Brian Beutler April 1, 2011, 1:59 PM

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) says shut ‘er down. The one-time Republican conference chair, turned presidential footsie player, turned potential gubernatorial candidate, and always a tea party favorite told MSNBC on Friday that a looming spending cut deal is not worth it. He’d rather have a government shutdown.

“Well, look, I think that really is, Contessa — I think that really is the important question. 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,” Pence said. “You know, look, I think the American people sent this historic new majority to Congress to see the change in this direction.”

Pence defected on the last stop-gap measure to keep the government funded, which was essentially a vote for a shutdown. At the time he went almost as far as he did in his comments to MSNBC.

I’ve learned that more often than not things don’t change until they have to. Until you reach an impasse. And then real negotiations begin…when the board lights up and they don’t have the votes and then they need to come to you and talk about it. Nobody wants a government shutdown, but if we don’t take decisive action to change the fiscal direction of the national government, we’re going to shut down the future for our children and grandchildren.

Watch Friday’s video here:

Budget, Government Shutdown, Mike Pence, Newt Gingrich, Spending