Should Pelosi expedite the stimulus bill, or fight to restore the funding?

[Enrique]

It's a lot of money that was cut out. That's a lot of money, it means tens of thousands of jobs, maybe hundreds of thousands. Important programs like schools to name the biggest example.

On the other hand, Obama is pushing for speed. He's going to be making his case publicly to get this done NOW. Fighting over this will cause delay and even possibly risk passage of the bill.

I personally think she should give up more than she is inclined to do on this one. Obama is fair and he will repay her on important matters which will come up later.

[Deep13]

1. Tell Reid to grow a pair and get the big bill passed.

Partial solutions are nonsolutions. The House version is already such a small % of GNP that it's effects might be only marginal and those tax cuts will only further undermine our assets.

[davidinalameda]

3. no amount of arm-twisting is going to get repug support for the house bill

they're going to obstruct any attempt to pass it as is

take that 3/4 of a loaf of bread and move on

[Deep13]

4. We don't need them to vote for it.

We only need them to shut up long enough to get 51 votes.

[davidinalameda]

7. you need 60 votes

so as to prevent a filibuster

[Deep13]

10. No, you need 60 votes to force an end to debate.

To make a filibuster, one has to continue debating without shutting up. We should not be caving in on the mere suggestion of filibuster. We should make them do it and make sure everyone knows they will not allow a vote on the matter.

[debbierlus]

14. Agreed. The 60 votes myth needs to be ended and the dems need to FIGHT

[davidinalameda]

15. if you don't end debate

you're not going to get a vote

I agree that the leadership should not cave in on the threat of a filibuster

[Enrique]

5. I've heard Rahm can be persuasive

even more now that he works for the president. Reid would have to have quite a pair to defy Rahm on this.

[Pirate Smile]

2. IMO Expedite now. Restore in future legislation.

[Deep13]

6. We need a big cannon.

A little cannon with a future musket shot that may or may not happen will not be as good. Our cause is ripe now. If we can't get these things attached to a big bill, then we will not be able to get them later on their own.

[democrattotheend]

17. I agree

In fact, I think some of the "centrist" senators who helped negotiate this deal said they did not oppose funding all these things, they just thought they belonged in their regular appropriations bills and not in the emergency stimulus package. So I'm optimistic that we can get some of that money restored when the relevant appropriations bills come up.

[stray cat]

8. They should include good but non-stimulus items in this years budget

[meowomon]

9. expedite

[global1]

11. Before Pelosi Does Anything She Should Consult With The W.H. And.....

see what they want her to do - and then - do it. She shouldn't try doing this without finding out how the President wishes her to proceed.

[Enrique]

13. oh, she knows

They problem is they want different things. The question is how hard should she fight for what she wants to keep and what Obama wants to give up?

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/pelosi-calls-cuts-to-stimulus-bill-very-damaging/

Ms. Pelosi, Democrat of California, said she had spoken with the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, earlier today, wryly adding that both Mr. Reid and the Obama administration were well aware of her views and concerns about cutting billions of dollars in proposed aid for education, for example.

[underpants]

12. Get it through. Go back and pick up the other stuff later. n/t

[Thrill]

16. In Conference is when you will see what exactly the WH wants in the package

Thats when their voices will be heard.

And coming out of Conference you only need 50 votes in the Senate