To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (558141 ) 3/30/2004 8:34:56 PM From: Kenneth E. Phillipps Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 769667 Pelosi: Republicans Undermine Fiscal Responsibility With Strong-Arm Tactics on Pay-As-You-Go Vote Tuesday March 30, 6:15 pm ET WASHINGTON, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after Republicans held a five minute vote open for 28 minutes in order to defeat a Democratic effort to put the federal budget on a pay-as-you-go basis: ADVERTISEMENT "For 28 minutes, a united House Democratic caucus won a vote on the House floor to put the federal budget on a pay-as-you-go-basis, in which both tax cuts and spending increases must be paid for. While piling up record deficits every year, the Republicans' obsession with tax cuts prevents them from facing reality and including tax cuts under pay-as-you-go. "Republican leaders could not win the vote on its merits, so once again they stole it by hook or by crook, leaving the vote open five and a half times longer than scheduled so they could strong-arm eight Members to switch their votes. Their heavy-handed tactics once again brought dishonor to the House. "Pay-as-you-go was highly successful at turning deficits into record surpluses during the Clinton Administration. Democrats included these common- sense provisions in our budget, which protected Social Security, Medicare, and veterans' benefits. Instead, for the fourth time in four years, the Republicans passed a fiscally-irresponsible budget that will create record deficits but will not create jobs. The American people expect and deserve better." Source: Office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Email this story - Set a News