Pelosi: "The American People Are Paying a Big Price for the Republican Culture of Corruption and Cronyism'

Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined other Democratic leaders at a press stakeout this morning after the Democratic Caucus meeting to discuss the Republican inaction on critical issues facing the American people. Below are Pelosi's remarks:

"Our distinguished Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer, and I sent a letter to Speaker Hastert on Monday. In the letter, we said that this Congress should not adjourn until we address some of the immediate needs of the American people. Three of them are connected to the culture of corruption and cronyism in this Republican Congress.

"First of all, as winter is bearing down and bills are coming in for high heating costs, Democrats are calling upon the Speaker to bring to the floor our bill that would reverse the subsidies to the oil companies. At a time when oil companies are experiencing enormous, obscene, historic profits - obscene because they are increased by subsidies passed this year by this Congress, we want to reverse those subsidies and use the money instead to subsidize home heating oil for low-income families and seniors in our country.

"While seniors are befuddled and bewildered in by a prescription drug bill, which was passed under an ethical cloud it's very clear that corruption in Congress has a price to be paid by the American people. And so we're saying to the Speaker: "Let us not go home until we extend the time that seniors have to review the prescription drug bill without having to pay penalties as is the current law.'

"And third of all, the issue of cronyism cost lives, limbs, and livelihoods of the people in the Gulf Coast states and we should not leave here until we appropriately address the needs of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Congressman Gene Taylor has a bill that would help with housing. We ask that his bill be taken up so that people can soon have some stability in their lives and go home. We do this with great urgency and hope that the Speaker would be responsive.

"Later in the week, we will be doing our wrap-up of this Congress and the missed opportunities for the American people. But the issue of the culture of corruption and cronyism, culture of cover-up and incompetence is one that is sad in itself, but also because the American people have to pay a big price for that."

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