Pelosi: Congress Must Prioritize Or Risk Uncontainable Health Care Bill

By Laura Woodhead – Talk Radio News Service

Spending on the health care bill will be uncontrollable unless the House sets priorities, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said at her weekly press briefing Thursday.

“We have to establish priorities otherwise the bill is endless, so we have to contain it,” she said. “I have told members as early as this morning, squeeze out what you can out of the system. Savings, savings, savings.”

Contrary to opposition claims, Pelosi stressed that the bill would not be funded by new taxes on health benefits.

“This bill will be paid for,” Pelosi said. “We will not be taxing health benefits on any legislation that comes from the House.”

Pelosi questioned the integrity of House Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) pledge that he would not vote for Health Care until he had read the entire bill. “Is this a pledge that is in keeping with his having read every bill he has ever voted for?”

The Speaker avoided questions concerning letters sent from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee to the CIA director, in which the committee accused him of misleading members during a committee appearance.

“I know as much as you do,” she said. “I have seen the letters and obviously [the committee members] have concern.”

Pelosi did, however, respond to a question regarding a proposed resolution to honor Michael Jackson.

“I do not think it is necessary,” she said. “A resolution would open up contrary views that are not necessary at this time.”