Pelosi: Dems Unlikely To Sink Budget Deal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., center, and House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., left, leave after a news conference on the failed vote on the financial bailout package on Capitol Hill in Washington,... House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., center, and House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., left, leave after a news conference on the failed vote on the financial bailout package on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008. MORE LESS
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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) signaled Thursday that Democrats won’t let the budget deal struck by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-CA) be voted down, despite their concerns.

“The fact is I don’t think our members will let this bill go down,” she told reporters.

“If it’s a close call for some, as they weigh different things or unease about unemployment insurance — while I don’t like this bill, I think, as I said, much more could have been done to invest and create jobs and the rest, it’s an OK thing to vote for,” she said. “So we’ll see — we’ll see what the Republicans produce and the rest. But I would hope that we could show a good, strong bipartisan vote on the bill.”

The House is expected to vote on the measure on Thursday afternoon.

Pelosi did, however, say Democrats would likely vote against the “rule” — the procedural vote calling for the bill to be brought to the floor — because Republicans aren’t also allowing for a vote on extending emergency unemployment benefits.

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