Pelosi dismisses Obey's war tax proposal

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threw cold water on a colleague's proposed war tax to pay for the troop surge in Afghanistan Thursday, saying she opposed it.

However, the California Democrat hinted it would be considered if President Obama -- not Rep. David Obey, D-Wis. -- asked for it, The Hill reported.

"I am not in support of the proposal of Mr. Obey," Pelosi said of the tax plan suggested by Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "When the president makes a request, we will make a decision.

White House officials have said that a war tax is not being discussed.

Pelosi said during her weekly news conference she is seeking more information about Obama's plan to deploy another 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan by next summer. She said she has asked White House officials to provide a top-level briefing for the full House, listing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen among suggested presenters.

Democratic House members are expected to discuss Obama's war plan in a closed-door caucus meeting next week, the Washington publication said.