Pelosi finesses tax message

by Mike Soraghan, The Hill: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is finessing her support of Rep. Charles Rangel’s (D-NY) controversial new tax bill, highlighting Democrats’ concern about how Republicans plan to use it in the 2008 elections. Following the unveiling of arguably the most politically explosive domestic policy bill of the 110th Congress last Thursday, Pelosi seemed to wholeheartedly support the tax overhaul authored by Ways and Means Comm. Chairman Rangel. “I certainly support his plan,” Pelosi said to the assembled reporters. But when the transcript of the briefing came out, words were inserted — highlighted by brackets — clarifying that she supported his goal, if not his specific proposals. The final transcript read: “I certainly support his plan [to begin tax reform.]” The distinction is an important one . . .

Republicans criticized the change, but irritated Pelosi aides said too much is being made of an innocent change that was not intended to deceive. “It is clear she didn’t say it, but we put in there, in brackets, to clarify her intent,” Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami said in an e-mail exchange. “She personally supports Rangel’s plan/bill to begin tax reform, but Congress will work its will.” Elshami added: “If The Hill feels compelled to report on this ridiculous story, let me then fill in the brackets . . .

What is left unsaid about Congress working its will is Pelosi’s role in altering legislation once it is approved at the committee level. Pelosi this year has significantly changed legislation before it hits the floor, ranging from war supplemental measures to the lobbying reform bill . . . Republicans compared the transcript change to the Soviet-era practice of erasing out-of-favor leaders from Kremlin photos. “You’d expect this from the Politburo, not the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Brian Kennedy, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH).

It’s not the first time that Republicans have faulted Democrats for changing the record. After a vote was incorrectly gaveled to a close too early on Aug. 2, Republicans say Democratic leaders scrubbed from The Congressional Record many of the floor comments of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Boehner. “Don’t like the outcome of a vote? Change it. Don’t like the way transcripts read? Scrub them,” Kennedy added . . . [Read More]

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