Pelosi Wants in On Debt Discussions

By Jon E. Dougherty at 26 Jun 2011

(Newsroom America) -- House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is demanding to sit in on upcoming debt limit discussions after she and other Democrats were left out of talks between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and President Barack Obama last year.

Pelosi will add a strong liberal voice to discussions, The Hill newspaper reported Saturday. She and other Democrats were left out talks last year between the president and McConnell that extended all Bush-era tax cuts until 2012. The former House speaker also didn't participate in budget talks for fiscal year 2011.

Her demand comes as a number of House Democrats have concerns over Obama's lack of consultation with their party, the Hill said.

"If they don’t have the votes, House Democrats have to be at the table," an unnamed House Democratic Leadership aide told the Hill.

Pelosi was not involved in talks earlier this year extending fiscal year 2011 spending that also included $38.5 billion in spending cuts because House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Whip Eric Cantor said they were confident they could pass the plan without Democratic assistance.

However, the GOP ultimately fell short of the needed votes, but House Democrats joined in supporting the plan to avoid a government shutdown.

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