House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told rank-and-file members in a letter that she believes Democrats have the upper hand in demanding the removal of a banking provision in a must-pass spending bill.
Pelosi, in a memo emailed to Democratic members, said Democrats have the power to demand removal of the Dodd-Frank provision because House Republicans don’t have the votes to pass the $1.1 trillion bill, which has been dubbed the “Cromnibus.”
Pelosi and Democrats also want Republicans to strip a provision that lifts some caps on campaign donations.
The GOP leadership declared a recess earlier Thursday after concluding debate on the legislation, rather than call a vote on the measure.
“It is clear from this recess on the floor that the Republicans don’t have enough votes to pass the Cromnibus,” Pelosi said. “This increases our leverage to get two offensive provisions of the bill removed: the bank bailout and big money for campaigns provision.”
Pelosi and Democrats are not twisting arms to get the bill passed, even though President Obama has promised to sign it and it was negotiated by Democratic and Republican leaders.
“However you decide to vote in the end,” Pelosi wrote to Democrats, “I thank those who continue to give us leverage to improve the bill.”
