Pelosi Predicts Little To No Democratic Support For Boehner Plan
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 2:50PMBy Vanessa Remmers
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters Thursday that she expects few to no Democratic votes for the budget plan crafted by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).
Perplexed at the lack of compromise shown by Republicans on raising the debt ceiling, Pelosi noted that Democrats compromised with former President Bush on such an issue in the past.
In addition, Pelosi said that while the differences between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev) and Boehner plans are stark, many initiatives in the Reid plan, such as using the overseas account and steep cuts, have been supported by Republicans in the past.
“They have a similarity in that neither of them has revenue, but that is not possible to pass in the Senate. But that is where the similarity ends. The idea of a short-term or a long-term is not about a calendar, it’s about a holding up the process by saying we’re going to do this all over again … it’s just an unending hardship for the American people,” Pelosi said.
During her press conference, Pelosi also said she was not surprised at Rep. David Wu’s (D-OR) decision to resign, declining to comment further by saying, “the issue is closed.”
Senate Healthcare Bill Is The 'Framework' For Further Reform, Says Key Democrat
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) told reporters Tuesday that although the Senate healthcare bill may not contain a medicare expansion or a public option, she will vote for it.
Said Stabenow, "We’re in a legislative process where we have to bring everyone together and get the very best that we can, and then keep working.”
“This is about a framework...and that will change the debate going forward,” she added.
The Senator from Michigan advocated passing the healthcare bill rapidly so it can then be melded with the House bill and sent to the President's desk by the end of this year.
Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) said during the press conference that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) currently does not have the 60 votes needed to pass the bill.
“The goal here is to get the job done...to get 60 votes so that we can proceed and overcome the actions of the Republicans, that’s what we’re going to continue to focus on,” Cardin said.
Stabenow and Cardin denied to comment on Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-Conn.) refusal to support the bill if it included a medicare expansion provision.