Pelosi's New Strategy to Boost Her Numbers: Spend Less Time Implementing Democrat Ideas

California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring today issued the following statement regarding Speaker Nancy Pelosi's declining support among Californians:

"It looks like Nancy Pelosi has a new strategy to reverse her plummeting approval numbers in California and nationally: spend less time implementing the Democrat agenda.  

"We actually think Congress moving away from the five day workweek Nancy Pelosi promised is a good thing for California.  The less time Democrats spend raising taxes, making the federal government bigger and more intrusive, and spending money through earmarks behind closed doors, the better.  Besides, the five day workweek hasn't helped the Democrats pass any federal spending bills on time anyway. 

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues to see support decline within her own party and among Californians.  It didn't take long for her to show that her pledges of bipartisanship, a five-day work week, an open and transparent Congress, and the institution of policies to help the working poor were nothing more than just campaign rhetoric.  

"The Pelosi Congress continues to be characterized by an earmarking process carried out behind closed doors, continued efforts to saddle working families, farmers, and small business owners with a $3.5 trillion tax increase, and an even shorter work week.  

"The people of California have come to see the Democrat agenda under Nancy Pelosi for what it is: a $3.5 trillion tax increase coupled with a Democratic earmark slush fund - clearly a far cry from the campaign promises of last fall."  
 

House Speaker Pelosi Continues To Decline: "More Negative Than Positive"

"Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's rating have declined over the past seven months and, for the first time, are more negative than positive."  ("Large Majority Of Californians Disapprove Of Congress' Job Performance," The Field Poll, 10/27/07)
 

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's own party is turning on her, apparently because of a perception among California Democrats that she has not done enough to shake up the status quo in Washington D.C.." (John Hill, "Voters' Views Of Pelosi," The Sacramento Bee, 10/27/07)

"Pelosi Falls Short On Election Promises:

• "Pelosi vowed that five-day workweeks would e a hallmark of a harder-working Democratic Majority.  So far, the House has logged only one. 
   
• "The Speaker has denied Republicans a vote on their proposals during congressional debates-a tactic she previously declared oppressive and promised to end." 
   
• "Pelosi set a high standard for herself when she pledged to make this the ‘most ethical Congress in history....' She is drawing fire for putting Rep. William Jefferson (D-La), who had $90,000 in alleged bride money his freezer, on Homeland Security Committee.  And The Washington Post reported during the weekend that she is helping chairmen raise money from donors with business before their committees." 
   

"‘She has done exactly what she said she would do,' said Pelosi spokesperson Brendan Daly." (Daniel W. Reilly and Jim Vande Hei, "Pelosi Falls Short On Election Promises," The Politico, 2/27/07) 
 

Pelosi On Chairman Rangel's $3.5 Trillion Tax Increase:

"I Certainly Support His Plan." (News Conference, 10/25/07) 

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Pledges:

"We pledge to make this the most honest, ethical, and open Congress in history." (Christian Science Monitor, 11/14/2006)

"You can't have bridges to nowhere for America's children to pay for.  Or if you do, you have to know whose it is."  (USA Today, 11/12/06) 

"[B]efore members vote on the bill, there should be an appropriate time for people to be able to read it, that it be a matter of public record. And if there's an earmark that can stand the scrutiny, then that transparency will give the opportunity for it to be there." (Federal News Service, 3/17/06)  

 "This is a place where we really need to throw up the shades and pull back the curtains, and just says we have to have the fullest possible disclosure, and it has to be on earmarks in appropriations, in authorizations and in taxation.  And it has to be across the board, with no escape hatches."  (News Conference, 9/14/2006)  

"The new Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives has announced that members should be expected to work a five-day week." (Martin Frost, "Congress Should Return To A Five-Day Work Week," Fox News, 12/26,06)

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