, as part of the Republican Study Committee’s proposed budget resolution covering fiscal years 2013 to 2022. According to the Republican Study Committee, “The RSC proposes combining Medicaid and CHIP funding into a single, streamlined block grant at FY 2012 levels and givin ststes maximum flexibility to address the unique health care needs of their vulnerable citizens.” The vote was on an amendment to the House budget resolution replacing the entire budget with the RSC’s proposed budget; the amendment failed by a vote of 136 to 285. [House Vote 149, 3/29/12; Republican Study Committee, 3/12]
2003: Pence Voted Against Allowing The Re-Importation Of Prescription Drugs From Several Foreign Countries, Such As Canada. In July 2003, Pence voted against a bill that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “require[d] the Food and Drug Administration to establish a program that would [have] allow[ed] the importation of FDA-approved prescription drugs from FDA-approved facilities in the European Union, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Lichtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and South Africa.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 243 to 186. The Senate took no substantive action on the measure. [House Vote 445, 7/25/03; Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/03; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2427]
2007: Pence Voted To Block The FDA’s Ban On Importation Of FDA-Approved Prescription Drugs By Individuals, Wholesalers And Pharmacists. In August 2007, Pence voted for an amendment that, according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “[struck] language in the bill that would [have] bar[red] the use of funds by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent individuals, wholesalers and pharmacists from importing FDA-approved prescription drugs.” The House rejected the proposed amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a vote of 146 to 283. [House Vote 806, 8/2/07; Congressional Quarterly, 8/2/07; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3161]
2010: Pence Voted Against Creating A Health Care Fund To Provide 9/11 First Responders With Medical Care For Injuries Resulting From Their Work During The Attacks. In September 2010, Pence voted against a bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “create[d] a program to provide medical services and health monitoring for first-responders and others with conditions related to the Sept. 11 attacks. It also […] reopen[ed] the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide compensation for economic losses suffered by those affected by the attacks and amend[ed] tax-withholding rules for certain payments made by U.S. subsidiaries of foreign corporations.” The vote was on final passage of the bill. The House agreed to the bill by a vote of 268 to 160 and the bill was signed into law. [House Vote 550, 9/29/10; Congressional Quarterly, 9/29/10; Congressional Actions, H.R. 847]
Pence Compared The Health Consequences Of Smoking To The Health Consequences Of Eating Candy. According to a letter to the editor by Mike Pence and published by the Indianapolis Star, “The state of Indiana should have the power to recover damages from any company whose products cause an additional drain on the state’s limited health care resources. Cigarettes certainly qualify but what about candy? Seriously, lung cancer claims too many lives but the numbers are inconsequential compared to the death toll related to heart disease. According to recent numbers, heart disease is still the number one killer in the world. What is the main cause of heart disease? Obesity. What single product, when used properly, contributes more to obesity than any other product in American? Candy! ‘But, Mike, (you might say) you can’t compare candy and cigarettes.’ Oh, can’t I?” [Mike Pence Letter To The Editor – Indianapolis Star, 5/18/97]
Pence: “Despite The Hysteria From The Political Class And The Media, Smoking Doesn't Kill. In Fact, 2 Out Of Every Three Smokers Does Not Die From A Smoking Related Illness And 9 Out Of Ten Smokers Do Not Contract Lung Cancer.” According to an op-ed by Mike Pence, “In the coming weeks, Americans are going to be treated with the worst kind of Washington-speak regarding the tobacco legislation currently being considered by the Congress and Attorney Generals from forty different states. We will hear about the scourge of tobacco and the resultant premature deaths. We will hear about how this phalanx of government elates has suddenly grown a conscience after decades of subsidizing the product which, we are now told, ‘kills millions of Americans each year’. Time for a quick reality check. Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn't kill. In fact, 2 out of every three smokers does not die from a smoking related illness and 9 out of ten smokers do not contract lung cancer. This is not to say that smoking is good for you.... news flash: smoking is not good for you. If you are reading this article through the blue haze of cigarette smoke you should quit. The relevant question is, what is more harmful to the nation, second hand smoke or back handed big government disguised in do-gooder healthcare rhetoric.” [Mike Pence Op-Ed via Wayback Machine, 2001]