casper
11-19-2009, 06:58 PM
Wall Street tax must be international: Pelosi
WASHINGTON - Any tax imposed on financial transactions would have to take effect internationally to prevent Wall Street jobs moving overseas, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday.
"It would have to be an international rule," Pelosi said at a news conference. "We couldn't do it alone."
The top Democrat's comments seemed to spell longer odds for the Wall Street tax, which some Democrats in the House of Representatives are proposing as a way to pay for job-creating legislation.
The tax, which could raise $150 billion per year, would tap into widespread public outrage at Wall Street in the wake of the financial crisis, but support is lackluster among key legislators.
Democrats in the House aim to pass legislation designed to create more jobs before the end of the year to ease double-digit unemployment levels that threaten an economic recovery. The Senate is expected to act early next year.
The bill could include increased road construction, money to help states avoid layoffs of police and other public employees, and a further extension of unemployment benefits, Pelosi said.
(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Paul Simao)
WASHINGTON - Any tax imposed on financial transactions would have to take effect internationally to prevent Wall Street jobs moving overseas, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday.
"It would have to be an international rule," Pelosi said at a news conference. "We couldn't do it alone."
The top Democrat's comments seemed to spell longer odds for the Wall Street tax, which some Democrats in the House of Representatives are proposing as a way to pay for job-creating legislation.
The tax, which could raise $150 billion per year, would tap into widespread public outrage at Wall Street in the wake of the financial crisis, but support is lackluster among key legislators.
Democrats in the House aim to pass legislation designed to create more jobs before the end of the year to ease double-digit unemployment levels that threaten an economic recovery. The Senate is expected to act early next year.
The bill could include increased road construction, money to help states avoid layoffs of police and other public employees, and a further extension of unemployment benefits, Pelosi said.
(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Paul Simao)