Pelosi: Dems Focused On Jobs, GOP Is Not

In an op-ed published in USA Today, House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) previewed the message Democrats will be pushing this month: They are focused on jobs, while the GOP is not.

According to Pelosi, the former House Speaker, Republicans have caused the threat of a first-ever default on the nation’s debt by not passing legislation to create jobs.

“During more than 200 days in the majority, House Republicans have put our economy at risk by threatening a first-ever default on our debt and refusing to propose legislation to create jobs. Instead, they’ve passed bills that would destroy up to 2 million jobs — nearly 10,000 jobs per day. And every time Democrats have brought a jobs initiative to the floor — 10 times so far — Republicans voted “no.”

With the creation of the bipartisan “super-committee” focused on reducing the deficit, Pelosi said that any plan the committee releases “must put job creation and economic growth front and center.”

“There’s no better way to reduce the deficit than by creating jobs,” she added. “We must focus squarely on getting our economy back on track, strengthening our middle class, and addressing the American people’s kitchen-table concerns.”

The “Make It In America” initiative proposed by Democrats is the way to provide jobs and boost the economy, she argued. The plan focuses on boosting investment in broadband techonology, transportation infrastructure, clean energy and other emerging innovative technologies.

“This is not a partisan agenda or cause; it is an American priority,” Pelosi wrote.

Pelosi pointed to a joint statement put out by the presidents of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO, who said that infrastructure spending would enable the U.S. to better compete in the global economy.

“On behalf of our workers, our entrepreneurs, and our small businesses, we can, and must, pass this legislation again,” Pelosi wrote. 

House Dems Tell GOP "Hands Off Our Medicare"

By Anna Cameron

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and fellow Democrats spoke out against deep Medicare cuts contained in the Ryan budget prior to the House’s vote on the GOP plan.

“[This] is not an issue,” said Pelosi. “It is a value, it is an ethic, for our country to keep our bedrock promise to our seniors, to keep our promise of Medicare.

The GOP budget blueprint, spearheaded by House Budget Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), proposes $6.2 trillion in cuts over the next ten years by reforming Medicare and Medicaid, while also freezing discretionary spending and altering the tax code.

“There is a time to draw a line in the sand and fight. I am proud of the President of the United States for drawing that line,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair John Larson (D-Conn.) “[I] call upon everyone across this nation, and especially our seniors, to rise to the pulpit … and take this ballot forward. We will take their hands off of Medicare.

Democrats claim that the Medicare reforms under the Ryan budget would “end Medicare as we know it” by providing vouchers to senior citizens that would force them into the private insurance market.

“Republicans are pushing the same agenda they’ve always had - ending the safety nets that are so important to our citizens,” said Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.). “The Republican budget does just that. It ends Medicare and results in a huge cost shift.”

As votes continue on the House floor, Democrats played parliamentary politics with Republicans by voting “present” on a vote over a more conservative budget in an attempt to force them into supporting a less popular plan.

In addition, proposals from both the Congressional Black Caucus and the Progressive Caucus were voted down in the House, as neither initiative succeeded in garnering Republican support.

Pelosi Urges Auto Workers To Denounce Health Care Repeal

By Rachel Whitt

Speaking from the United Auto Workers (UAW) Conference in Washington D.C., House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called upon workers to stand against Republicans’ efforts to repeal President Obama’s healthcare overhaul bill.

“To pass health care, you flew into action: making calls, activating your enormous retiree base, and lobbying your representatives,” Pelosi said. “We need you to do so again.”

According to Pelosi, protecting health care reform is the next step to continuing America’s economic growth. The top House Democrat said her party was able to prevent the unemployment rate from reaching 16% and wants to continue “restoring prosperity for all Americans.”

The UAW openly endorsed healthcare reform in October of 2010, saying “the need for reform has never been clearer.” At that time, UAW cited the Census Bureau’s statistic that 29.3 million Americans with no health insurance coverage exemplifies America’s broken health care system.

“We call on the UAW again: make your voice heard,” Pelosi said. “Join us as we stand against repeal and for creating jobs.”