Pelosi says budget upholds American principles

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

In the midst of Congressional infighting over the $3.5 trillion budget proposed by Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling it responsible.

Republicans say the budget proposed by Democrats will put the U.S. in ruinous debt with unnecessary spending, and will create no assurance of a return for such a substantial investment.  

“The difference of opinion on these budgets is indeed a difference of principle,” said Pelosi this morning at a press conference.

Pelosi said the proposal provide a tax cut for 95% of Americans, which, she said, will bring more fairness to the tax code.

“It’s about the principle of opportunity,” said Pelosi. When asked what investments for education the budget will bring, Pelosi answered: “It’s about opportunity in education, about fairness in our healthcare, about fairness in the tax code, it’s about security.”

Pelosi said that under her watch, Congress has done more for education than any in one time in U.S. history. 

Pelosi called the Republican budget proposal a “hollow shell of a budget” and that the increase in tax cuts to the wealthy makes an assault on social security benefits, medicare, and medicaid. 

When asked about the how the legislative agenda will continue after the break, Pelosi said Congress have to first “reconcile” the budget. 

Speaker Pelosi focuses on the economic stimulus package.

"The President asks for action swift and bold. That is what we are doing," said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) during her weekly news conference. 

The Speaker drew special attention to the economic stimulus package, indicating that the first crucial step is to create jobs immediately which will ultimately promote economic stability.  Pelosi did not address any specific or special concerns regarding what President Obama will or will not do regarding tax cuts. 

"The American people are in a desperate situation, they expect and demand action to relieve the economic crisis that they're experiencing in their own families," Pelosi noted.

Speaker announced that there will be a meeting tomorrow led by President Obama. The meeting will take place at the White House with Congressional leaders to discuss the recovery package in greater detail.

During a pen and pad session, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) stated that the meeting will also be attended by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-Ky.), and Senate Minority Whip John Kyl (R-Ariz).

The GOP talking storm: It's still thundering

The tourists continue to pour onto the House Floor while Republicans continue their week-long talking tangent.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) explained his perspective on the history of the "Greatest Generation" of World War II. Other subjects he covered were Communist Russia, industrialization, and the Civil Rights Movement. He said the test of this generation is the energy challenge.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said "people are calling [the Republican's talkathon] historic." Last Friday, it may have been a stunt, but now it is serious, he said. He told the crowd that they are first-hand witnesses and so they should spread the word. Jokingly, he told the younger people to instant message people about it.

One man sitting in the front row raised his hand for a comment or question, but McCotter ignored him, and the man walked out shortly.

McCotter said Congress needs to develop "common sense" solutions to the oil crisis.

"In the Midwest, if you don't use common sense, you freeze to death," McCotter said.

McCotter compared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to someone walking into a job interview. If someone walks into a job interview and tells the prospective boss about a secret solution to a major problem, then the boss will think they have better ideas than other prospects and hire that person. A year later, the problem gets bigger, the person gives up, and takes a 5-week paid vacation, McCotter said.

Many Republicans and Democrats agree on bringing Congress back in session to address the oil crisis, but Pelosi will not do anything about it, McCotter said.

Latinos 'hold the key to the White House'

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) welcomed respected national leaders such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) to speak at its 25th annual conference. The National Leadership Luncheon kicked off with a $1 million donation to NALEO from State Farm Insurance Companies.

Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Senator Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) were met with a standing ovation when they took the stage to give their welcome address. Salazar thanked Reid for being a champion of Latinos and diversity but also reminded conference attendees that Latinos still had a long way to go. Menendez said the past year had been transformational with around 17 million Latinos eligible to vote and praised the record turnout for elections. Despite a bout of laryngitis, Pelosi took the stage and reminded the crowd that Latinos ‘hold the key to the White House.’

Reid said that this election was an opportunity for the Latino population to shape the country. He credited Puerto Rico for having the greatest percentage of their men and women serving America in the military compared to all the other states. Menendez mentioned that the first soldier to fall in the war on Iraq was a Latino and not even a U.S. citizen.

Clinton gave the closing remarks and made a call for more Latino elected officials. In reference to the more than 1.3 million Latinos who applied for naturalization, a number greater than the goal set by the ‘Ya Es Hora’ campaign, Clinton said America must honor its immigrant heritage and ‘start acting like America again.’