TPMDC Sunday Roundup

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Hoyer: Colbert’s Testimony ‘Was Not Appropriate’
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) criticized the appearance of Stephen Colbert before a House subcommittee hearing on immigration this past Friday. “I think his testimony was not appropriate. I think it was an embarrassment for Mr. Colbert more than the House,” said Hoyer. His views are contrary to those of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who defended the Colbert appearance on Friday.

Boehner: Dems Have Time For Colbert, But Not For Bush Tax Cuts
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) criticized Congressional Democrats for wasting time by inviting Stephen Colbert to testify before a subcommittee on immigration, instead of debating the extension of the Bush tax cuts. “Washington is spending more time with comedians than debating (our) economic future,” Boehner said. “They have time to bring a comedian to Washington, D.C., but they don’t have time to end the uncertainty.”

Axelrod On Middle-Class Tax Cut: ‘We’re going To Get That Done’
Appearing on This Week, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod said that Democrats would extend the middle-class tax cuts. “Well, we’re going to get that done. One way or the other, we’re going to get it done,” said Axelrod. “And I believe the pressure is going to build among the American people. I don’t believe Senator McConnell or anybody else is going to be willing to stand up to the American people and say, “We’re going to hold your tax cut hostage so that we can give another large tax cut to — to millionaires and billionaires that we can’t afford.”

McConnell: ‘Nothing Being Held Hostage To Anything’
Also appearing on This Week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) responded to Axelrod’s charges. “Well, nothing’s being held hostage to anything. It was the Democrats themselves who decided not to have this debate,” said McConnell. He also added: “I was the only one who offered a bill. There was never a bill in the Senate. And you know why? Thirty-one Democrats in the House, five Democrats in the Senate said they agreed with me, that we ought not to raise taxes in the middle of a recession.”

Durbin: Dems Don’t Have The Votes
Appearing on State of the Union, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said that Democrats did not have the votes for their package of extending the Bush tax cuts for incomes under $250,000, and allowing them to expire on higher incomes. “I can count, and I know you can too,” Durbin CNN’s Candy Crowley. “We have 59 Democrats and not a single Republican in the Senate supports our position.”

Lieberman Predict Tax Cut Extension For ‘At Least A Year Or Two’
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) predicted that the Bush tax cuts, including those for people earning over $250,000 per year, would be extended for “at least a year or two.” Lieberman added that if Congress fails to act, “everybody’s taxes go up in January.”

Pence: Pledge Policies ‘Not Necessarily New’
Appearing on Meet The Press, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) was asked by David Gregory what parts of the GOP’s new “Pledge to America” platform are new. “Well, ending bailouts and cutting spending in Washington, D.C., is a new idea, David,” said Pence. “And the truth is, look, Republicans didn’t just lose our majority in 2006, we lost our way. We walked away from the principles of fiscal discipline and reform that minted our governing majority back in 1980 and again in 1994, and the American people walked away from us. What, what we have in this proposal is not, not necessarily new. The idea of fiscal responsibility, pro-growth policies, openness and transparency in government are solid, American ideas. What Republicans are committing to in this Pledge to America is taking important first steps in this Congress to steer our national government back to those basic practices and principles.”

Rubio: GOP ‘Didn’t Fulfill Some Of The Promises They Had Made in ’94’
Appearing on Face The Nation, Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R-FL) criticized the past performance of Republicans in Washington. Remember, the Republicans had a majority in Washington for the better part of 10 to 12 years. They didn’t fulfill some of the promises they had made in ’94 when they were elected – things like a balance budget amendment, things like banning earmarks, things like term limits,” Rubio said. “If you say you’re going to do that and you get elected, then do it.”

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