Influence Alley

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement that the message from the American people is clear on the fiscal cliff: “We need solutions, not stalemates.”

She said if the speaker refuses to schedule a vote this week on a Senate-passed bill to freeze tax rates for those making up to $250,000 set under President George W. Bush – but not on net incomes higher than that – “Democrats will introduce a discharge petition to automatically bring to the floor.”  

It is doubtful, however, that such a parliamentary procedure will advance very far, given that a significant number of Republicans would have to sign on to the petition to provide the required majority of House members to bring such a measure to the floor.