–House Minority Leader Pelosi: ‘Encouraged’ By Boehner’s Reaction
–Hopes Hill Can Approve Much Of Plan This Fall
–Need To Find ‘Common Ground’ Soon On Jobs Agenda
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Friday said
she is asking House Speaker John Boehner to move quickly to consider the
jobs package that President Obama introduced Thursday evening.
At a briefing, Pelosi welcomed Boehner’s comment that the
president’s plan “merits consideration.”
“I’m encouraged by that remark by Speaker Boehner,” Pelosi said.
She called Obama’s plan a “masterful proposal” and a doable
initiative” that draws from ideas from both parties.
“It’s a compromise. The president feels very committed to it,” she
said.
Pelosi said that while Obama has presented his plans as one
package, it might be necessary for Congress to pass it in pieces.
She said that job creation should be the “centerpiece” of the work
of the new Deficit Reduction panel which was created to secure $1.5
trillion in budget savings.
She said she hopes Congress passes at least parts of the Obama plan
prior to the conclusion of the panel’s deliberations in late November.
“I would hope we could get some of it passed sooner than that,” she
said.
The president unveiled a $447 billion package Thursday night that
includes $245 billion in tax cuts, $140 billion in spending initiatives
and $62 billion for assistance to the unemployed.
Both Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Thursday
evening that there are elements of Obama’s plan that they support.
Most Republican leaders have said a jobs agenda should focus
primarily on reduced regulations, corporate tax reform, approval of
three pending trade agreements, and cutting the size and scope of the
federal government.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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