Today during debate on House Democrats’ massive $300 billion housing bailout, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) joined Republicans in asking why the Democratic leadership is so afraid to allow any discussion on alternative ideas (click the above image for video):
… I rise today in reluctant opposition to the rules on both housing bills that are before us because they are not coming up before us in regular order, neither one is an open rule. On such an important subject… the membership should be afforded the respect our offices bestow to represent their people and allowed to amend and be heard in this body.
The Democrat leadership understands that its proposals won’t stand up to those of Republicans - or many of their own members. Unfortunately, it has become apparent that they will continue to deny anyone the right to offer alternatives.
Americans want real bipartisan solutions from Congress, not more payoffs to trial lawyers and scam artists. House Republicans will continue to push for responsible solutions to the housing downturn that keep taxes low, bring transparency to the market, and stand up for Americans who saved and invested responsibly.
Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on May 6th, 2008
Audio from today’s Republican Leadership Stakeout can now be found on the House Republican Leader Podcast. If iTunes is installed on your computer, you can click here to subscribe.
Democrats are finding more excuses to ignore the promise they made when they took over Congress that they wouldn’t pass laws increasing the budget deficit…They’ve already swelled the deficit by $200 billion since December
In her campaign pamphlet in 2006, which is still posted on the speaker’s website, Pelosi declared that “bills should be developed following full hearings and open subcommittee and committee markups, with appropriate referrals to other committees.”
Democratic leadership aides don’t dispute the fact that the majority has been unable to keep this promise of open committee debate…
“We’re completely overacting,” said Rep. Jim Cooper, a Blue Dog from Tennessee and a senior Democrat on the Budget Committee. “Everything’s an emergency. And an emergency’s a perfect lobbying excuse to get your bill passed that you couldn’t get through in regular order.
Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on May 1st, 2008
Audio from today’s press briefing (above) can now be found on the House Republican Leader Podcast. If iTunes is installed on your computer, you can click here to subscribe.
…The public should be aware of what the new Democratic Majority wants to do with your money. I think it could be reduced down to one simple phrase: the Democrats take and waste strategy. …Because they seem to think that every dime government spends right now is so perfectly spent that they have to raise people’s taxes to do all this wonderful redistribution of wealth. We would argue as Republicans — something of a lost art for the last couple of years — that in fact the government does not appropriately spend every dime of your hard earned money that it takes and the first place they should look is in the waste, fraud, and abuse that’s going on in the unfortunately overexpansive promises and entitlements that the government has made….That’s the place to start. You don’t start by promising to spend money because everything is done properly; you start by looking at the reality that the government wastes a lot of your money and you should always (cut) that before you go looking for (more money).
Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on April 28th, 2008
Republican Leader Boehner stopped by Fox and Friends this morning to discuss the “Pelosi Premium” and urge House Democrats to reveal their “commonsense plan” to lower gas prices.
The Hill: House GOP Challenges Pelosi for Gas Price Plan
Posted by Nick on April 23rd, 2008
More coverage today of House Democrats’ elusive “commonsense plan” to lower gas prices. From The Hill:
House Republican leaders on Tuesday challenged Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to release a plan to lower gas prices that they say Democrats touted when they were in the minority…the price of gasoline has spiked $1.18 since Democrats took over in January and stands at $3.51.
“Once a nightmare scenario, $4 gasoline is now a very real possibility of becoming a summer staple,”…“In some cities, including San Francisco and Chicago, it is already a startling reality.”
Pelosi’s office did not respond immediately for comment.
Rather than continue to wait as the “Pelosi Premium” rises, House Republicans today announced they will introduce legislation requiring the Speaker to reveal the plan she announced two years ago this week.
Does this plan actually exist? American families, already straining from a slowing economy and soaring cost of living, deserve an answer.
New Orleans Mayor Nagin to Pelosi: Pass Colombian FTA
Posted by Nick on April 23rd, 2008
Echoing House Republicans and editorial boards around the country, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin recently wrote Speaker Nancy Pelosi in support of the Colombian Free Trade Agreement:
“I … respectfully urge you to continue to support free trade by promoting future agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. Each of the future FTAs would provide unique opportunities for the City of New Orleans to increase international economic development.”
For the sake of our nation’s economy, it’s workers, and our South American allies, it is time for Speaker Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership to allow a fair, up-or-down vote on the Colombian Free Trade Agreement.
