Pelosi threatens House vote on tax bill
(CNN) - Warning that "the clock is ticking," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Sunday reiterated her threat to bring about a House vote on a bill that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for families making $250,000, but would allow the tax breaks to expire for those above the threshold.
The Democratic-controlled Senate already passed its version of the bill in July, with strong support from President Barack Obama.
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"If Speaker Boehner refuses to schedule this widely-supported bill for a vote, Democrats will introduce a discharge petition to automatically bring to the floor the Senate-passed middle class tax cuts," Pelosi said in a statement. The Democratic leader first warned of a discharge petition on Friday.
Under a "discharge petition," a bill can be brought to the floor without going through a committee or without approval of House leadership. The bill would need an absolute majority - 218 votes - to pass.
While there are only 192 Democrats in the House, some Republicans have expressed support for the bill.
The tax cuts are set to expire at the end of the year and are the largest point of contention in the deficit-reduction debate. Boehner and Republicans want to extend the cuts for all Americans, while Democrats want to do so for about 98% of the public, allowing taxes to increase on the top 2% of income earners.
Republican Rep. Tom Cole last week made headlines when he urged his party to pass the tax cut extension for the 98% of Americans now and deal with the rest at a later date. Boehner sharply disagreed with Cole, but a few other Republican members subsequently sided with Cole.
The Oklahoma congressman said he would continue to discuss his suggestion with colleagues, and predicted that if it came up for a vote, it would pass the Republican-led House.
Recent polls show public support for such a bill. According to a CNN/ORC International Poll released last week, 56% of people said taxes should be kept high to help lower-income people, while 36% said taxes should be kept low to create jobs.
With the looming end-of-the-year deadline, Pelosi stressed a sense of urgency in her statement Sunday.
"We must find a bold, balanced and fair agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff. The clock is ticking and stalemates are a luxury we cannot afford."
CNN’s Tom Cohen and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report.
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......ONE LAST ITEM.................Everybody, ...even BILLIONAIRES ...........will get the continued tax break ...UP TP $250k..........and ONLY THE AMOUNT OVER $250K is gonna be taxed a total of.................3% more. You Ttard clowns gonna move to Somalia for 3%?.....................................................BE.....MY.....GUEST........
Go ahead Pelosi. American people are with you!! This is what we want in congress, actio!! All those that keep voting for all those republican that are not doing nothing are traidors to our country!!
In response to Bailout Bob's comments that $250,000 in taxable income is not rich... Even if you pay $50,000 a year for housing you still have more income left over than 97% of Americans! And the higher taxes are only on the income above $250,000, not all income. In my mind the $250,000 level is too high already! I have income of about $110,000 and pay $4,000 a month for housing, and I have a comfortable life.
JohnT, that's not at all what's happening here. Please read the news.
@Matt, 250-300 K earners are not average American Joe. Even for argument with all the things you said, the first $250,000 will not have a tax increase regardless of your income bracket. so, if you are one of the "poor" ones earning just above 250000, then your tax shouldn't go up significantly.
@bailoutbob – 250-300 K earners are not average American Joe. Even for argument with all the things you said, the first $250,000 will not have a tax increase regardless of your income bracket. so, if you are one of the "poor" ones earning just above 250000, then your tax shouldn't go up significantly.
Throw them a bone. Make it $500k and get this done.
The Republicans refused to do anything two years ago thinking they could blame the president for our fiscal troubles. It didn't work. Now they have backed themselves into a corner, are whining about how unfair they are being treated and blaming the president for not being willing to negotiate.
The Republicans have tried to ruin this country for political gain. Their political inaction has brought us to the brink. And America suffers because of it.
I fully blame the GOP.
you go girl we would love to vote the clowns out at mid term
Why not eliminate all the tax cuts for the poor, disabled, middle class, rich and super rich and go back to taxation we had before the country unfortunately got stuck with Bush Jr as our fierless no leader.
Republicans not only lost the election,they lost any chance of further obstructionism and they know it..Give up republicans your backs are against the wall and your approval ratings have been at bottom levels for a couple of years..Either go with Pelosi or come midterms you'll see your seat but with a democrate rep in it...Your future in politics is in your hands and for God sakes don't listen to Boehner,he's doomed and so delushional he thinks its still before the election where he has some clout..Your Bush created this mess so you should as responsible reps clean it up or face your political demise,its your choice so as your careers,fix it or else!!
Start cutting some spending and maybe people from across the aisle will meet you half way.
Claudia, Houston, Tx: "We want the names of everyone of these Congress people who refused to do nothing..."
Yet you ignore three Key-Players of Do Nothing:
1) Barack Huessein Obama – Campaigner-n-Chief, never saw a podium or crowd he could pass up Lying before
2) Nancy Pelosi – Former Socialist speaker with a gavel to grind,
3) Harry Reid – Senile Road block and lame foot-dragger
Do it! Enough stalling and posturing.
Pelosi threatens House vote on tax bill...
TAX THE RICH !!!
Get over your conscience !!!
Freedom "is" what WE say it "IS" !!!
Get real and cut the crap, what about those people who are working for $20.000 yearly and still have to survive on that – they are paying $1.000.monthly rent ? and all the things you talk about as well . be quiet and stop complaing god will take away his blessing from you along with your 250.000 yearly salary- mark my word HE WILL.
I'm tired of hearing/reading the "$250,000 is not rich" tripe. Someone making 250k is in the TOP 2% of ALL earners in America. "But but, NYC is expensive!" so then MOVE! And cry me a river. PLENTY of people are living there making the actual median wage of $45k, yet why don't we ever hear them complaining?
My goodness, I wish I could be a millionaire "victim."
Give me a break, BailOutBob. First, no one is "demonizing" the wealthy. Got Money? Good for you! I am genuinely happy for you! Afterall John Steinbeck was right, the poor in America actually see themselves as temporarily embarrassed millionaires. Don't have enough to live in toney Tribeca? Live somewhere you can afford.
I'm done with paying for corporate welfare, bank bailouts, and shedding our children's blood for zero purpose. I was a Republican for 35+ years, now an Independent. The GOP needs to dump the TEA and religious zealots. Move back center or face extinction.
Dear Bail out Bob, I hate to break this to you, BUT those folks making $250K or "a little above" would NOT be effected by the legislation as I am sure that their AGI's would fall well below the $250K mark. BTW, could you tell me how the 10's of thousands people in NYC earning $50K possibly survive?
Katie, do you even know what you're saying? It makes absolutely no sense. The real problem here far from taxing the rich. Obama wants to increase taxes by $1.6 trillion over 10 years. That is $160 billion a year on average. Our annual deficit is over $1 trillion a year. My taxes would go up if Obama had this way and I would support that if it was coupled with substantial spending cuts and entitlement reforms. This country is set up to fail if we continue on this course and taxing what Obama calls "rich" another $160 billion a year will not come close to fixing the long term problems in this country. All it does is please the liberal base which is fine. However, we need leadership to do what is best for the country and not just what is best for that candidate's next election. That is the fundamental problem in this county that nobody is willing to step up and fix. Third party candidate is part of the answer!
Boehner needs to come back with the GOP response. This is how neogetiation is done. Pelosi needs to talk to any of the GOP to see if they are willing to budge and let Boehner know this.
Balout Bob, do you live in NYC? NYC votes Democrat and We can tell you as, you make 250 k, you're doing pretty well.
BailOutBob....amen to that
BailOutBob "I vehemently object to the politically expedient categorization of households earning $250,000 (or even somewhat above) as 'rich'."
The losers always have emotional reactions.
1) The increase is very gradual, someone making $250,100/year will pay 3% more on $100 of income, or $3 more.
2) Most of us supporting this tax change are not insulting, deriding, demonizing, or vilifying honest tax payers who work hard and pay their taxes.
3) The Length of time that this change has been held up by Republican Obstruction in Congress is worthy of being insulted, derided, demonized, and vilified.