Pelosi backs down in spending battle

[babylonsister]

Pelosi backs down in spending battle
By Alexander Bolton | Posted: 12/12/07 11:50 AM
December 12, 2007


In the face of stiff opposition from powerful fellow Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has abandoned a proposal she supported less than 24 hours ago to eliminate lawmakers’ earmarks from the omnibus spending package.

Pelosi told the Democratic chairmen of the House Appropriations subcommittees, the so-called appropriations cardinals, that earmarks would stay in the omnibus and that Democratic leaders would accede to cut spending to levels demanded by President Bush in order to save 11 spending bills from a veto, said sources familiar with a meeting that took place in Pelosi’s office early Wednesday morning.

The House Democrats’ tentative plan is to finalize the package for passage in the next day or so, said sources.

By leaving earmarks largely untouched and agreeing to Bush’s budget ceiling, Democrats have capitulated in their spending battle with Republicans. In the end, Democrats realized they would not be able to muster enough Republican votes to override Bush’s veto. The president vowed to reject any spending package that exceeded the $933 billion limit he set.

The good news for Democrats is that this move takes them significantly closer to enacting into law their spending priorities on a range of domestic issues.

“We are going to meet our national priorities long ignored by Republicans and the Bush administration,” said Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami.

As recently as Tuesday afternoon, Pelosi endorsed House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey’s (D-Wis.) proposal to yank all earmarks from the omnibus in order to save an estimated $9.5 billion. The money would have been used to minimize cuts to domestic programs important to Democrats.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-backs-down-in-spending-battle-2007-12-12.html

[NightWatcher]

1. never saw this coming

:sarcasm:

[lazer47]

2. Everytime I think I am being to harsh on the Lady.

She turns around and does it again. She gives new defination to the term "Leader"

[mike_c]

3. lame....

As usual.

[warren pease]

4. Shocking! And so out of character, too. n/t

[zorahopkins]

5. Agh! AGh! AGH! AGHHHHHHhhhh...

Didn't we win the 2006 elections?

How in the HELL do things like this keep happening to us?

"Democrats capitulated".

Aggggghhhhhhhhh.........

[Union Thug]

6. Spineless. Weak. Unprincipled.

This is not my father's Democratic party.

Speaking of which, my father, now over 70 years old and a life long Democrat remarked to me this morning that he was so disappointed in the sponge-spined Dems that he is considering registering as an Independent.

The Dems should listen up. You will not finder a stronger supporter of progressive and liberal ideas than my father anywhere.

[babylonsister]

8. Likewise with my dad, who turns 80 next year. He's thoroughly

disgusted and doesn't see how our party will ever right itself.

And I do so hate to see my old man so disappointed. :(

[Sugar Smack]

16. Oh, yeah? I bet MY dad's more liberal than YOUR dad.

;) :pals:

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

7. " Pelosi backs down"

No way SHOCKING

[Perry Logan]

9. "...in the face of stiff opposition from powerful fellow Democrats."

[blondeatlast]

11. I read the article--guess who, mostly?

I'll leave it for everyone to find out...

[blondeatlast]

10. "The good news for Democrats is that this move takes them significantly closer to enacting into law

Yes, I'm pissed that they dissed us but it still could pay off for us.

Time will tell.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. They are so useless. Honestly. I wish we had viable Green candidates to vote for

because I would. In a heartbeat! Is there any wonder why people don't vote? It really doesn't matter if you do. You give your party power by helping to make them the Majority Party and it still makes no difference. The ONLY thing we've accomplished is the oversight hearings which, once again, have lead NOWHERE.

Our party leaders are pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

[zabet]

13. Ol' Nancy's quite the

acrobat, able to back
up after rolling over...
all done with NO spine
what so ever.

[bdamomma]

14. was just listening to Thom Hartmann and he was talking

to one of his regular reporters, she said the Blue Dog Democrats are involved in this, and there seems to be a tug and pull thing within the Democratic party, and in regards to the Omibus spending package, the Dems Chairman Obey wants to take out defense money and McConnell said they (those stinking repigs) want to cut domestic spending and give the money on defense spending.

[Javaman]

15. Ahhh more of the "rub my belly" nancy there.

some leader. can't even control her own party members.

All hat and no cattle.

[nashville_brook]

17. she's an embarrassment. i would love to feel sorry for her -- but she's just inept.