Rep. Nancy Pelosi: Strong Middle Class Is the Bedrock of Our Prosperity

“A strong middle class is the bedrock of our prosperity, it is the backbone of our prosperity,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in remarks today at Brookings. Rep. Pelosi highlighted three key connections that are at the heart of our economy: between public action and private success; between growing paychecks and reducing the deficit; and between investments today and success tomorrow. Watch the entire event below, including a Q&A session moderated by Senior Fellow E.J. Dionne, Jr., the W. Averell Harriman Chair in American Governance:

Rep. Pelosi also called for “big, bold commitments” in four areas: research and innovation; education; infrastructure; and investments in working families through the tax code. On the latter, she called for the elimination of “special interest tax expenditures that increase the deficit,” closing “special interest loopholes” that would reduce the corporate rate and produce more revenue, and pursue “tax reform that ensures that all Americans pay their fair share.”

Rep. Pelosi also advocated making the EITC and child tax credit permanent. “With tax reform for the middle class,” she said, “we can put more money into the pockets of working families and again ignite the engine of middle class consumers’ demand that drives growth and opportunity for everyone.”

Learn more about the event here and see prepared remarks here.