Dems To Leadership: Cut GOP Loose

Rank-and-file Congressional Democrats had been willing to give Republicans the business tax cuts and other provisions they wanted in the stimulus. That is, up until every single one voted against the bill on the House floor Wednesday.

Now, in both the House and the Senate, angry members are lobbying Democratic leaders to yank those tax breaks back.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was asked Thursday by the Huffington Post why the business tax cuts, whose purpose was to garner Republican support, would be left in the bill if no Republicans supported it regardless.

"That's what my members ask me," said Pelosi. "It wasn't something that was suggested [by Democrats]. It was a heavy lift for our members, but they understood that it has a benefit and were willing to support it."

So far, she said, she has been resistant to removing the cuts from the package. "It's something that we can live with," she said. "I can't answer why they wouldn't vote for this even though their main net-operating-loss carry-back suggestion was part of the tax cuts."

Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) said that Democratic leadership was still willing to work with the GOP. "I've heard that discussion," he said of the push by Democratic members to take back the business tax cuts and include provisions, such as funds for family planning, that were eliminated due to Republicans objections.

Clyburn said he was still standing behind President Obama's call for a bipartisan approach.

Democrats on the Senate side, who witnessed the Republican shut out in the House, have had similar feelings, said Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Asked if Democratic leadership would revoke the Republican provisions of the bill, Durbin said that "we haven't reached that point, although there are many Democrats who are saying, 'Let me tell you: We included things in this package to bring in Republicans. It didn't work in the House. They didn't get a single Republican vote.'"

For now, said Durbin, Democrats haven't yet pulled out Republican provisions or asked the GOP to leave the table.

"We haven't reached that point," he said. "In fact, Republican senators I've spoken to today said, 'Don't give up on us. We still want to work with you.'"

Comments

[smag]

12:14 AM on 02/04/2009

I guess BO didn't hear them. Maybe Nancy can fly over to the WH on her broom and whisper in his ear "We don't need the GOP, we can screw it up all by ourselves"

[Rockster]

01:58 PM on 02/02/2009

Obama is offering "Change We Can Believe In". It is the Republicans who do not want change, and like Rush Limbaugh want his "Change" to fail. Obama needs to redefine "Change" for the good of the American people and forget the chumps. Bipartisanship is over ratted if you are trying to partner with vipers.

[smag]

01:50 PM on 02/02/2009

Change you can believe in. The more things change them more they stay the same.

[claudiam]

01:49 PM on 02/02/2009

I am with Nancy - I am also hoping that Barack will just lay the law down and quit watering down the bill. The Repubs will only continue to try to get their way and badmouth the Dems while doing it. They are so self-serving. We need to bring money in - we cannot continue to give tax breaks. This is a sacrifice that we all need to make. Thanks Jr. BUSH for that! What makes the Repubs think that their plan is the best? Wasn't it a Repub WH that got us into this mess? claudiatucsonaz

[Mary Smith]

01:23 PM on 02/02/2009

"We still want to work with you". Well they did not did they? They will not most likely either from what you are seeing. It is obvious to those on the outside. It appears Obama and some Democrats have not stood back and taken a good clean look at what is happening. Compromise may no longer be an option. If they were back in power would they compromise with you???? If Dems put their best effort forward to produce an effective Bill and if the Republicans cull it back with the same failures, old ideas and favoritism of the wealthy, Banks, Businesses and lack of accountability, cut them loose. Now! Seek the higher ground and get the best specialists, economists and everyone seated in their place at the table. Give them an invite to attend and to add positive ideas ONTO what YOU decide to do.

[maggiee]

12:37 PM on 02/02/2009

The Republicans have gotten the Democrats to water the bill down so much that it doesn't have much of a chance at working anyway, that's why they voted against it. The Democrats have to do what they did in the 30's; get the RIGHT stuff passed in spite of Republican opposition in stead of letting the Republicans continue to destroy the country. They KNOW what needs to be done by looking at the example of history and if they don't then they are just as bad as the Republicans.

Personally, I care more about the United States than ANY bipartisan Kumbaya moment with pro-corpratist scumbags bent on creating a permanent under-class in place of a once healthy middle class.

[paulfree17]

11:41 AM on 02/02/2009

When the Republicans win they set the agenda and ignore the Democrats. When the Democrats win they allow the Republicans to set the agenda.

The Republicans wanted to impeach Clinton and they did. Democratic leadership took impeachment of Bush and Cheney off of the table. The Republicans rammed their tax cuts for the rich down the throat of the Democrats with not a care for bipartisanship. The Democrats want to compromise by permitting more tax cuts and still garner no support from Republicans.

The Republicans stood firm in funding the Iraq War with no timetables and Democrats caved on this when they were in the minority and as the majority.

Will the Democrats allow the Republicans to block Justices nominated by Obama? When will they get the backbone to realize that they are no longer the minority and start flexing the muscle we the voters gave them in 2006 and 2008?

Do we really have a two party system when one party says play by my rules and the other party always goes along and lets them have their way?

[Realist1965]

12:30 PM on 02/02/2009

Virtually every poster here is neglecting the obligation of our Congress to bring something forward that has the best chance to work for the US citizens and taxpayers. Instead of questioning the pork and egregious government spending in the bill that has no connection to stimulus, you default to the childish "we won" mentality. Given the $700B which passed with both parties support in October has not seemed to do much for us, why are you so quick to pour another trillion in under the panic-inspired cries of Dem leadership?

I guess it is easier to promote bi-partisanship than it is to practice it. I am reminded of the definition of insanity here - doing the same things and expecting different results.

[macgillicuddyreeks]

12:41 PM on 02/02/2009

I couldn't agree more.

But since Congress is insane and we elected them, are we insane too? Or our system?

[paulfree17]

01:54 PM on 02/02/2009

Why is it pork and wasteful when we try to spend money at home on things like Roads, schools, hospitals, energy, the environment, our parks or anything that the American People can actually benefit from while at the same time we can spend billions a month in Iraq and tens of millions on a new embassy in Baghdad or bailing out banks with no oversight and somehow that is not pork?

It is okay to run up deficits as long as the money is constantly pouring up and trickling down.

[perk]

11:39 AM on 02/02/2009

Vote, pass and move on. The Repugs don't have the votes to do anything about it!

So, I ask: what is the hold-up?

The answer: for some reason, a group of our own isn't happy and wants some leverage before committing. More pork, I guess.

[dagdavid]

11:28 AM on 02/02/2009

The Republican leadership is all over the airways today complaining about Democrat bipartisanship. "We blame the democrats, not the president," they say. Of course, the president has a 70% approval rating and congress is at 15% so what the eff do you expect them to say?

The stimulus bill sucks, but not because the republicans have not had a say. The dems should make the bill almost completely infrastructure spending and just turn a deaf ear to the Republicans. After all, the Republicans own newly-elected leader says "bipartisanship is overrated." He's right.

[macgillicuddyreeks]

12:23 PM on 02/02/2009

Wow, that's incredibly hypocritical of you. Every Democrat complained when the Republicans won back Congress in 1994 and turned a deaf ear to the minority party, so why perpetuate that mind set? What people should be encouraging the Democrats to do is revitalize the INSTITUTION of Congress, which is above partisanship and for passing good legislation. Business tax cuts are incredibly important and for the Dems (and HuffPost) to say that their presence in the bill was merely to garner Republican support is scary. Their purpose is to help our economy get out of this horrible tailspin.

[dagdavid]

12:29 PM on 02/02/2009

Hey, macgillicuddyreeks, the Republicans tried their give-away-to-the-rich bullshit for 8 years and destroyed our economy. Nothing hypocritical about it - it called a "mandate"

[dlvme2]

01:20 PM on 02/02/2009

The Republicans for YEARS have given HUGE tax cuts to the very rich large companies that know no restraints in anything they do. It has not and never will help the economy. We need incentives for small businesses or beginning businesses. We need to fine companies that hire out of the country or out source - we need to be helping OUR economy not sending jobs out of the country and that should be one of our biggest goals. Giving tax breaks has not encouraged these companies to hire US citizens they outsource to save even more money and that needs to stop. We need to stimulate the economy with things that supply jobs - nothing works overnight but builds over time. Obama's plan is good IF everyone would quit adding to it or trying to change it. Many Republicans decided not to accept it even before reading it. All this is getting so old and sad.

[RJII]

11:02 AM on 02/02/2009

after seeing the GOP go back to its divisive mean nature and basically b*tchslap the new President repeatedly over the last few days...I say forget Pelosi, forget adding more tax breaks, forget the GOP.

The people spoke in 2006 and 2008 and the GOP refuses to change. Their ways have failed over the last 30 years. Forget them.

[texasrodeoqueen]

10:25 AM on 02/02/2009

cut em loose
the Rovian neocons are a different group than the old style Republicans- no longer recognizable.
In fact, Eisenhower and our forefathers warned us about these kind of people.

[StephCaster]

08:47 AM on 02/02/2009

Want Bi-Partisanship? Then remove all the concessions to the Republicans from the bill.

If the Republicans are rewarded for obstructionist behaviour, they will continue to obstruct. (While they have clearly demonstrated that they are incapable of effective governance, they are nontheless masters of obstruction.)

If Republicans are given everything they want even if they vote against the bill, what exactly would be their motivation for cooperating? Patriotism or self interest? Country ahead of party? Long term good over short term goal? Since when have Republicans EVER chosen the first option? NEVER.

[Boomerwoman]

12:03 PM on 02/02/2009

I agree Steph: every time they obstruct, remove something they want. Basic Behavior Mod 101.

[carl99e]

07:20 AM on 02/02/2009

This is no time be looking for bipartisan support. The Republican have so screwed things up that it will be a long time before the USA is able to post even modest gains of any sort. We are in a downward spiral and there is no end in sight. Wall Street is just saving its own ass. We don't need banks when people aren't earning enough to pay for basic.

[long333]

02:35 AM on 02/02/2009

Missing from the article is why the 11 democrats didn't vote for it in the House. Acting like it has total democrat support when 11 democrats voted against Pelosi tells you something. Not all the democrat Senators were on board when I heard last. Where is that info? Where is the info that they are callng tax breaks the rebates for people who don't pay taxes and are a democrat idea?

It also tells me not to try and read something that originates from a HuffPo reporter who is covering for the defecting democrats and playing it like the bill is so good but the republcians are so unfair. Please get your own party behind it at least for starters.

[dlvme2]

01:26 PM on 02/02/2009

When you say people that do not pay taxes who do you mean??? Everyone in this country pays tax on food, every item they purchase, tax is taken out of every pay check - so I hope that you do not mean that just because when someone does their taxes at the end of the year that if they do not owe then they are not paying taxes. Many work their tails off and have most of their earnings taken in state and fed taxes - but may not have to pay at the end of the year. Each year people work harder and harder and can buy fewer groceries, less clothing and items just to get by and rarely have any luxury items. So I would really like to know who does not pay taxes? About the only ones I can think of are those that do not do any type of labor at all - but if they buy anything they pay a tax of some sort.

[rick91]

12:55 AM on 02/02/2009

Anything put into the House bill that the Obama administration and the Dems in Congress don't agree with should be removed. PERIOD!
The Repugs have made it clear that they're NOT acting in good faith. From this point on in perfecting and passing a stimulus bill, the should NOT have a place at the table!