Transcript of Pelosi, House Democratic Leaders Press Availability
Press Conference
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra, House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Joe Crowley, and Budget Committee Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen held a press availability today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below is a transcript of the press availability:
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Leader Pelosi. Thank you very much, Chairman Becerra. Last night, the United States Senate -- or, well, I guess it was early this morning -- the United States Senate voted in an uncharacteristically, very strong, bipartisan way -- 89 votes in favor of compromise legislation. That was historic. That legislation was sent over to the House, up until our Speaker has said: "when the Senate acts, we will have a vote in the House." That is what he said. That is what we expect. That is what the American people deserve. And so, we look forward now, as we go forward in this day, to see what the timing will be for a straight up or down vote on what passed 89 to 8 last night in the United States Senate.
Today, we had the privilege of, as our Chairman has said, of hearing from the Vice President. He talked about what's in the legislation and what lies ahead and difficult negotiations as we go forward. We had a frank, as you said Mr. Chairman, a frank discussion in that regard. Right now, our Members, after very thoughtful deliberations and review, are continuing to review the legislation -- weighing the pros and cons, and weighing the equities of not going over the cliff, but we're all very eager to see the form that the Republican leadership will put onto the floor today.
I think that we've made gigantic progress, I hope that we can have a bipartisan agreement as we go forward. But as I said, our Members are marking their decisions now and we look forward to hearing from what the Republicans have to say. The person who will know best what our numbers are in this regard, at some point during the day, as our distinguished master counter, our distinguished Whip, Mr. Hoyer, and I'm pleased to yield to him.
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Q: Madam Leader, if I can?
[Laughter]
Leader Pelosi. I think you were first.
Q: Can I just ask: what are your spies on the other side, in a sense, telling you how it's going over there because you have to count heads with them as well?
[Laughter]
Leader Pelosi. Spies? I -- I'm not stipulating to any characterization of any information that we receive from our friends in the press.
[Laughter]
Q: [inaudible] sources
Leader Pelosi. I really have no idea.
[Laughter]
Q: But you have to count heads with them as well to try to, to approve this, what are you hearing from the other side?
Leader Pelosi. Why don't -- I think that what your question's, your question's better addressed to the Republicans coming out of their conference. We just came out of ours and we know what you tell us as to what's coming out of their Caucus.
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Leader Pelosi. Since our meeting, yeah.
Q: Madam Leader, you said just a moment ago you would prefer a straight up or down vote on that.
Leader Pelosi. Absolutely.
Q: Is that because of the time, or is that because this was a deal brokered by the Vice President?
Leader Pelosi. No, it was a bill that was passed in the United States Senate 89-8. Tell me when you've had that on a measure as controversial as this.
Q: On the payroll tax last year, and they had problems with that one, almost to the number of
Leader Pelosi. Well, I hope that we don't have a reenactment of that, where the Republicans in the House paint themselves in the extreme of not wanting to find compromise and a solution. But let's be optimistic. Let us all, as Mr. Hoyer and others have said, hope that they decide in favor of the country as we go forward. But the issue of whether we have an up or down vote shouldn't even be a question. It shouldn't even be a question. We were told when the Speaker -- we would not have any legislation on the floor until and unless the Senate acted, and when they did, we would have a vote. And so, we want to have that vote. And we look forward to what the timing is on that. And this is all about time, and it's about time that we brought this to the floor. As I think Mr. Hoyer mentioned, or he did in there, that it's only been a matter of a couple of months since the election, eight weeks, and in that period of time we've been pushed, even into a new year, it's long overdue for us to have this solution to go forward and remove all doubt as to how we go, what comes next for our country.
So, we expect, the American people deserve an up or down vote on what was passed in the Senate.
Q: Madam Leader, if there is an up or down vote, how many Democratic votes would you have, would you be able to deliver?
Leader Pelosi. That isn't a subject that I will be talking about right now. As we mentioned, all of us
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