WASHINGTON — House Republican Leader John Boehner this morning claimed a voter mandate to roll back the Obama administration's health care overhaul, calling it a "monstrosity."

The presumptive next speaker of the House told reporters the Republican takeover of the House and its success in narrowing the Democratic Senate majority was proof that "the Obama-Pelosi agenda" was rejected by the American people.

"I think that it's a mandate for Washington to reduce the size of government and continue our fight for smaller, less costly and more accountable government," Boehner said.

While the Ohio Republican spoke of popular opposition to the health care law, a national exit poll found that voters were split on the issue, with nearly half calling for its repeal and a roughly equal number saying it should either be expanded or left as is.