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(CNSNews.com) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) said in her press briefing on Thursday that “a trillion dollars” is “an interesting starting point” to talk about another spending bill, but indicated that she wants more than that.
“What doesn’t measure up is: ‘Oh, it can only be a trillion dollars,’” Pelosi said.
“No, we need a trillion dollars for state and local,” she said. “We need another trillion dollars, another trillion dollars for Unemployment Insurance and direct payments. Something like that, but probably not as much for the testing, tracing, treatment, etcetera.
“So, a trillion dollars is: Okay, that is an interesting starting point, but it doesn’t come anywhere near,” she said.
A reporter then asked he if she meant to say “billion” when she said “trillion.”
“No, I am saying ‘trillion,’ trillion for state and local, a trillion for Unemployment Insurance and direct payments, a trillion, with a ‘TR,’ Pelosi said.
“Let’s put it this way: $1 trillion for state and local. That is half of the cost of the Republican plan in their tax scam, which added $2 trillion to the national debt,” said Pelosi.
“So, yes, I am saying ‘trillion,’ she said.
“And let me say another thing about trillions,” Pelosi continued. “The Fed is spending trillions of dollars to shore up the stock market. That may be a good thing to do.
“We think we should spend trillions of dollars to shore up America’s workers, and there is a path that is a good investment, that is stimulus, that keeps people from losing their jobs and helps people get jobs by being a stimulus and having consumer confidence, spending, injecting demand into the economy, job creating,” Pelosi said.
Here is the transcript from the part of Pelosi’s press briefing where she talked about spending trillions of dollars:
Reporter: “Leader McConnell said this week in Kentucky that he is open to direct payments, another round of direct payments to individuals making under $40,000 a year. Can you tell us if you have spoken with him about this?
Nancy Pelosi: “No.”
Reporter: “It seems like a departure from his initial comments where he was saying, ‘We need to wait and see before there is more spending.’ And, now, does that make you more open to liability protections on a next relief bill?”
Pelosi: “No. Let me just say this. Every day you see them opening up more. We get overtures about, ‘Can this be in the bill. Can that be in the bill.’ Because they know there has to be a bill.
“What doesn’t measure up is: ‘Oh, it can only be a trillion dollars.’ No, we need a trillion dollars for state and local. We need another trillion dollars, another trillion dollars for Unemployment Insurance and direct payments. Something like that, but probably not as much for the testing, tracing, treatment, etcetera.
“So, a trillion dollars is: Okay, that is an interesting starting point, but it doesn’t come anywhere near. I don’t know where the $40,000 came from. I think there are many families depending on size of family, so many different things, that the $40,000 would have to be explained, justified and the rest. But I think families making over $40,000 probably need assistance. Again, just depending on their family situation.
“We think there is a path to talk about protecting businesses and workers and customers who come in, and that is our OSHA provision. But, again, let’s hear what everybody has to say. But don’t say: ‘You all have to go back to work even if it isn’t safe. And, by the way, we are removing all responsibility from the employer.’ I mean, that is just–no.
Reporter: “You said ‘trillion.’ Did you mean billion?”
Pelosi: “Of what?”
Reporter: “You just said ‘trillion.’”
Pelosi: “For what?”
Reporter: “‘A trillion here, a trillion here.’ Did you mean billion?”
Pelosi: “A trillion for what, dear?”
Reporter: “Oh, never mind.”
Pelosi: “No, I am saying ‘trillion,’ trillion for state and local, a trillion for Unemployment Insurance and direct payments, a trillion, with a ‘TR.’
“Let’s put it this way: $1 trillion for state and local. That is half of the cost of the Republican plan in their tax scam, which added $2 trillion to the national debt. So, yes, I am saying ‘trillion.’
“And let me say another thing about trillions. The Fed is spending trillions of dollars to shore up the stock market. That may be a good thing to do. We think we should spend trillions of dollars to shore up America’s workers, and there is a path that is a good investment, that is stimulus, that keeps people from losing their jobs and helps people get jobs by being a stimulus and having consumer confidence, spending, injecting demand into the economy, job creating.”
