Pelosi touts Dems’ economic plans, warning midterms ‘will be decided at the kitchen table’
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. talks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2012, before heading to a Congressional Black Caucus meeting on Capitol Hill. Pelosi is visiting with House Democrats on Wednesday afternoon and is due to speak at a rally at 9 p.m. at the U.S. Capitol to launch the Caucus’ Congressional Watchdogs Coalition. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) less House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. talks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2012, before heading to a Congressional Black… more Photo: J Scott Applewhite, Associated Press Photo: J Scott Applewhite, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Pelosi touts Dems’ economic plans, warning midterms ‘will be decided at the kitchen table’ 1 / 1 Back to Gallery
Democrats are trying to raise $5 billion to help them win back control of the House in November. But they couldn’t get a hearing in the House Budget Committee. So they hit the kitchen table instead, holding a retreat to discuss their ideas for the next round of federal spending cuts.
In a room filled with House members and staff, Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., opened the retreat by saying what Democrats think should be part of any deal to raise taxes: cutting the number of personal tax breaks.
“We need to have a revenue-neutral tax code,” Lowey said.
She said her party’s focus should be on “the number of tax breaks, the number of tax deductions, the number of tax credits, the number of tax loopholes.” She cited the tax rates for capital gains as being one example.
“It’s time that we stop rewarding the affluent and punishing the middle class,” she said.
The Democrat retreat is one example of how top party leaders are attempting to craft a legislative agenda even though many members have spent time this year on their own with their constituents and trying to explain the need for a tax increase