House Democrats file discharge petition on middle class tax cuts

She said she was going to do it and now it's done. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi threatened to file a discharge petition to bring the middle class tax cuts bill the Senate passed back in July to the House floor, and today Rep. Tim Walz filed the petition on behalf of House Democrats.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the November election showed there is support for President Obama's position that taxes should go up on people earning $250,000 a year or more, and said the GOP is delaying progress by seeking lower rates for these wealthy people.

"That's not negotiating, that's hostage taking," Pelosi said on the floor.

"This is the heart of the matter that is holding us here," Pelosi added. "This is about the $250,000 line that the president said in the campaign that he would honor."

This bill is a simple extension of the Bush tax cuts for families making under $250,000 annually, $200,000 for individuals. All 192 Democrats are expected to sign the petition, putting pressure on Republicans like Rep. Tom Cole who has been arguing for this vote (while insisting that his caucus is unified and none of this means he doesn't support Boehner). The petition would have to get 26 Republicans, which is steep challenge. But what the action really does is highlight the Republicans' hostage-taking. It's one more weapon to fight Republican obstruction on the tax side of this debate.