Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) Sunday came closer than any member of Democratic leadership thus far to suggesting that Democrats may indeed hold a vote on middle-class tax cuts before the November elections.
“We are absolutely going to get this done before the end of the year,” Van Hollen said on Meet the Press. “We may well take it up before the midterms.”
Van Hollen, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, left his party plenty of wiggle room in the event that the House waits until after the election to hold the vote. But he walked further toward suggesting that the vote might come next week than did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who on Friday told reporters, “We will retain the right to proceed as we choose,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference.”
As TPM first reported, if the vote on middle-income cuts goes forward next week, it will likely be done under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage.
Brian Beutler
Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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