When is a mandate a mandate?

  Mike Pence, GOP Congressman of Indiana’s 6^th district, feels his party has a mandate on federal budget cuts. Recently he said the following.   “I think if liberals in the Senate are unwilling to embrace even this modest step toward fiscal discipline in Washington, D.C., then I say shut it down. You know, look, I think the American people sent this historic new majority to Congress to see the change in this direction."

  So the mandate of the people to get healthcare reform taken care of, a mandate shown through giving control of the Congress, the Senate (including a super majority of 60), and White House to the Democrats is not viewed by the GOP as a mandate.  However, in Mike Pence’s mind, putting the GOP in control of just one House of Congress in the last election is a mandate on budget cuts.  Not only does he believe this is a mandate, but he believes that his party that is in control of just the House gets to call the shots with no need to negotiate. 

  The Democrats put in total control on a platform to reform healthcare is not a mandate.  The GOP put into control of just the House of Representatives is a mandate.   Mike Pence logic.