Nancy Pelosi Threatens Discharge Petition To Break Fiscal Cliff Stalemate

[technical support]

Nancy Pelosi Threatens Discharge Petition To Break Fiscal Cliff Stalemate

WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi offered her own way to break the apparent stalemate over the so-called fiscal cliff -- by taking matters out of House Speaker John Boehner's hands. She pointed out Friday that the Senate already passed a bill in July that would accomplish President Barack Obama's goal by extending lower tax rates for the middle class but not the wealthy.

Pelosi called on House Republican leadership to bring that legislation to the floor next week and threatened that if they do not schedule a vote on the Senate bill, Democrats will file what's known as a discharge petition on Tuesday to force a vote on the measure in her chamber. If Democrats successfully obtain 218 signatures on the discharge petition, it would automatically force the middle income tax cut bill to the floor for a vote.

"We believe that not (bringing the Senate bill to the floor) would be holding middle income tax cuts hostage to tax cuts for the rich," Pelosi said. "Tax cuts for the rich which do not create jobs, just increase the deficit, heaping mountains of debt onto future generations."

"This is really very important," she added, noting that the middle income tax cut extension is just one piece of what needs to be done before the holidays.

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/30/nancy-pelosi-fiscal-cliff_n_2220200.html

[technical support]

Nancy Pelosi Threatens Discharge Petition To Break Fiscal Cliff Stalemate

WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi offered her own way to break the apparent stalemate over the so-called fiscal cliff -- by taking matters out of House Speaker John Boehner's hands. She pointed out Friday that the Senate already passed a bill in July that would accomplish President Barack Obama's goal by extending lower tax rates for the middle class but not the wealthy.

Pelosi called on House Republican leadership to bring that legislation to the floor next week and threatened that if they do not schedule a vote on the Senate bill, Democrats will file what's known as a discharge petition on Tuesday to force a vote on the measure in her chamber. If Democrats successfully obtain 218 signatures on the discharge petition, it would automatically force the middle income tax cut bill to the floor for a vote.

"We believe that not (bringing the Senate bill to the floor) would be holding middle income tax cuts hostage to tax cuts for the rich," Pelosi said. "Tax cuts for the rich which do not create jobs, just increase the deficit, heaping mountains of debt onto future generations."

"This is really very important," she added, noting that the middle income tax cut extension is just one piece of what needs to be done before the holidays.

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/30/nancy-pelosi-fiscal-cliff_n_2220200.html

Former Speaker Pelosi was way better than the current Speaker we have now. She was able to get stuff passed like the affordable care act "Obamacare".

[Bacon King]

God I love Nancy Pelosi. If Republicans sign it they lose bargaining power, but if they don't then they just look like they don't want to compromise!

[badgate]

Fierce

[Blue3]

Probably wouldn't pass (Republicans would be absolutely rebelling against Boehner, even if they were ok with letting the >250k tax cuts expire), but Pelosi continues to show how much of a stronger leader she is/was. And it's good positioning for the Democrats.

[Simfan34]

If she keeps this up, she just might be able to keep her job.

[minionofmidas]

So, they'll do the petition, all the Democrats sign, no Republican signs, what happens next? The MSM blames Republicans for not wanting to raise taxes? So?

[badgate]

So, they'll do the petition, all the Democrats sign, no Republican signs, what happens next? The MSM blames Republicans for not wanting to raise taxes? So?

This isn't a vote to raise taxes, it's a vote to keep them low for everyone making less than $250,000/yr.

[Torie]

The Petition will fail. The Pubs will vote to retain middle class tax cuts as a standalone item if need be.

[Jordan]

I think the final deal on the tax side will be:

Extend Bush tax cuts for under $250,000
Over $250,000 goes up to 39.6%
Extend Social Security Employee tax break (is 4.2%, was 6.2%)
New Social Security Employer tax break (was 6.2%, will become 4.2%)

[Sbane]

I think the final deal on the tax side will be:

Extend Bush tax cuts for under $250,000
Over $250,000 goes up to 39.6%
Extend Social Security Employee tax break (is 4.2%, was 6.2%)
New Social Security Employer tax break (was 6.2%, will become 4.2%)

I think this, along with cuts to those making more than 50k in retirement, will be a great deal. Let's see what happens. I just hope they don't kick the can down the road a few more years.