“I think the Republicans in the House want to do nothing more than keep having extensions. Maybe they’ll do something right before the election but it will be too late to help create jobs,” the California Democrat said. “If they do the extensions they’re using up the ... highway trust fund, they’re hurting job creation — in fact people will lose jobs — and it’s just the wrong thing to do.”
She suggested that the House hold a straight up-or-down vote on the Senate-passed version of the highway bill, which passed that chamber with strong bipartisan support.
“I believe the bill would pass. So what are they afraid of? Are they afraid of passing a transportation bill that would ... save more than 2 million jobs?” Pelosi asked. “If there is a sincere wish to create or save these 2 million jobs, if there’s a sincere wish to help lift up the construction industry ... then the Republicans would bring it up.”
Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, arrives for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the investigation of the IRS' targeting of political groups. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify and caused a protest from some committee members when she offered an opening statement and engaged in dialogue with members before invoking the right.
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